Cracking the Job Search
The Only Two Things That Matter
When job hunting, only two things truly move the needle: getting interviews and clearing interviews. Everything else is just noise.
Stuck? Ask yourself: Are you struggling more with landing interviews or turning interviews into offers?
It’s critical to separate these stages:
Each stage demands a different skillset.
Knowing where you’re stuck lets you focus on the right fix.
Think of this like product-market fit. Nothing else matters until you get it. For job seekers, consistently getting interview calls is your “PMF.” Don’t obsess over interview prep until you’re getting callbacks.
Another helpful mental model is to think of the whole job hunting process as a funnel. If you can't identify where your funnel is leaking, how can you optimize and fix the problem?
If you're not getting interviews, focus here first:
Polish your resume and portfolio.
Position yourself to stand out in a crowded market.
Network smartly, apply early, or seek out less crowded roles.
I’ve written about where to look as a job seeker to stand out to increase your chances of getting interviews. Also this post about networking might help.
If interviews are coming in but not converting:
Celebrate, you’re getting noticed!
Identify which stages you're most often getting rejected at.
If it's the HR round, you might need to work on your storytelling.
If it's the Hiring Manager round, you might need to improve functional knowledge and STAR-based answers.
For aspiring PMs, here are some of my favorite resources:
If you’re stalled at either phase, focus relentlessly on unlocking the next step.
Hope this helps. Keep pushing, and good things are coming!