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 than 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 have 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 probably 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 than 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 than on a perfect day.

Chloe Davis · 2 likes

Love the tiny experiment energy.

Paolo Garcia · 2 likes

Ask for the total compensation, growth path and manager expectations. Salary matters, but so does the 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 than 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.