r/analytics • u/Far-Ad4722 • Aug 25 '26
Support 6+ YOE, 2 years of interviewing, good feedback but still no offer. What am I missing?
I’ve been trying to switch jobs for almost 2 years now, and I’m genuinely starting to wonder what I’m missing.
I have 6+ YOE in data/financial services, working primarily with SQL, Python, Snowflake, data pipelines, data quality and automation.
I’ve interviewed with companies like Bloomberg, Citadel, Tesla and Intuit, made it through multiple rounds including technical/coding interviews, and there have been several where I walked away feeling like I did really well.
I also ask for feedback whenever possible. Multiple times I’ve heard some version of:
“You did well, the team liked you, but we decided to move forward with another candidate.”
I understand that happening once or twice. But after almost 2 years of getting close and hearing similar feedback, I’m starting to question what I need to change.
For people here who’ve been hiring managers/interviewers, what usually separates the candidate who did well from the candidate who actually gets the offer?
Is it technical depth? Communication? Domain experience? Am I targeting the wrong roles at 6+ YOE? Or is the market really just this competitive right now?
Also shooting my shot — if anyone’s team is hiring for Senior Data Analyst / Data Management / Data Engineering-type roles, especially around NYC/NJ or in
fintech/financial services, I’d really appreciate a DM.
Happy to share my resume.
Would genuinely appreciate any advice, criticism, leads, or perspective.
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u/thedoctorisout25 Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
Competitive companies, competitive market, competitive field. I’m an analytics manager at a F100, I’ve had roles open lately where I get hundreds of applicants who make it through the automated screening process - they have the right background, work experience, visa status, etc. Is every single one incredible and telling the truth? Probably not. But of those hundreds, I still end up picking from 10-20 that look perfect on paper. By the time we make it through screenings to the actual interview, I’m normally picking between 3-4 people who are great fits all around. Many times the people who aren’t picked did nothing wrong at all - someone just happened to give an example that was slightly more relevant to the role, or a funny personal anecdote that made them more memorable, etc.
I think you could be doing everything right and just be having bad luck in a very tough market
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u/Far-Ad4722 Aug 25 '26
this really makes sense…at first I felt i was doing something wrong and it started effecting my confidence.
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u/Froggn_Bullfish Aug 25 '26
Also - I’m surprised this was left out - often times there’s more than one perfect candidate and you just have to choose. Think about it - even if it comes down to two candidates, that makes their best chance 50-50 even though they did everything right. At the end of the day it’s all just a numbers game.
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u/naijaboiler Aug 25 '26
i opened a role got 1000 applicants in 2 days. narrowed it down to 30 very qualified folks
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u/_burner7 Aug 25 '26
The market is insane. I have interviewed with more than a dozen companies in the past two years and still no offer. I get good feedback and think things are going well. I have 5 years of experience in a niche field with a masters in that field. Granted I am applying to what is effectively a promotion for me. I try and find the new hires that beat me out on LinkedIn and sure enough they have 7-10 years of experience.
When I landed my current job in 2021 I applied to maybe 25-30 jobs and interviewed with three companies.
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Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26
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u/Far-Ad4722 Aug 25 '26
i am someone who will require sponsorship. will that be a factor?
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u/thedoctorisout25 Aug 25 '26
these days 100%
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Aug 25 '26
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u/Amazing-Plastic-8758 Aug 27 '26
lol come on dude. People out there face real discrimination it’s insulting you’d even say that
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Aug 25 '26
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u/Far-Ad4722 Aug 25 '26
i feel you …bay area is very competitive but there are many companies. but companies these days are looking for candidates from similar industries. which isnt right for hiring a technical role
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Aug 25 '26
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u/Far-Ad4722 Aug 25 '26
I am from boston currently in NJ. I can understand how expensive is boston these days.
and yes, almost every role i interviewed want the same exact experience , infact its apples to apples which shouldnt be a case. for ex; when interviewing with tesla they said i dont have trucking exp. which sucks coz they aint hiring me to design a truck . I ensured and showed them i could understand data from analytical perspective .
Bloomberg interviewer was harsh,he asked how i could solve the problem and I said I work on very similar challenges at my current place.
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u/Lady-Data-Scientist Aug 25 '26
I was recently in the job market and it’s just crazy competitive. They can find multiple candidates who check all the qualifications, so it comes down to who stands out? Usually the one who does has some unique combo of experience that makes them the unicorn candidate - the right combo of prior industries or domains or tech/software, or they’ve already solved the same problems the hiring team is facing.
I was also employed while searching so I was being picky which didn’t help. But eventually I interviewed for a role that was focused on the intersection of product and marketing, and I’ve done analytics for both areas and I’d previously worked in marketing (on the business side) and I’d done identical projects and tasks in my previous role. I also had double the YOE they wanted but was still in their salary range. So it was just a matter for continuing to apply until I could find the situation where I was the unicorn.
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u/Far-Ad4722 Aug 25 '26
this sounds like game of roulette . it all comes down to finding perfect opportunity and right time .
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u/Lady-Data-Scientist Aug 25 '26
Truly it is. You just keep trying until the stars align.
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u/Far-Ad4722 Aug 25 '26
tbh i’m exhausted at this point. but at the same time i know I cant give up. there are days i wonder if im good enough . coz its been 2 years and it seems like there is no end to it
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u/Lady-Data-Scientist Aug 25 '26
Yeah I definitely had to take breaks during my job search when I felt burned out and it was showing up in interviews and prep.
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u/renagade24 Aug 25 '26
The market competitiveness in my opinion is a little over index, meaning when we posted for roles nearly 90% of applicants were garbage. This was a range of folks needing visas, not enough experience for the role, and poorly written resumes that couldn't sell the recruiter in 90 seconds.
Also, if anyone in the company has a referral, I'm 100% starting there before any cold applicants. It takes 6 months to get someone fully ramped and useful, and within a year they must be completely self-sufficient.
Now, to answer your question directly on who gets picked, it depends. If the focus of the role is to fill a gap in technical skills, then we will generally accept if they lack some soft skills. However, most of the time, I'd be more than willing to pick the less technical person even at a Senior/Staff level if they seem like the right fit. I'm also a little weary when an interview process goes way to smooth. I think genuine responses and thoughtful questions is the name of the game. Candidates who don't ask any questions, or who don't have any conviction in what they want next is an almost immediate no from me.
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u/damhow Aug 25 '26
Starting to feel like blind apps make it harder to get jobs these days. Maybe try a networking event around your area. I have a quasi government job that I got off a blind app last year, but i had been applying to this place in and off for like 7 years and finally slipped through the crack.I threw a couple apps out recently just to test the water and have been getting straight rejects and Im not even in a big city.
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u/RA42069 Aug 26 '26
At least you’ve had interviews. I have similar experience but I haven’t even had a phone screening :(
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u/Far-Ad4722 Aug 26 '26
i feel you. please check if your resume is upto the mark and see that it captures your skills
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u/random_goats Aug 27 '26
If you don’t mind moving to Sioux Falls PREMIER Bankcard is hiring and you could be a perfect fit. Great place to work.
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u/Decent-Musician-8478 Aug 29 '26
Damn 6 years of experience and still nothing? I literally have no chance
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