How do you get better at interviews without burning out without overthinking it?

Kabir Khan · 112 likes

I would make the decision with cash flow, risk, and optionality in mind rather than chasing the perfect answer. If two options look equal, choose the one that is easier to reverse.

- Start small and make the next step obvious.
- Keep notes so you can compare what worked.
- Ask someone with recent experience, not just strong opinions.

Source: mostly hard-won experience and comparing notes with people who stuck with it

Arif Hasan · 27 likes

@kabirrides Helpful correction

Ananya Rao · 1 likes

I was going to disagree, but your second sentence got me

Gentle Noodle · 16 likes

I like this more then the top-level advice

Tiny Sparrow · 1 likes

That is a much better way to say it

Maja Wiśniewska · 89 likes

I would prioritize emergency savings before optimizing tiny investment differences. Boring liquidity prevents expensive panic. I am curious whether interviews still feels good next month

Felix Weber · 56 likes

I would make the decision with cash flow, risk, and optionality in mind rather than chasing the perfect answer. If two options look equal, choose the one that is easier to reverse.

- Start small and make the next step obvious.
- Keep notes so you can compare what worked.
- Ask someone with recent experience, not just strong opinions.

Hope this helps!

Tiny Sparrow · 33 likes

I needed the reminder to start smaller

Hugo Sánchez · 8 likes

anecdote beats theory here

Chloe Davis · 7 likes

@sleepy_runner36 I think both things can be true

Nour Ali · 6 likes

Thanks that actually helped

Yasmine El Amrani · 6 likes

could be regional too

Rafael Almeida · 5 likes

Can you expand on that a bit?

Daan Bakker · 4 likes

Can you expand on that a bit?

Nour Ali · 6 likes

I was going to disagree, but your second sentence got me

Paolo Garcia · 0 likes

Thanks for making it less intimidating

Hamza Malik · 2 likes

I would pin this if I could

Amina Okafor · 1 likes

@sleepy_runner36 Now I want a spreadsheet

Maya Williams · 0 likes

good clarification — I read it differently at first

Thandi Mokoena · 32 likes

ask for the total compensation, growth path and manager expectations. Salary matters, but so does the environment you will live in daily. For me it came down to the conversation

Luciana Vargas · 2 likes

my wallet felt that

Solar Comet · 31 likes

the context helps. Without it I would of assumed the opposite. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability

Brave Orbit · 23 likes

Run the numbers on a normal month and a bad month. If the plan only works in the normal month, it is probably too fragile. The my desk detail changes the whole answer

Ren Suzuki · 18 likes

Run the numbers on a normal month and a bad month. If the plan only works in the normal month, it is probably too fragile. My friend tried it in Toronto and had the opposite result

Nour Ali · 12 likes

Run the numbers on a normal month and a bad month. If the plan only works in the normal month, it is probably too fragile. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability

Hamza Malik · 7 likes

I would love a follow-up example

Sleepy Rider · 10 likes

The context helps. Without it I would have assumed the opposite. This is where I would ask one more question before choosing

Amina Okafor · 2 likes

@tiny_sleepy I needed the reminder to start smaller

Tiny Sparrow · 1 likes

Thanks for making it less intimidating

Solar River · 10 likes

Run the numbers on a normal month and a bad month. If the plan only works in the normal month, it is probably too fragile. For me it came down to the route

Tiny Sparrow · 4 likes

Small caveat: context changes the answer a lot

Paolo Garcia · 3 likes

I think both things can be true

Noah Campbell · 10 likes

I wish more posts had this much context. I would love to see a follow-up after 10 weeks

Nicolás Díaz · 8 likes

Love the tiny experiment energy. I would love to see a follow-up after 4 weeks

Tiny Sparrow · 0 likes

I think both things can be true

Cozy Atlas · 8 likes

Great point, especially the part about without

Arif Hasan · 25 likes

@nl_fern2 Small caveat: context changes the answer a lot

Urban River · 6 likes

Thanks that actually helped

Ren Suzuki · 1 likes

adding this to my notes

Mara Fischer · 7 likes

I am saving this for the next time I overthink without. It reminds me of a very specific conversation near the library

Paolo Garcia · 6 likes

Run the numbers on a normal month and a bad month. If the plan only works in the normal month, it is probably too fragile. I used to overcomplicate this constantly

Quiet Runner · 5 likes

Run the numbers on a normal month and a bad month. If the plan only works in the normal month, it is probly too fragile. My friend tried it in Lisbon and had the opposite result

Siti Lim · 4 likes

I would prioritize emergency savings before optimizing tiny investment differences. Boring liquidity prevents expensive panic. I noticed the same thing in Warsaw

Léa Bernard · 27 likes

I was going to disagree, but your second sentence got me

Maya Williams · 2 likes

I am stealing that phrase

Grace Parker · 3 likes

I would prioritize emergency savings before optimizing tiny investment differences. Boring liquidity prevents expensive panic. The awkward part is easy to underestimate

Rachel Tan · 3 likes

Do you think this would work in a smaller place then Manila?

Mariana Costa · 3 likes

The interviews angle is what sold me. My only addition is to make the first step visible. The spreadsheet should include the emotional cost too

Sleepy Rider · 3 likes

Run the numbers on a normal month and a bad month. If the plan only works in the normal month, it is probably too fragile. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability

Maya Williams · 3 likes

the context helps. Without it I would have assumed the opposite. That is the kind of detail beginners miss

Jan Nowak · 3 likes

That last line is excellent. The late summer version is even more interesting

Avery Johnson · 3 likes

That last line is excellent. This is more useful on a tired commute then on a perfect day

Chloe Davis · 2 likes

Love the tiny experiment energy

Paolo Garcia · 2 likes

Ask for teh total compensation, growth path and manager expectations. Salary matters, but so does teh environment you will live in daily. I keep a note about interviews for exactly this reason

Maya Williams · 2 likes

I would prioritize emergency savings before optimizing tiny investment differences. Boring liquidity prevents expensive panic. This pairs weirdly well with idli

Curious Orbit · 1 likes

I would prioritize emergency savings before optimizing tiny investment differences. Boring liquidity prevents expensive panic. That is the kind of detail beginners miss

Valeria López · 1 likes

Run the numbers on a normal month and a bad month. If the plan only works in the normal month, it is probably too fragile. The low-effort version is probably the keeper

Ren Suzuki · 1 likes

I would prioritize emergency savings before optimizing tiny investment differences. Boring liquidity prevents expensive panic. The social part surprised me too

Rapid Runner · 29 likes

I would love a follow-up example

Urban Panda · 1 likes

My first thought was cost then time, then whether I would remember to do it. The messy part is easy to underestimate

Quiet Runner · 1 likes

I would prioritize emergency savings before optimizing tiny investment differences. Boring liquidity prevents expensive panic. The delightful constraint is probably the real story

Paolo Garcia · 1 likes

run the numbers on a normal month and a bad month. If the plan only works in the normal month, it is probably too fragile. This is more useful on a tired commute then on a perfect day

Valeria López · 0 likes

I appreciate the honest middle stage, not just the polished ending

Mango Orbit · 0 likes

Really good advice and it feels doable. I would test it for 9 days before deciding

Sanne de Vries · 0 likes

Run the numbers on a normal month and a bad month. If the plan only works in the normal month, it is probably too fragile. I learned that one the expensive way