**TLTR**: Applied for SWE at Google, a recruiter reached out, but I paused the process. Is it ok?\n\nA while ago, I applied for an SWE position at Google via Linkedin, thinking that I will get ghosted. Little did I knew, a recruiter after 2 weeks reached out to me and told me to have a chat. As I knew that technical interviews at Google are in general hard, I immediately picked up leetcode and start practicing. However, as I saw that I am not at the level to make the cut, the recruiter gave me a week to think about if I want to go on or pause/freeze the process, specifying that it will not be marked as I failed the interview and we will be able to re-start after 2-3 months. I\'ve read that failing an interview will cost me 6-12 months, I decided to email the recruiter back, saying that I do need more time (I\'m also working full time). Note that I generally suck at coding challenges but I was practicing the last couple of months and I got a bit better.\n\nI never thought that I would have a shoot @ Google and I really want to bring my A game, which makes it a conscious decision. However, I am afraid of maybe be forgotten and ignored in the future, and I feel to some extent that I am a coward, running away from a huge opportunity like this.\n\nI would like to ask if anyone here had any experience with that and your advice / view on this!\n\n*"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will."*\n\n*P.S.:  I\'m sorry if this is not the right place to post about this subject*

TLTR: Applied for SWE at Google, a recruiter reached out, but I paused the process. Is it ok?\n\nA while ago, I applied for an SWE position at Google via Linked