Christian Ollenborger

Before I joined the Intentional Job Search program, my job search was a lot of bulk applications and a bit of interviews. I was learning a number of different AI tools and how to apply them to my job. I kind of got stuck at the manager/loop panel round and I couldn't figure out why I wasn't clearing that round. I had a couple of opportunities that I was sure I was a hand in the glove fit for. I had clicked with everybody I spoke with and they were just coming up short and I wasn't getting any feedback as to why.

I finally just had to admit, okay, you thought you knew what you were doing. Maybe the market has changed. Maybe you don't know what you're doing and it's time to get help. There was definitely a measure of my own pride — like you don't need help, you got this. And then I'm like, I don't got this though.

I got down to sort of three finalist places and ultimately this one seemed the most directly targeted. It was for product managers only. It felt like it wasn't just investing in the next offer letter. It was investing in myself and my career.

The first aha moment was how focused you get on exactly what you're looking for. Being a recovering bulk applicator — if the title was what it was, I just applied for it. Narrowing your focus and positioning yourself for that role was definitely an eye opener. And then the behavioral interviews and the tell me about yourself preparation was something I'd never even thought of before. I couldn't help but wonder how many times did I mishandle those and therefore not get the job.

Initially it was a little bit frustrating when I would not pass one of the behavioral tests. The first few times I didn't pass I'm like, but I said it though — they're being harsh. And then I'm like, this is what you need. This is why you're not advancing. The minute I had that thought I'm like, all right, beat the bad habits out of me. And I got much better.

The number one factor to me getting this job was being able to navigate the behavioral questions well, hit all the points. I was able to relay experiences where I demonstrated the points that I was making and I really stuck the landing. That was the number one reason I got the job — being able to handle that with grace and elegance.

I wish I would have gone sooner. I would have probably prevented months of unemployment and angst and anxiety. You know how to do the product manager job and that's great, but you don't necessarily in this market know how to apply for and win the product manager job — and that's what you're going to get here. And all the while, the coaching you're going to receive to get the job is going to level up your thinking when you're on the job as well.

By the time you pass all of the required steps, I was like one of those lean fighters from Rocky. I was hungry. I was in mid-season form. When I would go into an interview, I knew I got this. I came in pretty demoralized and I left with the eye of the tiger.