Mastering Product Sense and Execution Interviews
This article is tailored for product managers eager to excel in interviews focusing on product sense and execution.
In product management , it’s crucial to discern genuine expertise from merely holding a job title. The title “product manager” is often misapplied within the technology sector, leading to a disconnect between role expectations and actual responsibilities.
This discrepancy necessitates a rigorous interview process to identify candidates who embody the essence of product management. The stakes are exceptionally high for startups, where a misfit in the product team can have significant repercussions.
This article is tailored for product managers eager to excel in interviews focusing on product sense and execution.
I am not in favor of assigning home exercises.
I believe in conducting on-site interviews, providing candidates to demonstrate their proficiency across the entire spectrum of product management tasks — from market analysis and value proposition formulation to user persona and pain point identification, roadmap development, success measurement, collaboration with R&D, managing stakeholders, etc.
A typical product sense and execution interview might commence with an intentionally broad question, such as, “Imagine you’re tasked with developing an AI model to predict the success rates of a dating app.” Candidates are expected to engage with the question critically, asking clarifying questions, applying analytical frameworks, and building on their assumptions despite not being market experts on the topic at hand.
The initial aspect I assess is the candidate’s inclination to explore the underlying “why” behind the task. Instead of rushing into solution mode, I look for individuals who seek to understand the customer’s needs, the problem being addressed, and the market context. This involves evaluating existing solutions and identifying the unique pain point we aim to alleviate.
Once a strategic direction and hypothesis are established, we delve into the execution phase. Here, I anticipate discussions around the necessity and design of the AI model. For instance, I question whether a more straightforward decision tree could initially suffice, and how to define success metrics, and what the Definitions of Done (DoD) for data science and engineering teams should entail.
Consistency between the strategy and execution phases is crucial. I also probe for knowledge of prioritization techniques, aiming to identify candidates who understand their role in driving business impact by focusing on initiatives that promise the most significant possible benefit within the shortest timeframe.
Let’s go over some interview tips:
- Understand the Product Lifecycle: Familiarize yourself with the end-to-end process of product management, from ideation and market research to launch and iteration.
- Master Frameworks: Be well-versed in various product management frameworks such as SWOT analysis, RICE prioritization, the Kano Model, and others. These frameworks help organize your thoughts and demonstrate your ability to approach complex problems systematically.
- Practice Storytelling: Have a collection of narratives about past projects or experiences where you identified user needs, led cross-functional teams, overcame challenges, or made significant product decisions.
- Prioritize User Needs: Show that you can put the user first by articulating how to identify and prioritize user pain points. It is key to demonstrating empathy for the user and a commitment to solving their problems.
- Think Critically About Metrics: Be prepared to discuss which metrics you would monitor to measure the success of a product feature or initiative, and why. It is crucial to understand key performance indicators (KPIs) and how they align with business objectives.
- Showcase Collaboration: Highlight your experience and strategies for working effectively with engineering, design, and data science teams. Emphasize your communication skills, flexibility, and handling conflict or differing opinions.
- Be Ready to Prioritize: Demonstrating your ability to prioritize tasks and projects based on impact and feasibility is critical. Be prepared to discuss how you would make tough prioritization decisions under the constraints of time and resources.
- Engage with the Interviewer: Treat the interview as a two-way conversation. Ask insightful questions that show interest in the role, and think critically about how you can contribute to the company’s success.
- Practice, Practice, Practice: Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors to refine your interviewing skills. Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely under time constraints.
As always, I’m happy for any questions or feedback!
Special thanks to Tremis Skeete, Executive Editor at Product Coalition for the valuable input which contributed to the editing of this article.
I also thank Product Coalition founder Jay Stansell, who has provided a collaborative product management education environment.
