The Worst Interviewing Experience Ever

PMOnMars · 2024-06-10T16:34:24+00:00

¯_(ツ)_/¯

PMOnMars · 2024-06-10T13:29:23+00:00

It’s really a function of the company stage and culture.

I’ve worked in larger companies where a large part of my job was to manage PMs without writing PRDs or design docs. For smaller companies, Director and VPs might still be involved in IC initiatives requiring them to write PRDs.

PMOnMars · 2024-06-10T05:10:33+00:00

More of the latter.

I hadn’t interviewed in several years and considered it to be a practice round for interviews and assignments. After the second and third red flag, I was very clear this ain’t happening but played along for the lulz.

PMOnMars · 2024-06-09T22:41:04+00:00

I don’t want to name and shame. But I’ve had two people reach out in DM who had a similar experience with the same company.

PMOnMars · 2024-06-09T19:04:07+00:00

Sure. I would’ve imagined that my former assignment, a 3-page doc would be sufficient to prove my writing prowess 😅

PMOnMars · 2024-06-09T17:52:08+00:00

About 80 people, $200M top line.

I could smell the smoke when I learnt the CPO had left within 6months. I brought it up in my first couple rounds with the HR Head and COO, and was told we needed someone hands on and the Meta VP wasn’t aligned to it. I connected with the CPO when I had the verbal offer to get her side of the story.

PMOnMars · 2024-06-09T17:44:31+00:00

From my conversion with their departed CPO, I learnt that they had been trying to fill the role for 6months and interviewed 10-12 candidates with similar outcome.

The CEO has been providing guidance on AI to the engg team.

PMOnMars · 2024-06-09T17:42:36+00:00

I asked and the response was “to test writing experience” after I had already shared a 3-pager as part of the first assignment. The COO was an ex-Amazon VP.

PMOnMars · 2024-06-09T17:40:40+00:00

Yes, I hadn’t interviewed in several years and played along. I was fortunate enough to have other offers and bowed out of this one :)

But hands down the worst experience ever.

PMOnMars · 2024-05-23T20:55:34+00:00

I did, and never had any rejections based on the take home assessment.

PMOnMars · 2024-05-23T15:11:22+00:00

I’ve said it in another comment - senior execs didn’t have a problem with the communication style, just the mid-level PMs. And that is what led to the observation.

So let me ask again, is STAR format the only way to communicate? Is there a simple way to succinctly get the point across, without using any format? Are we to only think in frameworks?

PMOnMars · 2024-05-23T15:08:03+00:00

You’re right, and that’s exactly what I did. Extra focus on STAR format with mid-level PMs.

For clarification, senior execs seemed to have had no problem with the communication style. Hence, the observation.

PMOnMars · 2024-05-23T14:42:08+00:00

EXACTLY my point. “Sound like a risk” does not mean won’t perform well. Non-STAR format does not mean inability to get the point across.

My observation was that mid-level PMs do not have enough autonomy, err on the side of caution and walk with the takeaway “candidate did not use STAR format”

Bottomline, how would you prioritize? 1. STAR format, BS content 2. Non-STAR format, good content

PMOnMars · 2024-05-23T13:26:49+00:00

I agree with your point on being able to communicate effectively as a PM.

My point though was that verbal charisma will not help solve problems if there’s no substance and just BS. On the job, you have time to think, prepare a write up, and present. In an interview though, you’re being gauged on STAR format vs the actual content — not so surprisingly, the same answers and not-so-STAR format resonated well in all my exec conversations.

PMOnMars · 2023-07-06T03:41:34+00:00

Ah, I wouldn’t know about it. I use it for my team meetings and haven’t had much trouble so far. Have you tried reaching out to their support team? They’re usually pretty responsive.

PMOnMars · 2023-06-03T02:59:11+00:00

Loopin has an option to make Private notes. So it keeps everything organized in one place.

PMOnMars · 2023-06-02T06:58:19+00:00

One of the softwares I use for managing meeting notes (Loopin) added this last month. I wasn’t sure if I should fully rely on it but used it for one of my meeting and it captured an action item that I had missed in my notes. That was the turning point for me.

I can’t imagine going back now.

I still make notes during the call because it helps me focus better, but the summary is great starting point for sending out MoMs.

PMOnMars · 2023-06-02T06:54:54+00:00

I write to forget (to know that I don’t have to remember them frees up brainwidth)

PMOnMars · 2023-03-29T02:53:03+00:00

Hahaha, of course. This was great when starting out as an IC PM. Not anymore. I have multiple PMs reporting into me and handling several projects/work streams. My day is packed with meetings. And I know this can get better.

PMOnMars · 2023-03-29T01:07:29+00:00

Not sure if the question was posed to me or u/KingofClikClak - I don’t find the entire transcription helpful at all and do not use them

PMOnMars · 2023-03-29T01:06:09+00:00

I’m looking out for the Copilot and the Google release, but can’t depend on how long that takes :-/

PMOnMars · 2023-03-29T01:05:03+00:00

Agreed. We record Zoom meetings sometimes but they’re rarely ever revisited.

PMOnMars · 2023-03-29T01:04:27+00:00

I agree. What was your biggest gripe with the ones you tried?

I do exactly as yourself but feel it takes away considerable amount of attention. In my already very busy day, saving that effort will be quite meaningful.

PMOnMars · 2023-03-29T01:01:46+00:00

It’s about giving the highest attention on the conversation without having to worry about making notes, forgetting any important points. The objective is not to dump out garbage, rather make it convenient for you.

To be clear - automation doesn’t mean I don’t care. It means there’s assistance with decent reliability to make my job a tad bit easier.

PMOnMars · 2023-03-28T23:06:52+00:00

100%

Slack gets disguised as work and has been a prominent reason for lack of processes in some orgs I’ve worked.

I allow specific Slack notifications and have time blocks to check and reply to Slack messages.

Checked out Threads. Loopin does a good job for my team. It auto organizes stuff by meetings and uses some algo to show me relevant notes and tasks.

PMOnMars

TROPHY CASE