Bombed a technical screen, asked for feedback anyway, and it was the most useful hour of my search
Completely fell apart on a screen last month. Blanked on a problem I'd definitely solved before. Instead of just spiraling I emailed the recruiter and asked, as politely as I could, whether the interviewer would share any specifics.
Most places ghost that request. This one didn't. The feedback was blunt and a little painful (I explain my approach too late, I go quiet when I'm stuck) but it was stuff no amount of solo grinding would've surfaced. Ask for the feedback. Worst case they say no.
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AnonymousAnon Kudos for emailing instead of spiraling, that's the hard part. Did the same once and the feedback stung, but it was the single most actionable thing I got all search. Solo grinding can't tell you that you're explaining your approach too late.
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AnonymousAnon Asking for feedback is such an underused move. The "go quiet when stuck" thing is so common too. I trained myself to narrate a fallback: "I'm not sure, here's what I'd try, here's what I'd check." Interviewers grade the process, not just the answer.