A 30-minute guide to PM interviews
Landing a product management role is no easy feat. With so many qualified candidates applying, you need to stand out. This guide shares insider tips from PM hiring managers at top tech companies like Google, Meta, and Stripe to help you prep.
Before You Apply
Success starts before the interview. First, optimize your PM resume and align your experience to the job description. Then, research the company’s product and culture. Practice answering common questions. And refine your personal stories to showcase leadership moments.
What to Expect
The PM interview process typically lasts several rounds testing different skills:
Product Design — User empathy, feature prioritization, modifying products for new markets
Behavioral — Collaboration, problem solving, communication, leadership abilities
Product Strategy — Market positioning, long-term vision, competitive analysis, roadmapping
Analytical — Diagnosing issues with data, defining goals and success metrics
Estimation — Communication abilities, logical reasoning
Technical — System architecture, explaining technical concepts (sometimes)
How to Structure Responses
Great answers follow a framework:
- Actively listen and clarify the question
- Provide an answer structure
- Confidently explain your reasoning
- Check in with the interviewer
- Summarize key points
Follow this rhythm to demonstrate comprehensive critical thinking.
Prepare for the Top Questions
Here are some of the most common questions with sample answers:
“What’s your favorite product and why?” Show your passion! Discuss an innovative product you enjoy, how it differs from competitors, and how you would improve it.
“How would you increase bookings for Airbnb?” Showcase your strategic thinking. Identify user segments, pinpoint pain points, brainstorm solutions, and test ideas.
“Tell me about a time you made a sacrifice for long-term gains.” Prove you can make tough product tradeoffs. Outline a situation, how you evaluated options, who you worked with cross-functionally, and the reasoning behind your decision.
Final Tips
- Go slowly and explain concepts simply
- Leverage your experience launching successful products
- Discuss how you conduct user research and implement new features
- Convey metrics you use to determine product-market fit
Let me know if you have any other questions! Happy to help you prepare.
