u/Mediocre_Mix_9185

At the beginning of September, I went back to a Bob Proctor manifestation video I used to listen to in 2021, when I manifested my first six-figure job. Somewhere along the way I'd forgotten about it. So I started playing it every night before bed.
As I listened, I told myself I would have a job before October 1st. I thought about the salary. I pictured myself signing the offer letter. I looked up the office and saw myself making coffee there. I manifested that the role would be remote, and I even saw myself eventually getting promoted.
At the time, I had $40 in my bank account and was in credit card debt. My lease was ending. My niece was about to have a baby, and I'd promised her I would be there, but I couldn't even afford the flight.
Over five months, I made it to the final round of about five different interview processes, and each one ended in a rejection. My hope was fading and I had really started to doubt myself. But at some point I decided I was going to keep going and never give up. I kept telling myself, this is my job.
So I prepared like crazy. I copied each job description into Claude and ChatGPT and had them come up with 26 behavioral and situational questions the interviewers might ask. Then I gave them my resume and had them build out answers. I went through every answer and updated it with real stories from my experience, using the CARL method: Context, Action, Result, Lesson. After that, I reread the questions and answers over and over until I could say them out loud naturally.
For my resume, I used this formula for every bullet:
[Action Verb] + [Task/Project] + [Result/Outcome with Metrics]
Each bullet highlighted an impactful initiative that showed a skill the company was looking for, and I started every bullet with that skill. For example:
Process Optimization: Built an automated results workflow for enterprise accounts that cut results processing time from 7 days to 24 hours, increasing project submissions and contributing to a $200K upsell.
This made it easy for hiring managers and recruiters to skim my resume and immediately see the skills they wanted, backed by measurable impact. I also added a skills section listing the tools I've used that were relevant to each role.
Another hack I found really helpful was Parakeet AI. You can upload your resume, notes, and prepared interview answers, and it uses all of that to suggest answers to questions in real time during the call, so the responses aren't generic. I never read from it word for word, but it would jog my memory if I felt nervous or intimidated by an interviewer. I tend to freeze when my nerves kick in. In the end, I used it a lot less than I expected, but it was comforting knowing it was there. Some people might think that's ridiculous, but in the world of AI, I figured I'd fight fire with fire.
I also stopped mass applying to roles I didn't think I'd realistically qualify for. Instead, I put a lot of effort into 5 to 8 roles where I knew I'd be a top applicant. That got me more interviews and took a lot of pressure off.
I learned the industry inside and out and got ready for the hardest questions they could possibly ask. The interviews ended up being the smoothest I've ever had. Then on September 30th, the last day of my lease, I got the offer.
A few more tips if you're in the middle of a job search:
Apply for jobs where you meet the requirements and the nice-to-haves. In this market, companies are choosing people who check 80 to 90 percent of the boxes because it's so competitive.
Always include a cover letter, but keep it simple. I use bullets that match the skills they're looking for with examples from my experience. If a role has a lot of applicants, or I might not check every box, I add a little more, like why I'd be a great fit or why I'm excited about the role.
Tailor your resume to every job, or create a few versions for different types of roles so you aren't starting from scratch each time.

Last Thursday (4/23), I had my final round interview with a Senior Director at a tech company. Overall, it went really well. She was familiar with my current company and mentioned that my experience felt strongly aligned with what they’re looking for.

Toward the end, I gave a more detailed answer than I intended, and we ended up running over the 30-minute time slot. She responded positively—saying, “Thank you for the detailed response, those were great insights”—but noted we were out of time and that I’d hear back from HR and the hiring manager. Because of that, I didn’t get a chance to ask my questions or clarify next steps.

We also built some nice rapport—chatted a bit about where I’m from, and she mentioned she had done an exchange at my university, so the conversation felt pretty natural and personable.

My only concern is that I may have come across a bit long-winded at the end and not as mindful of time as I normally would be, which I know is important in a PM role.

Right after the interview, I sent a thank-you note to HR saying I really enjoyed the conversation and could see myself working with the team, and I asked about next steps. Didn’t hear back, so I followed up again earlier today—still no response.

Earlier in the process, HR said this would be the final round, but one interviewer mentioned there might be a take-home assignment, so I’m not entirely sure what to expect next.

Up to now, they’ve usually taken about 3–5 days between rounds to share updates, so I’m hoping to hear back soon. That said, the lack of response to my follow-ups feels a bit unusual.

One thing I don’t know how to interpret: she said I’d hear back from HR and the hiring manager. Usually, I’d expect just “HR will follow up” to keep things vague (especially if it’s a no), so the mention of the hiring manager threw me off a bit. Would they say that if I wasn’t moving forward? Or am I overthinking it?

I do have a couple of other companies I’m interviewing with, but this is the one I feel most aligned with.

Curious how others would read this situation.

Last Thursday (4/23), I had my final round interview with a Senior Director at a tech company. Overall, it went really well. She was familiar with my current company and mentioned that my experience felt strongly aligned with what they’re looking for.

Toward the end, I gave a more detailed answer than I intended, and we ended up running over the 30-minute time slot. She responded positively—saying, “Thank you for the detailed response, those were great insights”—but noted we were out of time and that I’d hear back from HR and the hiring manager. Because of that, I didn’t get a chance to ask my questions or clarify next steps.

We also built some nice rapport—chatted a bit about where I’m from, and she mentioned she had done an exchange at my university, so the conversation felt pretty natural and personable.

My only concern is that I may have come across a bit long-winded at the end and not as mindful of time as I normally would be, which I know is important in a PM role.

Right after the interview, I sent a thank-you note to HR saying I really enjoyed the conversation and could see myself working with the team, and I asked about next steps. Didn’t hear back, so I followed up again earlier today—still no response.

Earlier in the process, HR said this would be the final round, but one interviewer mentioned there might be a take-home assignment, so I’m not entirely sure what to expect next.

Up to now, they’ve usually taken about 3–5 days between rounds to share updates, so I’m hoping to hear back soon. That said, the lack of response to my follow-ups feels a bit unusual.

One thing I don’t know how to interpret: she said I’d hear back from HR and the hiring manager. Usually, I’d expect just “HR will follow up” to keep things vague (especially if it’s a no), so the mention of the hiring manager threw me off a bit. Would they say that if I wasn’t moving forward? Or am I overthinking it?

I do have a couple of other companies I’m interviewing with, but this is the one I feel most aligned with.

Curious how others would read this situation.