Interview Preparation with Ivan

Ivan is an exceptional coach. I really enjoyed working with him over the course of 6+ months. He's refreshingly direct, gives stellar feedback, and works well with async/written asks for input (which is ideal for me). He is also a great person, who is committed to high quality coaching and mentorship. He has helped me navigate a variety of topics: my own career growth; a difficult, high-stakes management situation; my approach to professional relationships; and more. Although our formal mentor-mentee relationship has ended, I look forward to keeping a strong and long-lasting relationship with Ivan.

I was laid off suddenly (shortly after having a kid) and Ivan helped me with my job search. First, he was emotionally supportive about my layoff. Then, during the job search, he helped me rewrite my resume. He reviewed and gave feedback on take-home assignments. He helped me prepare for interviews by listing out important questions to prepare for and then reviewing my answers. Lastly, when I landed my job he helped me negotiate and develop a 30-60-90 day plan. Ivan is very knowledgeable about product management and product management hiring processes. He has a no-nonsense attitude and was very responsive. His help made a noticeable difference in each stage: my resume got better and got more responses, my rate of passing interview screens went up, I got great at passing hiring manager screens (passed 6 out of 7) and got better at passing 2nd round interviews too, I passed all my take-home assignments and I've been able to incorporate his feedback into my actual work too. Ultimately, I landed a new position in 2 months that pays better and working on more interesting problems. This timeline was quick for the state of the job market (employers' job market). Ivan's mentorship was critical to achieving this.

I’d like to express my appreciation for Ivan’s outstanding mentorship. We touched a number of topics during our conversations: schedule planning, how to success in the difficult situations, personal growth, etc. His advice on structuring meetings has helped me improve communication within my team and reduce unnecessary meetings. Ivan has also provided great guidance on how to organize teams effectively. He encourages stepping out of comfort zones, to enable grow both personally and professionally. His approach to learning by doing, rather than just relying on theory, has been particularly valuable. The reading recommendations he shared have also been insightful and practical. Overall, Ivan’s mentorship has greatly helped me become a better leader and more effective in my role.

“Ivan is an excellent mentor who provides valuable guidance on behavioral aspects. His insights and advice have greatly helped me prepare for interviews and improve my communication skills. Highly recommend him for anyone looking to enhance their soft skills!”