Should I take a break from interviewing

New 2004dis
Nov 7 61 Comments

Here's a list of companies I've had interviews at and not made it to an offer. Been interviewing consistently for 9 months now - I know, it's a shit show. Looking for a PM/Senior PM role. 8 YOE and shit TC.

Made it to onsite about 6 times, phone and video rounds with hiring managers about 10 times and recruiter screen the other times.

Should I give up interviewing and reflect on what's going wrong? if so, how? Or just keep going? Does being on a work visa reduce my chances?(Dropbox and qualtrics refused to interview me after I told them I was on H-1B). Thoughts?

Should I take a break from interviewing
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 TOP 61 Comments
  • Deloitte / Consultant Makiavelli
    your lack of sorting peeves me
    Nov 7 1
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      Haha it's just a shitty Android notes app I used to not this list down. Thanks for expressing your discomfort though 😄
      Nov 7
  • Microsoft / Product Letsdoitt
    PMs interviews are most subjective, there is no consistency in any company, thirdly not easy to problem solve for hypothetical questions, right on the spot. In the real world, people get time to think through problems, research, and find solutions. Take a break and then get on it again in few months, remember none of the failures matter, you only need one to go thru, it will eventually happen.
    Nov 7 0
  • PMs should not be eligible for H1B. We have enough business, MBA, and CS grads to take care of what we need here.
    Why don’t you look for roles in another country?
    Nov 7 6
    • Wurth USA 1BM1
      Another example. Even though he was rude and you used a "happy face", I just noticed "not to apply and waste my time there". Seriously, go see a therapist about how you communicate with others.
      Nov 7
    • Reliable Software / Eng Sugoidesu
      @op what's your education qualifications? Just wanted to know what it takes to become a PM. I am just starting out so don't know much
      Nov 7
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      BS in Computer Engineering and MS in MIS
      Nov 7
    • Salesforce zombied
      Ibm1, he's bringing humor to a morose situation. Why do salty?
      Nov 8
    • New iceob
      H1 abuse is def a thing.
      But just Google had 156 'Product Manager' H1-B filings in 2019.
      You mean to say Google hired cheap-ass contractors stealing American jobs and giving it to skill-less foreigners... and then paid them the same amount they would've paid an American, while not having to deal with the Visa uncertainty?
      It costs Google more (5-8k$ more atleast , govt/lawyer visa fees) to get an H1 candidate than a normal PR, USC candidate.

      If you really do believe that, you're not just naive but stupid.
      Go back to your shell.
      Nov 8
  • Microsoft msftbored
    With this much interview experience, reflect on what are you doing wrong, make notes, take help from friends and family and improve on that. Keep going!
    Nov 7 0
  • New aknt
    You look good on paper, which is why you are getting the interviews. But you are doing something wrong during the interviews. I would suggest that you find a neutral party to figure out what. Maybe some company that trains for interviews. Or if you are cheap use Triplebyte, it's free, and they will give you feedback even if you decide not to interview with any of their clients.
    Nov 7 4
    • Microsoft / Product Letsdoitt
      Any recommendations on a good company to train for PM interviews?
      Nov 7
    • New aknt
      Also an actual break would be good for you to reflect on things.
      Nov 7
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      I've been thinking about this. Do you know of a neutral 3rd party interview practice assessment company that may help? Also does the number of YOE reflect badly i.e. I have 8 YOE and I don't have good, solid stories from my work experiences?
      Nov 7
    • Microsoft / Product Letsdoitt
      I think if few of you are interested, we can form a mock test group. We can start practicing problems / interview delivery every week for the next 6 months or so, nothing like practice. Let’s make Leetcode for PM interviews.
      Nov 8
  • Informatica prsdnt
    Do a startup to teach people how to get so many interviews
    Nov 7 3
    • Infosys BRY47
      Step 1:Be in the bay area.
      Step 2:Be in the tech industry.
      Step 3:???
      Step 4:Get interviews.
      Nov 7
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      Interviewed at one and was ghosted for 4 weeks after which I was told "sorry, we want someone who has built a product team from the ground up". I was like, ok.....did you not get that from any of the prior conversations?
      Nov 7
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      Misread your suggestion earlier. Yeah.... can't start companies on a work visa
      Nov 7
  • Wurth USA 1BM1
    Find a "lesser" company that could use your services in that position. You may need more background in that position before being considered by these big companies.
    Nov 7 2
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      I could explore this, thanks for the suggestion. Any companies you can think of at the top of your head?
      Nov 7
    • New m349830
      Find a field you're really interested in. Then go to Crunchbase and find some companies that have just raised a B or C round.
      Nov 8
  • Wurth USA 1BM1
    Ummm... sounds like attitude from the last line. If you are projecting that attitude when interviewing, that might be a reason why you did not get anywhere.
    Nov 7 4
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      Sorry, I updated my original post. What line are you referring to? The one about me being on H-1B killing my chances?
      Nov 7
    • Wurth USA 1BM1
      "Did you not get that from.." Poorly worded. Can be Construed as offensive.
      Nov 7
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      I did not actually say that to the recruiter. Just thoughts
      Nov 7
    • Wayfair hitman047
      Cut him some slack.
      Nov 7
  • Expedia Group / Eng getmesfjob
    Apply for less elite companies
    Nov 7 2
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      There have been a LOT of less elite companies that's on the list, and actually there have been few that I am missing on that list
      Nov 7
    • Expedia Group / Eng getmesfjob
      I'd suggest brushing up your LinkedIn and interview with everyone who messages you
      Nov 7
  • Accenture Bxpe83
    what’s wrong with h1-b that they refused to interview you? (I’m not in US so dont know the system well)
    Nov 7 3
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      Sponsoring an H-1B takes extra $2-4K and the uncertainty in today's political climate
      Nov 8
    • New MYfP25
      Are you eligible for TN?
      Nov 8
    • New MYfP25
      Would that make it easier vs H1B?
      Nov 8
  • New
    Hadope

