Ace Your Product Manager Interview: 5 Step Approach
“An effective PM is an entrepreneur, strategist, technical visionary, cross-functional team leader, project manager, and customer advocate all rolled into one.” — Jeffrey Bussgang, Entering StartUpLand
Product Management is becoming one of the highest sought after jobs in the market, especially in technology companies. The role of a Product Manager is relatively new and open for people with varying skillsets and backgrounds ranging from engineering, design, sales, marketing, project management, and so on. While working, each one of us does play some portion of the Product Manager role, and it is essential to identify and build on the missing pieces if one wants to transition to a Product Manager role.
Keeping that in mind, one has to prepare and give the best when provided with an opportunity for the Product Manager interview. The approach I am going to share will help you not only better prepare for the interview but also come out satisfied after the meeting. The 5-step process is presented in different formats by different fellow PMs, but mostly this is what it will take to make you better prepared and come out as a confident candidate.
#1. Focus on Impact Driven Approach — Starting from resume to the answers you provide during the interview, focus on the impact you created rather than the business as usual tasks. Revenue, NNA, Key metrics, KPIs are good indicators of the difference you made in your previous roles. Everyone is interested to know how you managed to move the needle for the Product while you were in PM on non-PM positions and generated value for the organization.
For someone starting fresh out of college, fundraising activities during college days or helping your friends and family members with a problem can fall under this category. Remember, the narrative shall clearly show the impact you create with your work.
#2. Handle Problem Solving with Intent — Problem Solving questions are most frequently asked in a PM interview as the interviewer is interested to know how you handle a difficult situation. Interviewers are trying to catch you off guard and put you in a position you have never experienced before. Asking clarifying questions will help you understand the context and understand the overarching goal of the problem.
Before you start answering, take a pause to distill your thoughts and think 10X. 10X thinking will help you to come up with something which can actually move the needle for the organization and can radically improve the Product and help in growth or engagement. Your thought process shall be clear to call out the most significant impact you can have with your idea. Remember, think big and look at these questions as someone has asked you for a million-dollar idea, and come up with a 10X solution.
#3. Analytical Reasoning with Assumptions— Assumptions and Thinking out Loud while you are going through an analytical reasoning question are the keys to navigate. Start applying the logic and knowledge you have from your real-world experience as it will help to come up with a guesstimate answer. Be mindful that the interviewer is not interested in how accurate your answer is, but more willing to understand how do you break a problem into smaller pieces and think logically.
Feel free to think of short-cuts while answering analytical questions with caution that it shall not sound too obvious. Say the interviewer asked you how many people are taking a bath in this hour, and you immediately go to Google looking for an answer. Remember, to think out loud, share the framework, and apply logic to your response.
#4. Be Authentic with Behavioral Scenarios — No product management interview is complete without the situational or behavioral scenarios. The only way to ace situational questions is to practice, practice, and practice. Be authentic, genuine, and speak from your experience, do not try to come up with a story as somewhere in the interview; it might happen that someone will double-click on your response, and your facial expressions will give it away.
Yes, you might be thinking what if I do not have the exact situation the interviewer is interested to know, think twice. It need not be related to work. It can come from your voluntary experiences, college days, or even personal life. Remember, being authentic and sharing genuine scenarios will give you the confidence to tackle any follow-up questions.
#5. Curiosity trumps Knowledge — Be curious to know more about the role and growth trajectory in the organization, ask follow-up questions to understand more about the role, and how your performance will be measured. What are the KPIs you will be tracked against and what kind of mentorship and support is provided for someone starting new in the role. Show interest in the product and offerings the company offers and ask probing questions related to things you do not understand.
Do not waste this opportunity by asking questions such as am I allowed to work from home, how is the work-life balance like, etc.
Yes, you can ask about the culture of the team and organization; however, be mindful of not be explicit about it as it can turn an on-going brilliant interview session into a disaster. Remember, the questions you ask allows you to show your intelligence, critical thinking, interest, and curiosity about the product or the role.
I hope you found the tips useful and do let me know in the comments below if you have any follow-up questions.
Wishing you all the best for your next Product Manager interview
You can find me at LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul~dua/
