A Case for Case Studies – a neurodivergent interview process case study

I recently stumbled upon a post by Chantal Cox humorously envisioning what interviews might look like in five years. Although intended as a jest, the ensuing discussion in the comments caught my attention, particularly the insightful observations foreseeing the demise of the conventional interview format.

Neurodivergent individuals often find themselves at odds with the traditional interview setting, grappling with the nuances of unspoken social cues, navigating unexpected questions unrelated to the job description, and struggling to discern the interviewer's expectations. Additionally, the experience of rejection can exacerbate feelings of dysphoria, undermining self-esteem and motivation. As someone living with ADHD, I've encountered these interview hurdles to varying degrees. However, through perseverance and resilience, I've learned to regulate my emotions and adapt my thought processes accordingly.

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview for a senior product manager position with a company that revolutionizes the interview process through case studies. Tasked with completing two such studies, the subsequent interviews took the form of constructive critiques of my solutions. Despite the company garnering predominantly negative reviews on Glassdoor due to its challenging case studies, I found the experience enriching. It afforded me the chance to demonstrate my technical prowess, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving skills without feeling confined to a predetermined mold.

The first case study delved into devising a pricing strategy, providing me with market constraints and assumptions to navigate. Initially daunting, I gained momentum by dissecting the problem's core – understanding its significance, evaluating foundational assumptions, and synthesizing provided data points. Ultimately, I crafted a comprehensive recommendation utilizing a linear model, complemented by thorough data cleaning techniques showcased in the appendix.

The second case study, a feature proposal, introduced an added twist – it had to be presented in the format of an Amazon working backwards document (WBD). Once again, I approached the task methodically, exploring multiple potential solutions grounded in solid foundational analysis. Here, I was able to leverage my full data science skill set, wrangling and analyzing complex datasets comprising tens of thousands of entries and numerous features. After rigorous risk assessment and prioritization, I confidently advocated for a final solution, supported by extensive data analytics detailed in the accompanying appendix.

Through these case studies and subsequent interviews, I found myself well-equipped to articulate my thoughts and present my abilities comprehensively. I firmly believe in letting my work speak for itself, and I impressed my interviewers with the depth of detail, thought, and analytics embedded within my responses. Moreover, I appreciated the opportunity to engage in dialogue with my interviewers, clarifying my thought processes and refining my models. In fact, I even had the chance to share additional materials, such as wireframe sketches and flowcharts, further enriching the conversation and showcasing my capabilities.

Do I advocate for case studies all the time? Probably not, as they can get very time-consuming. I am, however, advocating for more opportunities to let individuals showcase their working styles and results more directly and explicitly.

More resources about interviewing with neurodivergence:

• Interview Tips for Neurodivergent Job Seekers
• Neurodiversity Challenges in Job Interviews
• How To Build An Inclusive Recruitment Process That Supports Neurodiversity In The Workplace
• How Do You Interview Someone Who is Neurodivergent?
• The Neurodivergent Prospect: Tackling the Hiring Process, by Therese B. Fessenden

A special shoutout to Zak Parsons .