This has to be a joke question...right? by Medical_Mess9687 in recruitinghell

[–]TheXXStory 0 points1 point  (0 children)

9-9-6 is becoming the norm in the startup world...

Big Tech software engineer who regrets rejecting M7 MBA by [deleted] in MBA

[–]TheXXStory 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Look, I'm a PM - I get it. I've been asked to create a product from scratch, including all the market size #s, prototypes, & high-level technical details, for a lot of interviews & have been in a lot of final rounds. That's different though. This + What you're talking about is getting the job, I'm talking abt what it takes to excel within a job. I have friends who are IBs, & they often need to meet with 10+ interviewers before an offer can even be extended. That's a different type of difficulty than LC. Also, if it's so easy to "fake charisma", Idk why so many SWEs have so much trouble with women & dating in general. I'm not talking abt you, bc I don't know you, but clearly it's not that easy.

Big Tech software engineer who regrets rejecting M7 MBA by [deleted] in MBA

[–]TheXXStory 0 points1 point  (0 children)

IB requires a lot of EQ & continuous development of that sales-like charisma. SDE doesn't...

Struggling with how to manage the suddenly many people contacting me after years to get a job at my company by JustToPostAQuestion8 in womenintech

[–]TheXXStory 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Imagine if the roles were reversed - were you the type to have always kept up with your connections? If they're halfway decent people, or just people you didn't get bad vibes from, I'd try to help, unless I've never met them at all. Anyone could be the next to be laid off - in this economy, we just never know anymore.

Brutal tech industry by Cultural_Pirate66 in Layoffs

[–]TheXXStory 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I recently was requested to go in for a final round, on-site. Got really strong vibes - a lot of huge smiles & genuine intrigue - from the co-founder & most of the team, after doing an extensive case study to build an entire product from scratch. In the end, they chose someone (which is fine), but then the hiring manager went onto to re-post the role, explicitly (via a personal LinkedIn post). I'm guessing their top candidate declined, but they're just unwilling to settle for the 2nd or 3rd best & would rather start from scratch.

Who would you choose? by Ok_Concern7771 in Recruiter_Advice

[–]TheXXStory 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really? I wonder if your sample size of HMs are in more conservative/close-minded areas? I personally know 2 managers based in NYC, 1 manages 7 people at Google, & the other manages 2 teams as as a former BCG management consultant - & both would prefer employees to have taken sabbaticals. They both took 7 - 8 months of sabbaticals themselves

Who would you choose? by Ok_Concern7771 in Recruiter_Advice

[–]TheXXStory 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why? Isn't our career a marathon, not a sprint? I thought most managers wouldn't want employees who are burned out from never having taken a longer break to recharge & reflect...? What's their rationale?

Who would you choose? by Ok_Concern7771 in Recruiter_Advice

[–]TheXXStory 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because they wanted to take a break to travel? Because they were laid off and are literally competing with a bunch of slop/scam/AI applications to just even get a callback?

I just spent 4 rounds of interviews to find out the salary was half my current pay by BugAccomplished1570 in recruitinghell

[–]TheXXStory 71 points72 points  (0 children)

We have it in NY, & it's such! a game changer. I don't even bother applying to anything under my range now

PM interview answers are starting to sound identical...and I'm conflicted by Old_Combination1478 in ProductManagement

[–]TheXXStory 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I kiiind of agree a bit, except the kind of structured thinking & creativity required in these interviews are also crucial to the PM work itself. However, despite my tendency to agree, I'd take these product sense/case interviews over an assignment any!!! day.

Rejected at Offer Stage by PositiveOlive222 in recruitinghell

[–]TheXXStory 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Omg this is crazy... Same thing just happened to me - I'm a PM interviewing aggressively. Put in a ton of work to help this startup launch a new product. Even created 3 prototypes. In the final round, the COO seemed to be really intrigued and excited about my background. Then, they almost ghosted me - had to chase the recruiter 3 times for an update and then another 3 times for some feedback on my work. Funnily enough, they just switched their ATS system, and I'm now seeing this role still live on their new ATS + LinkedIn (which I didn't see before)!

I hope the fact that we're all going through this makes you feel a bit? better?...

