Product interviews can be nerve-wrecking and stressful, especially if you aren’t properly prepared. However, if you know exactly how to get ready, the experience can be incredibly rewarding. We cover what research you should do before the interview, how to craft the best possible answers, ways to distinguish yourself from other candidates and discuss what's required to get the job offer you really want. - An overview of the types of questions to expect - Best ways to prep for a Product Manager interview - Do's and Don'ts for the actual interview - A comprehensive list of books, online training, and other online resources related to product interviews

1. Part-time Product Management Courses in
Silicon Valley, New York and Los Angeles
www.productschool.com

2. MASTERING THE
PRODUCT INTERVIEW
June 22, 2017
Dan Corbin
Sr. Director of Product Management
Return Path

3. Dan Corbin
Sr. Director of Product Management
Return Path
dan.corbin@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielcorbin

4. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
‣The types of questions to expect
‣Best ways to prep for a Product Manager interview
‣Do's and Don'ts for the actual interview
‣Additional Resources

5. MASTERING THE PRODUCT INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

6. MASTERING THE PRODUCT INTERVIEW
PRODUCT VISION
QUESTIONS

7. PRODUCT VISION QUESTIONS
● What’s your favorite product? ● What’s your favorite app?
Sample Questions Include:
● How would design a bookcase for children?
● How would you improve Microsoft PowerPoint?

8. PRODUCT VISION QUESTIONS
USING THE CIRCLES METHOD

9. THE CIRCLES METHOD
Comprehend the situation
Remember the 3 W’s and the H:
1. What is it?
2. Who is it for?
3. Why do they need it?
4. How does it work?

10. Identify the customer

11. THE CIRCLES METHOD
Report the customer’s needs
As a <user> I want <goal/desire> so that
<benefit>.

12. THE CIRCLES METHOD
Cut, through prioritization
● Review the customer needs you identified and then narrow
the list done to just one
● Explain the prioritization process
● Be data driven

13. THE CIRCLES METHOD
List solutions
● Now you can discuss solutions…
● Think Big
● Have at least three ideas

14. THE CIRCLES METHOD
Evaluate trade-offs
● Define your trade-off criteria
● Analyze, criticize, and critique your solutions

15. THE CIRCLES METHOD
Summarize your recommendation
● Choose which product or service you’d recommend.
● Recap why your solution is the most beneficial
● Show your product vision

16. THE CIRCLES METHOD
Comprehend the situation
Identify the customer
Cut, through prioritization
Report the customer’s needs
List solutions
Evaluate trade-offs
Summarize your recommendation

17. MASTERING THE PRODUCT INTERVIEW
BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS

18. BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS
Sample Questions Include:
● Describe a technical problem you had and how you solved it.
● Describe a time you had to motivate employees or
co-workers
● Tell me about a time you showed initiative
● Tell me about a time you built a team

19. BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS
Answer behavioral questions with a story!
How to tell a great story:
● Be specific
● Talk about how your role in the story
● Paint a picture with vivid details
Credit: Charles Du - Mastering The Product Interview

20. ALERT!!!
Right before you answer a behavioral question is the
perfect time to ask:
“What are the top three qualities you
look for in an ideal candidate?”
Credit: Charles Du - Mastering The Product Interview

21. MASTERING THE PRODUCT INTERVIEW
INSTRUCTIONAL
QUESTIONS

22. INSTRUCTIONAL QUESTIONS
Sample Questions Include:
● How do you make a cup of coffee?
● How would you make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?
● How do you iron a shirt?
● How would you teach someone to brush their teeth?

23. INSTRUCTIONAL QUESTIONS
INGREDIENTS OF THE PERFECT INSTRUCTIONAL ANSWER:
● STRUCTURE
○ Demonstrates you’re organized and can devise a plan to your goal
● DETAIL
○ Include specific metrics to show you are clear with directions and also data driven
● FEEDBACK
○ Continue to gather info as you iterate
○ Ask interviewer if they need any clarifications

24. MASTERING THE PRODUCT INTERVIEW
ESTIMATION QUESTIONS

25. ESTIMATION QUESTIONS
Sample Questions Include:
● How many bottles of shampoo are produced in the world a
year?
● How much should you charge to wash all the windows in
Seattle?
● How many square feet of pizza are eaten everyday in the US?

26. ESTIMATION QUESTIONS
THREE TIPS FOR ANSWERING ESTIMATION QUESTIONS:
● ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS
○ Demonstrates you’re organized and can devise a plan to your goal
● ESTIMATION
○ Write down assumptions and variables
○ Then create your formula
● OPTIMIZATION
○ Brainstorm edge cases and adjust formula accordingly

27. MASTERING THE PRODUCT INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
PREPARATION

28. Step 1: Interview Prep
● Understand the product
● Review the full product suite of the company
● Know the competitors
● Customers and Market
● Revenue
● Love and Hate
● Metrics

29. RECOMMENDED READING

30. RECOMMENDED TRAINING
Master the Product Manager Interview
by Charles Du

31. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Interview Prep
Checklist: Prepare for the Product Manager Interview
Answering The Metrics Interview Question
How To Ace Your Product Management Interview
The Ultimate Product Manager Interview Cheat Sheet
How to Hire a Product Manager
Sample Questions
The PM Interview
Ultimate List of PM Interview Questions
70 Product Manager Interview Questions
10 Of The Hardest Product Management Question Microsoft
Will Ask In A Job Interview
4 Common Questions Asked in a Product Management
Interview
Five Stellar Questions for an Interviewee to Ask in a Product
Management Interview
The Ultimate Guide to PM Interview Questions
Strategies and Advice for Landing the Interview
How I got my first Valley-based Product Management job in 5
Weeks
What kind of side projects could I do to become a product
manager?
Find, Vet and Close the Best Product Managers
Looking for a Product Management Job? Start Here
Where to find Product Manager Jobs
● Indeed
● ZipRecruiter
● LinkedIn
● The Ladders
● Careerbuilder
● ProductHired
● The Product Jobs
● Austin Product Manager
Startup Jobs
● Remote PM Jobs
● Monster.com

32. SUMMARY
● Do your research and be prepared
● Understand the different types of questions you’ll be asked
● PRACTICE
● PRACTICE
●PRACTICE!

33. www.productschool.com