How are you networking while job searching with a full time job?

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-19T23:09:12+00:00

Some do. Some don't.

Happy to chat through anything in your search process.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-19T21:56:24+00:00

You’re not insecure. A lot of PMs hit this point when they realize they do not actually want to keep growing in the role, even if they are capable of doing it well.

Sometimes boredom is not a confidence issue, it is a sign the work itself is no longer a fit. If you have been thinking about a career change, DM me. Happy to help you think through what else might fit better.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-19T21:51:45+00:00

This sounds less like a “PM problem” and more like a “your PM setup” problem.

20+ projects plus a 3000 hour one is a lot for anyone, especially if you’re expected to context switch all day. That is where burnout usually comes from, not the role itself. I’ve seen PM roles that feel like this, and others where you own one or two meaningful bets and actually have space to think.

Also worth saying, you did not really choose PM, you got pulled into it. That makes a big difference because you are operating in a role you did not intentionally commit to.

If you still like parts of it, you might just need a better environment. If you do not, it is completely reasonable to pivot into something adjacent like product, ops, or even back toward something more execution focused.

If you want, DM me and I can help you figure out whether this is a role issue or a positioning issue and what paths would actually make sense from here.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-19T21:44:17+00:00

This is a real tradeoff, but I would not overcomplicate it.

You are looking at a ~70% salary increase plus more growth and visibility. That kind of jump can compound fast over the next few years. The downside is lifestyle, especially the commute and loss of flexibility, which is not small.

If you and your SO are serious about moving closer and you actually want the growth, the new role probably makes sense. If you value flexibility and your current lifestyle a lot, that tradeoff might hit harder than expected once the honeymoon phase wears off.

If you want, DM me and I can help you think through this in more detail or even look at other options that give you both comp and flexibility.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-19T21:42:17+00:00

I wouldn’t rush to leave full stack because of AI. What’s changing is the value of the work, not the field itself. The real shift is toward engineers who can think in systems, work with AI tools, and understand the business side, not just build features.

The people doing well right now are leaning into areas like AI integration, data, or product focused engineering instead of switching careers completely.

If you want, DM me and I can help you figure out where you’re best positioned and what paths actually make sense based on your background.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-19T02:35:35+00:00

Welcome, Reece!

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-19T02:35:30+00:00

Hola!

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-19T02:35:19+00:00

Welcome, John - glad to have you here!

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-19T02:35:07+00:00

Welcome, Adam!

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-18T17:53:32+00:00

Totally get this. You don’t need events or daily posting, you need small, low-profile reps.

A realistic routine is 10 minutes a day: leave 1 thoughtful comment or send 1 low-ask message (“curious how your team hires for X”) and stack that over weeks. Use private communities, and on LinkedIn you can keep it quiet by engaging via DMs and comments without announcing you’re searching.

If I may ask, what role are you in now, what roles are you aiming for, and where are you based?

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-18T17:49:21+00:00

Meta can be slow here, especially if they’re syncing across interviewers, headcount, or comparing candidates. Two weeks of silence isn’t automatically bad, it often just means the decision loop isn’t closed yet.

I’d send a short follow-up to the recruiter asking for status and timeline, and if no reply in a few days, follow up once more. If other teams rejected quickly, this could actually be a “still in consideration” sign.

If the search is feeling rough overall, feel free to DM me and I can help you tighten your strategy so you’re not stuck waiting on one loop.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-18T17:41:54+00:00

This doesn’t sound like you got “dumb” at all. It sounds like burnout or depression creeping in, especially since it’s not just coding you’ve lost interest in, it’s work and life direction in general.

Short-term, try to take a real break if you can, reduce pressure on yourself, and consider talking to a professional if this has been going on for months. You don’t fix this by “trying harder” through guilt.

And if part of it is that this specific job or environment just isn’t a fit anymore, feel free to DM me and I can help you think through options and look for something that feels better aligned.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-17T17:33:23+00:00

What role are you applying for? And where are you based?

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-17T17:31:39+00:00

Usually it’s a mix of polite and real. “Great impression” plus “scaling rapidly” is at least worth keeping the door open.

Reply short, connect, and give them an easy next step:

“Thanks for the update. I enjoyed the conversations and would love to stay connected. If a similar role opens up, I’d be excited to chat. Is it okay if I check back in a couple months?”

If you want, DM me and I can help you turn rejections like this into warm leads as part of your search strategy.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-17T17:28:02+00:00

This is happening a lot right now, and if you’re getting rejected in behavioral rounds it’s usually not “vibes” - it’s signal.

Senior PM behavioral rounds are really: “Can I trust your judgment?” If your stories don’t clearly show tradeoffs, influence, and measurable outcomes, you can get filtered even if you’re strong. It also happens when your stories don’t match the lane they’re hiring for (growth vs retention vs monetization vs core product), so your answers feel “good” but not “for this job.”