    New

    PRE
    Penumbra, EDF Renewable Energy
     Hadopemore
    Ask the interviewing team themselves why they didn't select you. Only they know 100% why you didn't get selected. Everything else is speculation.
    Nov 8 2
    • Infosys BRY47
      Like they ever provide feedback.
      Nov 8
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      ☝️This
      Nov 13
  • Salesforce zombied
    It's harder to land a PM job than an swe job. We have one PM for like 50 engineers and we are a large company. Don't lose heart.
    Talk to a recruiter and go after the Sequoia and greylock funded startups.
    Nov 8 2
    • New iceob
      why specifically sequoia and greylock?
      Nov 8
    • Salesforce zombied
      I mean any VC. I picked those because most exits.
      Nov 8
  • Facebook pikachu_
    I think you are interviewing at the wrong time, wait for January. I am in a similar boat but had offers which I didn’t like
    Nov 7 1
    • Infosys BRY47
      I mean he says it’s been 9 months of interviews. Surely, it must’ve been the right time during some/most of those months.
      Nov 7
  • Salesforce _mojojojo_
    This is me in 1.5years. Onsites:

    Uberx2
    LinkedIn
    Microsoftx2
    Google
    Amazonx2
    Splunk
    Dropbox
    Vmware
    Clover
    Salesforcex2

    My conversion from phone to onsite was relatively decent I think. 1 out of 2/3 at least maybe

    Just grind grind grind. Not landing an offer is dependent on too many factors you cannot control.
    Nov 7 0
  • Facebook ⭕w⭕
    You should have reflected after every few rejections like 3...not 32 lmao.
    Nov 7 0
  • New imlp
    What company are you at now?
    Nov 7 3
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      Razorfish (Now called Publicis Sapient). Yeah, no one else has heard of it either. It's a consulting/agency services company
      Nov 7
    • Rover.com / HR looking4rc
      I’ve heard of Razorfish. Are you in Seattle?
      Nov 8
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      Bay area
      Nov 8
  • Jet jkl776
    You have no idea what you’re doing. You can open the door but you can’t close. It means your on site examples and framing are shit. Stop. You’re also interviewing above your true level.
    Nov 7 2
    • Wayfair hitman047
      This. He's interviewing at top companies that are expecting a higher level of accomplishment.
      Nov 7
    • Agilysys IgXs17
      I have to agree. Just because you have 8 years of experience doesn't mean you are good at the role. With that many interviews, it says that you looked good on paper, but you don't have the proper skillset. You can try interviewing for these companies, but don't try to be a senior. Apparently there is a lot more that you need to learn or become aware of. Good luck to you.
      Nov 7
  • Infosys BRY47
    Does x2 mean you made it to phone screen, x3 mean you made it to onsite, and no x mean you got ghosted/ rejected after speaking with the recruiter?
    Nov 7 2
    • New 2004dis
      OP
      x 2 means I interviewed with that company twice in the duration of about a year
      Nov 7
    • Infosys BRY47
      Interesting, I didn’t think you could do that with Facebook or Google. If you’re consistently making it to onsites, I’d say keep interviewing. If you can’t get past phone screens, you definitely need to stop and reflect.
      Nov 7
  • Synopsys rebellion
    Do pramp Pm interviews you will get peer feedback
    Nov 8 1
    • Apple 3id7w
      I always get a very good review at Pramp without any prep. Pramp is just way too easy.
      Nov 17
  • Oracle / Product OraclePM
    Unfortunately, being on a Visa is a restriction a lot of companies aren’t able to get around right now.
    Nov 7 1

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