Preparing for the Product Manager Interview
Five Commonly Asked Questions
2018 is coming to an end, and I’m about to start my career as a Product Manager at Rally Health next month. 🎉
I wanted to take the time to reflect upon my interview experiences and share some insights. Here are the five most common questions that I received. Each one will have some personal notes and additional resources linked underneath them.
My background: (LinkedIn)
- 2.5 years of engineering experience at Shopify (e-commerce platform)
- built a handful of e-commerce companies (Rica Recycling, Boiling Leaf, Elephant Electronics, Robochic Apparel)
Some quick stats:
- 50 product roles blind applied to (both APM and PM)
- 8 companies moved me forward to phone screen (16% success rate)
- 6 companies moved me forward to second round (75% success rate)
- 2 on-sites with Rally Health and Yelp (33% success rate) *[50% arguably -
decided not to move forward with two companies after receiving an offer]*
1. Why do you want to work for company X?
For me, this was the most frequently asked question, especially during the phone screen. Your interviewer is trying to figure out your career goals, interest level, and knowledge about the company. This question is more of a formality for larger starts up but can give you an opportunity to really shine for smaller/mid sized ones. Tailor your story so that this product role makes sense as the next step in your career. Make sure you can show that you are genuinely interested in company X’s product/mission and highlight unique aspects of the role that appeal to you.
Additional Resources:
https://theinterviewguys.com/why-do-you-want-to-work-for-us/
https://biginterview.com/blog/2013/03/why-do-you-want-to-work-here.html
2. “The Conflict Example” — Tell me about a time you handled a conflict.
The wording can vary, but the gist of this question is to see how you work with others. Your interviewer wants to see that you have been in a decision making position and that you are able to work collaboratively, take feedback, and communicate effectively. Pick an example where there was conflict and resolution. Do not talk about a time where someone disagreed with your idea, but you implemented it anyway. The structure of your answer typically includes proposing a solution, facing pushback, pivoting/compromising, and evaluating impact. Show that you are able to listen to other’s perspectives and use their insights to create a better solution.
Additional Resources:
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/interview-questions-to-assess-conflict-resolution-skills-1918500
https://www.myperfectresume.com/how-to/interview-tips/describe-a-situation-that-demanded-you-successfully-convince-someone-to-see-things-your-way
3. How would you improve/design product X?
Some examples include: “How would you design an interface for buying coffee online?” or “How would you improve the Facebook timeline?”. The CIRCLES Method provides a good framework for how to structure your answers. Remember to keep things in perspective of the user and define the correct metrics to measure success. Once you define the user personas/user stories, suggest some feature ideas to solve the user problem. Articulate the trade-offs of the different approaches. RICE is a good prioritization framework to help you evaluate impact/risks. Finally, decide on your final solution and explain why you think that is the best approach.
Additional Resources:
https://www.productmanagerhq.com/2014/07/product-manager-interview-the-product-design-question/
https://www.impactinterview.com/2016/06/circles-method-product-design-framework/
https://www.intercom.com/blog/rice-simple-prioritization-for-product-managers/
4. What is your favorite product?
When preparing for this question, select and study a handful of different products. One interviewer had me list apps off my phone and then chose one to talk about. Some examples I used included Uber, Google Maps, Blinkist, Kindle, and Starbucks. Clearly understand the value proposition and why users like using this product. Know the product’s competitors and be able to do a competitors analysis. Also, be prepared to come up with suggestions for improving the app. This interview is generally pretty conversational, so just treat it like a friendly chat between two colleagues.
Additional Resources:
https://www.productmanagerhq.com/2014/12/product-manager-interview-the-favorite-product-question/
https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-good-answers-to-the-product-management-interview-question-What-is-your-favorite-online-product-and-why-How-would-you-improve-it
5. How would you explain product management to a stranger? Why product management?
I think this question applies more to those without product management experience. Your interviewer wants to see that you have a good grasp of what a product manager does and wants to understand your motivation for transitioning into product management. Some variations of this question include, “How do you see a PM working with engineering/design teams?” Failing this question is a huge red flag because it may demonstrate that you don’t know what a PM does - and maybe your motivation for becoming a PM is wrong as well.
I linked resources below to help you get started. Generally speaking, a product manager is a decision maker that identifies opportunities at a high level and sets the product strategy/vision. Your objective is to figure out what to build next with the limited resources you have. Make sure to do your research as the role varies between companies.
Additional Resources:
https://www.aha.io/roadmapping/guide/product-management/what-is-the-role-of-a-product-manager
https://www.oreilly.com/ideas/what-exactly-does-a-product-manager-do-all-day-anyhow
https://medium.com/@tworetzky/what-does-a-product-manager-do-205b40d82da3
https://www.mindtheproduct.com/2011/10/what-exactly-is-a-product-manager/
Books I recommend
- Cracking the PM Interview by Gayle McDowell
- The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
- Decode and Conquer by Lewis C. Lin
Final Thoughts
Thanks for taking the time to read this article. I wrote this mainly as a guide for my future self, but I hope this helps others as well.
If you have any questions or want anymore interview tips, please feel free to reach out. If you’re in the SF Bay Area, I’d love to grab coffee and sync up. Best of luck on your product journey. Happy Holidays! 😄
