{"id":2062,"date":"2022-12-09T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T17:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/?p=2062"},"modified":"2024-08-21T15:46:26","modified_gmt":"2024-08-21T19:46:26","slug":"product-manager-interview-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/interview-questions\/product-manager-interview-questions","title":{"rendered":"10 Product Manager Interview Questions With Expert Tips for Answering Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Product managers<\/a> are often called the CEO of the product. They handle the entire lifecycle of a product, from inception to retirement and everything in between \u2014 which requires the ability to innovate, improvise, and unite the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Product management<\/a> is an exciting career that keeps you on your toes, and the first step to becoming one is the interview. While you may expect questions like, \u201cWhat\u2019s your greatest strength?<\/a>\u201d preparing for product manager interview questions requires more than your A-game. You\u2019ll need your A+-game!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Prepare for a Product Manager Interview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to three product managers \u2014 Nandita Gupta, CPACC, accessibility product owner for accessibility insights at Microsoft; Jovana Kandic, product manager at CAKE.com; and Lynn Jane Ho, director of product management at Customer.io \u2014 to get their expert insights on how to prepare for a product manager interview and what they look for in potential product managers when they’re hiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One common thread from the conversations is that there is no “right way” to prepare for product manager interview questions. That’s because, as Gupta points out, “Product manager can be a very deceptive title. What it means in one company doesn’t mean the same thing at another.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how do<\/em> you prepare for a product manager interview?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research Everything<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kandic stresses reviewing the job description first. “One of the most basic preparations that’s often overlooked is to start by thoroughly reading the job description since it highlights what the company is looking for in the candidate.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can better formulate your answers because you’ll know what skills and experiences the company is looking for and highlight them as you answer. “This is important because it helps them better articulate why they are the right fit for the job,” says Kandic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Product Management<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Step into the shoes of a product manager in this free course from Electronic Arts. Discover how to choose the right data for your presentation and learn more about key product indicators (KPIs).<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJoin Today\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tProject planning, performance metrics, critical thinking, problem solving\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Ho says that a large part of your prep work should include figuring out what problems the company is trying to solve. She suggests researching the company or chatting with a recruiter to learn more. You can also schedule an informational interview<\/a> with a current employee. Then, try the product out to get a better idea of how it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a lot of work, but, as Ho points out, “There are so many flavors and varying expectations and definitions of product, that success and finding a match really comes down to your interviewer and the company.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understand the Skill Set<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nearly every job has a required skill set candidates need to be successful in the role, and product manager is no different. However, what makes a product manager skill set different is that it requires an array of skills, so it’s critical to connect your skills to the specifics of the role. “Because the skill set is so vast, it’s all about positioning your previous experiences to appeal to the specific company and team you want to work for,” says Ho.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an example, user experience<\/a> (UX) and customer empathy are essential skills. “Product managers are expected to have a good grasp of product empathy and make customer-focused decisions,” says Gupta. But Kandic looks for “analytical<\/a>, problem-solving<\/a>, technical, and communication skills<\/a>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re an experienced product manager, you’ve got a foundation to build on. But what if you’re a new grad looking for an entry-level product manager role, or a student trying to nab a product manager internship?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE:<\/strong> Product Manager Career Path: What’s the Trajectory?<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jovana Kandic, Product Manager at CAKE.com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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“Even if the candidate has no experience, there are ways to demonstrate their skills,” says Kandic. “Perhaps they managed some side projects or contributed to open-source software. Even ‘practice’ work can serve as a good talking point, e.g., if they developed a prototype for a new feature of an app they frequently use and can talk me through the process.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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You can also lean on your transferable skills<\/a>. Gupta says project management is the number one transferable skill to mention since product managers are responsible for the product roadmap and setting milestones, just like a project manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know What to Expect<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While there’s no way to know exactly what questions the interviewer will ask you, you can be sure they will focus on several areas critical to product manager success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ho says that product manager interview questions include behavioral interview questions<\/a> so the hiring manager understands how you process and respond to various situations. Since much of a product manager’s work is collaborative, there will be questions about how you collaborate and inspire the team to do their best. “Expect questions about resolving disagreements, proactively communicating, and anticipating problems,” she says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Lynn Jane Ho, Director of Product Management at Customer.io<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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She also points out that a large part of the interview will focus on your skills and thought process. “The focus will be on your problem-solving and decision-making skills<\/a>. You’ll be asked how you gather inputs to make decisions, what your sources are, and how you creatively obtain information from reputable sources.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demonstrate Your Broad Knowledge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gupta says that in addition to demonstrating your skill set, you should also be ready to talk about your knowledge of the product’s space and how the product supports the users. She points out that a product manager’s role sits in the middle of design, technology, and business, so you need to demonstrate you understand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n