"Had a 3-task case study for a PM role in Search: Product Discovery: Re-defining the 'Best' ranking algorithm for flights. Required a deep dive into user segmentation, A/B testing strategy, and balancing price vs. duration. AI Strategy: Creating a 1-pager for leadership on using LLMs to enhance search. Covered feasibility, data requirements, and ROI. Incident Management: A prioritization exercise. I had to rank 4 simultaneous backend issues (Meta-search API timeouts, DB SLA breaches, marketing feed failures, and analytics downtime) based on business impact and revenue risk."

Firstly, the selection process extended over a period of more than a month, which is significantly longer than the industry standard. This prolonged timeline can be quite taxing for candidates who are actively seeking new opportunities. One notable issue I encountered was related to the assignment provided during the interview process. I was given a rather lengthy task with a defined deadline without prior consultation to ensure its feasibility with my existing commitments. In contrast to other companies, which typically inquire about candidates' availability and workload, I was expected to allocate considerable time and effort to complete the assignment on short notice. This placed significant strain on my personal and family life, as I had to dedicate numerous late hours to meet the deadline. Furthermore, after submitting the initial assignment, I was unexpectedly presented with a second task that was not within the scope of the first assignment. During the entire interview process, I was never asked if I had experience or expertise in this specific area. Consequently, I had to invest additional time and effort to research and develop the second task, which was a challenge given the limited timeframe. During the final presentation of my work, I notice that one of the panel members appeared disengaged, even to the point of laughter during my presentation. It was disheartening to see a lack of attention and professionalism during this critical stage of the process. Furthermore, it appeared that no one had thoroughly reviewed the comprehensive work I had submitted earlier. Following the presentation, I received a rejection email with generic feedback that lacked specific details or reasons for the decision. Considering the significant time and effort I invested in the selection process, this feedback felt inadequate and disrespectful. I subsequently reached out to the recruiter, Milos, seeking more detailed feedback, but unfortunately, I did not receive a response. Throughout the selection process, there were several instances of disorganization and unprofessionalism. Interviews often started late, emails were sometimes incorrect or delayed, and crucial information was not communicated in a timely manner. These issues added to the overall frustration I experienced during this process.