Best of 2021: How to Ace Product Management Interviews

Product Management Interviews

00:04 - 50:57

• This podcast focuses on product management and provides insights from experienced product managers.
• The topic of this episode is product management interviews, aimed at helping both interviewees and organizations understand what employers are looking for.
• The guest speaker, Marty Burris, founded the Inclusive Product Management Accelerator at the University of Washington.
• The program aims to help individuals from marginalized communities find their place in technology.
• Listeners are encouraged to join the UW community on Slack and participate in future events.
• Red, a founding advisory board member, shares information about the Product Management Center's Slack community and how to get involved.
• Sumea discusses her experience with product management interviews and how they have evolved over time.
• The product management role has been evolving over the past couple of decades, with different iterations and ways of interviewing.
• Interview processes for product management vary from company to company, but the importance of understanding the company, building rapport with interviewers, and doing research remains consistent.
• Finding mentors, practicing and preparing for interviews, and framing past experiences are crucial for success in the product management interview process.
• The purpose of the product management interview is to assess a candidate's thought process, logical reasoning, autonomy in decision-making, ability to communicate with engineers, and performance under pressure.
• Different rounds of interviews focus on different aspects such as qualifying talents, assessing thought process through case studies or design exercises, evaluating execution skills or data analysis abilities, and gauging behavioral traits.
• Product management interviews focus on how you perform under pressure and who you are as a person.
• Entry-level PM interviews cover various instances, while senior roles also focus on strategy and collaboration with stakeholders.
• Product design interviews may ask about improving a specific product or a general list of improvements.
• Qualify the question by breaking down key verbs and asking for clarification from the interviewer.
• Understand the product together with the interviewer before answering the question.
• Practice product management interview questions using online resources and mock interviews with qualified peers.
• Avoid blind leading the blind in mock interviews; seek feedback from experienced PMs.
• Inclusive product management accelerator offers opportunities for practice and mock interviews.
• Mock interviews are valuable for practicing and observing
• Qualifying questions should be asked and framework should be shared upfront
• Spend about five minutes on qualifying questions in an hour-long interview
• Prioritize twice in a product sense interview
• Having a great idea is not as important as understanding the problem
• Craft out success metrics at the end of the interview
• Engage with the interviewer and avoid focusing too long on nonsensical things
• Summarize at the end to demonstrate effective communication and clarity of thinking
• Take time to pause during brainstorming, but keep it within 90 seconds to two minutes
• When discussing frameworks in a product management interview, it's more important to focus on how you're thinking rather than the specific framework you're using.
• Using your natural thought process as a framework is preferred.
• It's not necessary to mention the name of a specific framework unless asked.
• Practice is key when preparing for product management interviews.
• Volunteering to conduct mock interviews can help empower professionals from marginalized communities and broaden access to economic opportunities.
• Open Q&A session begins with questions about rejection and career direction after being rejected by a company like Google.
• The best direction depends on your goals - if your goal is to work at Google, then pursuing opportunities in product operations or program management may be beneficial. If your goal is to be a product manager, don't let rejection stop you and continue improving your skills and finding a place that values you.
• Depending on your goals, you can either go back to Google or explore other opportunities.
• If you want to be a product manager in general, take a step back and consider other options.
• Getting through all the rounds at Google means you'll likely pass interviews at mid-tier tech companies.
• There are diverse product management roles available outside of big companies like Google and Facebook.
• An MBA is not necessary for product management, but it can add value depending on the company.
• Some companies like Amazon value MBAs, while others don't prioritize it.
• In product marketing, an MBA can be a game changer and a hard requirement.
• Startups may care about the pedigree of an MBA due to the strategic nature of early-stage work.
• The decision to pursue an MBA should align with your long-term goals and desired outcomes.
• An MBA provides a community of support, learning opportunities, frameworks, and coaching from professors.
• You don't need a technical background or specific degree to become an effective product manager.
• Getting a degree may or may not be necessary for a product management job, depending on the company and goals.
• Similar degree questions arise in other fields like computer science or MBA.
• To break into the product industry from a sales background, networking is important but there are other strategies as well.
• Joining relevant Slack groups and applying to programs like IPMA cohort can be helpful.
• If working at an Enterprise Tech Company, consider doing an internal transfer to a product management role.
• Build personal relationships with product managers in your company and discuss customer insights as if you were a product manager yourself.
• Filling gaps in interfacing with engineers and understanding technologies is crucial for transitioning to a PM role elsewhere.
• Cold reach outs and building bridges at competitor companies can also lead to opportunities.
• Internal transfer is often the fastest path to success in becoming a PM.
• Marty encourages interviewers to listen more and lead with empathy in interviews with customers and users.
• She advises against confirmation bias and narrow frameworks, emphasizing the importance of logical thinking and understanding different perspectives.
• Marty expresses gratitude for the inclusive product management accelerator at the University of Washington, made possible by Amazon and Starbucks.
• She highlights the value of sharing insights and wisdom with others.
• Marty suggests being pithy, mindful of thought processes, and allowing for conversation during interviews.
• The podcast aims to enrich the lives of diverse product managers, provide a trusted source for employers seeking product management talent, and drive thought leadership in the field.