Struggling with product sense questions that go off-script. Prep books hammer frameworks, but when I tried CIRCLES during a mock, the interviewer said it felt robotic. For those who cracked Amazon/Google interviews: how did you balance structure with authentic problem-solving under time pressure? Are we over-indexing on memorized templates?
2023 interviewer survey shows 68% penalize rigid framework use. Solution: internalize structure then discard the labels. Practice transforming CIRCLES into natural conversation flow - e.g., replace ‘Comprehend context’ with ‘First I’d clarify success metrics’ to sound less mechanical while maintaining logical progression.
When I bombed my first Google loop by parroting frameworks, a hiring manager told me ‘We want to see your brain, not your flashcards.’ Now I use frameworks as checklists, not scripts. Last week at Uber, I literally said ‘Let me think through this aloud’ before structuring - got the offer!
You’ve got this! Frameworks are training wheels - soon you’ll ride free! Focus on solving, not structuring. Your unique perspective shines when you relax 