I feel like a failure
I am current PM at Samsung but recently rejected by Google (PM) and Apple (EPM) positions. I feel like a failure. I prepared so much for Google PM Interview according to their format and I was very confident. They asked me questions like 'measure the total length of a road in a city' etc. I was expecting these kind of questions and I prepared for it and I think I answered it very well. But they still rejected me based on the very objective view of one interviewer on some very vague questions. Now I can't reapply for another 12 months which sucks. For Apple EPM role, even though it was a step down role for me, due to my desperation of changing the job, I interviewed with them. They freaking had 3 phone screening round and 9 rounds of on-site (30 mins each). I think I aced the interview, I knew more than any of their interviewers and had more experience. (I wasn't cocky about this during interview at all). But even they rejected me cause they thought I wasn't a technical fit. Now I am only 34 and already feel like this is the peak of my career and no more progress from now on. I have worked very hard in past life, going from engineer to Product Manager. I feel like a failure after these rejections. I am applying to many FAANG jobs but getting very few replies back.
Samsung is the Google of Korea. Move to Korea!
Eff me if 34 is the peak than I don’t have much time left. Look OP it’s possible you bombed and didn’t realize it so I’ll tell you: find a mentor. Ask someone to help with objective feedback. Git gud. But ALSO: don’t beat yourself up. I work in FANG. I got super lucky. I also get rejected from FANG jobs constantly. I walked into an interview for a lower level PM role at Facebook and knew from the first round that they’d reject me. Sometimes it’s not the right fit. Sometimes they already have someone pegged and they’re required to go through the motions. Sometimes the interviewer just had a bad day. The point is that while you should focus on what you can control, there are TONS of reasons you can be rejected that are entirely outside your control. Best thing to do is not beat yourself up. You got two interviews!!!! That’s amazing! People dream of getting ONE interview. Be proud you work at an awesome company already and don’t be so hard on yourself.
Sounds like my story. I am in FAANG. I got rejected by others and it’s just matter of luck. Even when we reject folks it’s for many stupid reasons. So, relax. If it helps, I am looking for a role in Samsung. 😜
If it makes you feel any better I'm in the same boat man. I've been rejected by >5 on sites. Just try to move forward and learn as u do. Can only get better from here right?
You got two interviews you did good. You will get more. All the best
I agree with Fhjkl. Also, PM interviews are notoriously hard.
Pm interviews are hard everywhere. Everywhere I interviewed I was up against 10-20 candidates for same role.
I’ve heard from others at Google that 2/3 of PM hires there had to interview more than once.
One thing to keep in mind is that you are applying to one of the most conveted roles in top 10 tech company in the world. When you are competing at that level, you have to be OK with rejections as well. You did your best and it didn't work out. Big deal. First you take ownership of your rejection. Stop shifting blame to interviewers and look closely at what mistakes you made and move forward. Always move forward.
Bingo.
This guy fucks
Google process mess many people. My friend say no apply like you say
Got rejected from a company after a phone screen but gave optimal answers for both questions. Sometimes the interviewer is having a bad day, sometimes you are. Just because you've had two bad experiences doesn't mean the rest will be. Keep at it and look at these as a learning opportunity. You're one step closer to getting to your next job, you got this
Word. Chances are you’ll be rejected more than you’ll get offers.
Dude is Samsung really that bad? One of the best TV and phones...
How can you be certain that you were rejected by the ‘very objective view of one interviewer’.? We don’t give that kind of feedback to candidates.
That is my feeling, not official feedback of the interview. I followed all the approaches, framework, structure while answering these kind of questions. I read 4 books which were highly recommended by everyone. I did interview prep coaching call officially set up by Google recruiter and followed everything he recommended including reading books he suggested. I did at least 30 mock interviews with other PM people to prep for this interview. From my point of view, I did very well according to what was expected from an interviewee. So the rejection seems to be related to the objective view of one person. I feel like if 5 different people interviewed me for this and took average feedback, I would have gotten past the phone round.
Don’t be so hard on yourself! You know nothing about the other candidates for the role or how they did in the interviews. Maybe one of your interviewers had a bad day. Once I had to interview a candidate while a major incident was underway and I barely even listened to him. Or maybe they had some particular experience that you don’t have and that happened to put them ahead.