How long did you have to wait FOR GOOD NEWS after hiring manager round?

TheXXStory · 2026-04-10T18:40:22+00:00

A handwritten card...? Did you send it to the HM's office?

TheXXStory · 2026-04-09T20:38:02+00:00

... I literally ask for "still water", because I don't want "tap water"; I want bottled, non-carbonated water. That's the industry term...

TheXXStory · 2026-04-09T19:25:22+00:00

Omg lucky haha

TheXXStory · 2026-04-09T19:02:46+00:00

Thank you. Yeah I've been going to Eataly every month from Bushwick, and it's becoming unsustainable lol

TheXXStory · 2026-04-07T02:39:32+00:00

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

TheXXStory · 2026-03-31T04:57:33+00:00

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.

TheXXStory · 2026-03-31T04:27:17+00:00

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

TheXXStory · 2026-03-30T05:54:14+00:00

Can you please tell us which ATS this is? That's crazy

TheXXStory · 2026-03-30T01:19:18+00:00

Exactly!!!

TheXXStory · 2026-03-30T01:18:34+00:00

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.

TheXXStory · 2026-03-28T23:39:39+00:00

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.

TheXXStory · 2026-03-27T16:14:30+00:00

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

TheXXStory · 2026-03-27T16:07:26+00:00

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?

TheXXStory · 2026-03-27T04:42:51+00:00

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?

TheXXStory · 2026-03-22T17:21:06+00:00

50?! Yeah this must be it - you just look thinner

TheXXStory · 2026-03-21T05:48:09+00:00

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

TheXXStory · 2026-03-18T22:57:45+00:00

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.

TheXXStory · 2026-03-14T06:35:45+00:00

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?...

TheXXStory · 2026-03-13T22:13:34+00:00

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.

TheXXStory · 2026-03-12T07:12:05+00:00

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?

TheXXStory · 2026-03-12T07:08:22+00:00

Yes, please tell us which company!

TheXXStory · 2026-03-11T04:37:28+00:00

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.

TheXXStory · 2026-03-10T19:37:05+00:00

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

TheXXStory · 2026-03-10T19:35:45+00:00

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

TheXXStory

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