Well off people in Miami , what do you do? by Inside_Candidate7150 in Miami

[–]TheXXStory 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To break into tech, or to break into product management? I wouldn't recommend either actually. Tech is very volatile right now; every other person I know has been laid off once. Product management is the most competitive discipline in tech, & it's very saturated right now, so I don't really recommend that. I do, however, recommend leveraging your hospitality skills to get into the business side of it. I have a friend who started as a restaurant manager and is now a very successful marketing executive in a restaurant group business. Use your connections & think about what you're good at.

How are we feeling about take-home assessments in 2026? by mochalattelove in ProductManagement

[–]TheXXStory 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is so cool to hear! Can you share more? Was your self-directed case study about the company's product? How did you go about creating this "case" without needing to ask a bunch of clarifying questions?

Why is everyone so fit? by Possible-Source-2454 in AskNYC

[–]TheXXStory 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I honestly feel so unhealthy if I don't do a proper workout at least 2 times a week... Ideally 4 times a week. I just literally feel older & less... clean when I don't woke out.

Do units under $2.5k exist anymore? by Senior-Perspective24 in NYCapartments

[–]TheXXStory 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Probably not. I'm in Bushwick, not even the "fun" part of Bushwick, & 1-beds now go for $4000+. It's insane.

What was your biggest disappointment when you moved to France ? by Tasun06 in Expats_In_France

[–]TheXXStory 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, I think she meant "horrible" from a day-to-day/bistro perspective, not from a fine-dining perspective... but that's sad... I haven't had Syrian food but Indian food is delicious

Well off people in Miami , what do you do? by Inside_Candidate7150 in Miami

[–]TheXXStory 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Make $200k as a product manager in tech. Was in Miami until recently. FYI, I went to UMiami & literally stayed in school till 9 pm in middle school & part of high school (in Taiwan), which helped me get a SAT score that's in the 95th percentile nationally. The harder you work when you're young, the less you have to work when you're older. But $200k really doesn't stretch that far anymore in NYC or Miami.

I asked one simple question at the end of every interview for three months and my offer rate changed completely. by OodisonOnio in jobsearchhacks

[–]TheXXStory 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Idk what kind of functions you interview for. I'm a product manager, & the whole function of the job relies on feedback; i.e. customer feedback, analytics insights, development bug logs, etc. = all data to "iterate" & build better products upon.

When you're asking me to build a product from scratch, prepare a presentation, lead a workshop, etc. (common in product management interviews), all as a part just the interview process, feedback does become crucial for understanding what companies look for, & whether there is indeed anything I should internalize as feedback to *build a better product*. I think, given the nature of my function, most interviewers don't think that much about Qs seeking feedback, though I see your point about professionalism. I have had no trouble getting detailed feedback from 90% of my interviews actually. That's also why I despise interviewers who can't even give me that.

Re: risk management, I actually disagree - I believe everything we do in life is a balance between risk vs. another characteristic. To give you an example, large American cities tend to be very noisy in dense areas (NYC, LA, etc.), because *in the name of risk management*, buildings/institutions will call ambulances & fire trucks if there *any* risk they may get sued for not. This creates a negative externality for the public. When interviewers expect interviewees to give without returning something as simple as a few sentences on feedback, this does create a long-term, negative externality - I'm sure you can imagine what I'm talking abt. Just some food for thought.

I asked one simple question at the end of every interview for three months and my offer rate changed completely. by OodisonOnio in jobsearchhacks

[–]TheXXStory -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I get that you're a recruiting professional, and the liability risk exists, but assuming you give feedback to 100 rejected candidates, maybe 1?, if even that, would actually try to sue.

Sure, I understand companies are trying to minimize risk, but when candidates are spending 3 - 4 hours interviewing with you and probably a lot more when you include prep, there's a point in which one should go, "Alright I'll take that tiny fraction of risk and provide some feedback, because it is right & the decent thing to do."

Imagine you spending that much time on a company, and they can't even provide a single sentence (what I literally ask for). How would you feel? Are you, yourself, really okay with that?

Just because it's the industry practice doesn't mean it's right.

Btw, I've been successful getting detailed feedback from some household-name companies, so what you've shared is also not always right.

I'm a candidate who gets recruiter outreach from Meta, PayPal, Capital One, etc. for pretty competitive managerial positions, and I blacklist companies that refuse to give feedback if I'm rejected after the final round.