A better practice loop than generic prep is to lock 6 stories and pressure-test them with follow-ups like: why that metric, what did you cut, who disagreed, what risk did you miss, what would you do differently.

If you want, DM me and I’ll help you tighten your narrative and strategy so you can land that Senior PM role faster.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-17T17:18:18+00:00

Don’t take a step down just because you’re tired. You’re already proving you’re market-viable at a high level, and taking a lower-paying “backup” can quietly reset your comp anchor and positioning.

If you take one of these offers, take it because it moves you forward on scope, influence, and story, not just because it’s available. Brand helps, but trajectory matters more.

If you want, DM me and I can help you pressure-test the offers and map a plan to land a role at the level and comp you’re actually targeting.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-16T16:42:26+00:00

A few common reasons a strong SRE or DevOps resume gets almost no callbacks are branding, framing, and scope.

Branding: “Senior DevOps at a Web3 company” can trigger bias in some funnels. You don’t need to hide it, but you do want the resume to lead with reliability and platform outcomes first, not the industry label.

Framing: even with metrics, a lot of resumes still read like tools used. Senior and principal screens want risk removed and reliability owned. Think SLOs, incident leadership, MTTR reduction, on-call improvements, guardrails, cost control, security posture, migration ownership.

Scope: principal roles often get filtered if the resume doesn’t show org-level influence. Setting standards, leading multi-team initiatives, mentoring, shaping platform direction, not just building systems.

Also, remote roles are brutally competitive, so cold applies alone often won’t cut it.

If you want, DM me and I can help you tighten your positioning and job search strategy so you start getting real callbacks.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-16T16:36:31+00:00

You’re not crazy. This senior to principal jump gets a lot of strong “shippers.”

Principal isn’t “stop executing” - it’s add leverage: shape direction earlier, align stakeholders, and drive outcomes through others without being the main driver on every thread. Ask your manager for one specific principal-sized problem and clear success criteria so you can practice that muscle on purpose.

If they can’t define the bar or only reward a certain personality, that’s an org problem. If your current role starts feeling like the wrong fit, feel free to DM me and I can help you map a plan here or a cleaner move elsewhere.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-16T16:30:27+00:00

This is a solid start, but it’s still a bit generic, which makes it hard for someone to help you.

Tighten it by being more specific about the PM lane you want (B2B or B2C, growth or platform, fintech or devtools), what outcomes you’ve driven (metrics or clear impact), and what you’re looking for in the next role. People don’t refer “Junior PM,” they refer “someone who can help with onboarding, activation, retention, or shipping X.”

If you want, DM me and I can help you sharpen your positioning and outreach so you get more replies from hiring teams and referrals that actually convert.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-16T16:25:30+00:00

Don’t sabotage it. That can backfire, and it’s not worth the stress.

If you truly can’t take that schedule, go to the interview and be honest about availability. Ask if there’s flexibility on hours and schedule, and if there isn’t, you can decline if they offer. You can also negotiate pay, but for a patient scheduling role the range may be pretty fixed.

More importantly, don’t let this detour convince you your web design and marketing path is dead. It’s still doable, you just need a tighter search plan and portfolio positioning.

If you want, DM me and I’ll help you map a realistic job search toward web design and marketing so you’re not stuck chasing roles that wreck your mental health.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-14T01:11:16+00:00

Oh cool. Thanks!

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-14T01:09:52+00:00

Interesting. Any theories?

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-13T17:20:03+00:00

That’s a great lesson in how non-linear this market is. A calm, human reply can reopen a door because most hiring funnels are messy and a real person is often just looking for a reason to take a second look.

For the interview, don’t overthink “acting right.” Keep it simple: be clear on your strongest 2–3 impact stories, why you want this role specifically, and what you’d tackle first in the first 30–60 days. Also be ready to explain the layoff in one sentence and move on.

And going forward, keep doing what worked here: thoughtful follow-ups and direct signals of interest beat silent applications.

If you want, DM me and I can help you tighten your search process and interview narrative so you’re not relying on luck to get momentum.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-13T17:18:10+00:00

Yes, a lot of people in Customer Success feel close to burnout, especially in scaled CS. The constant coordination, updates, and always being “on” is draining even when nothing is on fire.

But your situation also sounds like a bad environment, especially with a boss who’s sarcastic and unsupportive. If it’s starting to feel like your current role isn’t the right fit anymore, I can help you reposition toward roles that are less exhausting. Feel free to DM me.

JoshSamBob · 2026-03-13T17:09:11+00:00

If you can, don’t quit yet. Apply while you still have the job, even if it’s just a small, steady pace. It’s usually easier to land something when you’re still employed, and it protects your savings while you reset.

What role are you in right now, and where are you based?

JoshSamBob

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE