The secret to acing a product management interview isn’t just knowing what questions to expect.  It’s getting inside your interviewer’s mind, understanding why they’re asking you these questions, and what they want to know.

The Product Management Interview

Question: Tell us about a time you used data to influence an important stakeholder. Why they're asking: They want to know how you handle yourself in the day-to-day situations that PMs find themselves in. It’s also about Gauging the kind of experiences you’ve had in the past, and whether or not you’re able to solve problems, resolve conflicts, and lead their teams. What they want to know: They want to know if you've faced typical PM challenges and that you are able to overcome them.

Using data to influence an important stakeholder

Question: What are your main strengths and weaknesses? Why they're asking: They want to know if there are any areas you're weak in and if you can recognise your own gaps that you need to improve on. They also want to know what your strengths are. What they want to know: They want to know that you are self-aware.

Your main strengths and weaknesses

Question: Why do you want to work at [our company]? Why they're asking: The company wants to know that you are passionate about the work they're doing and that you really want to work there. What they want to know: They want to learn more about your goals and values and what you know about the company's mission. A great position to be in is to be able to see the future potential of a company or product.

Working at a specific company

Question: How do you see your career developing in the next 5 years? Why they're asking: Most companies don't want to invest the time in a Product Manager to have them leave because their growth trajectory is different to the companies.&nbsp; What they want to know: They want to know that you'll grow with them.

Career development

Question: What main changes would you make to [our product]? Why they're asking: They want to find out how you deliver feedback and test your awareness of the product. What they want to know: They really want to see how you would improve their product. Try to unpack this question using your PM skills.&nbsp;

Making changes to the product

Question: How do you stay user-focused? Why they're asking: Most product-led companies pride themselves on being customer-obsessed. They're asking this question to see how user-focused you are and if you are the voice of the customer.&nbsp; What they want to know: They want to know how user-focused you are. Talk about methods you've used in the past and how you've revisited user feedback. Think about times you've had to make tough choices to build a better product for your users.

Staying user-focused

Question: What do you see as a Product Manager’s main role within product development? Why they're asking: Each organization has a different view of product management and its role and every PM will operate in a different way. An interviewer will ask you your approaches to PM, and how you see the role’s place within product development, to ensure that you’re on the same wavelength. What they want to know: They want to know what you see as a PMs responsibility.

The Product Manager’s main role within product development

Question: Tell us about a time you faced failure and how you bounced back. Why they're asking: Failure is inevitable and learning from failure is essential. They want to know how self-aware you are and how you learn from failures. What they want to know: They want to see how you respond to negative experiences. It's important to choose an experience that ended positively for you.

Failure and bouncing back

Question: What's your approach to prioritizing tasks? Why they're asking: Prioritization is essential in Product Management. What they want to know: Talk about the soft skills around prioritization as well as the prioritization techniques you use.

Prioritizing tasks

Question: Why do you want to be/what do you love about being a Product Manager? Why they're asking: Product management is about hunger, drive, and passion. Without it, you won't be able to motivate your team.

Why do you want to be/what do you love about being a Product Manager?

The secret to acing a product management interview isn’t just knowing what questions to expect. It’s getting inside your interviewer’s mind, and understanding why they’re asking you these questions…

Failure and bouncing back

Similar ideas to Failure and bouncing back

Practising Failure

1. Viewing failure to be precious

1. "How are you doing today?"