Product management is an umbrella term that encompasses many diverse roles. These roles differ as per the job requirements. Does it sound confusing? Totally understandable!
Product Management– In Short
When an aspiring product manager prepares for their interview with a set of product manager interview questions and answers, all they do is study the repetitive questions and ignore the nature of their job. Product management is slightly different from other management roles; for example, a country’s economic crisis will reduce people’s purchasing power and force product managers to make profitable and purchasable products. The impact of political, economic, and human behavior is identical in all management roles; however, product managers must address the present demands while considering the future. Though it seems a tough job yet, product managers can excel at it if they work on their skills and understand the job requirements.
A product manager needs to consider these few points to advance their career:
Skills
PMs need to be good at hard and soft skills because they work at the interface of cross-functional teams. They must be able to communicate the idea to the team and be a good listener to their opinions. A good PM knows how to incorporate different perspectives under one label with effective communication.
In addition, PMs must have a good command of the technical skills required by the hiring company. Suppose you apply for a PM’s role at google with no prior understanding of basic codes and tech knowledge; you will not pass their interview. The reason is that they’re looking for someone who understands the crux of their projects and communicates the product goals with clarity. So, find out what kind of products a hiring company makes and stand out in the interview.
Job Requirements
Skills work in your favor but not if you are unaware of job responsibilities and requirements. Therefore, a PM must prioritize job requirements and skills and identify the expectations of the hiring company from their PMs.
Market Trends
We live in a digital era marked by dynamic trends. Simply put, a slight shift in the supply chain can trigger a collapse of the whole consumer market. For example, supply chains suffered the hardest during covid owing to the health and safety requirements; as a result, companies struggled to find raw materials. A clear example of this could be KFC, where chicken remained out of stock in many of its overseas franchises.
So, a PM must know when he needs to step up, prioritize, let go or stop the project for the time being.
Prioritizing
Great PMs value time and resources. They know when to advance a product plan and when to keep it on hold. So, when a company gets flooded with projects, it is the product manager’s responsibility to work on the tasks that need urgent completion and is possible. PM must also differentiate a practical plan from an idea that isn’t possible at the moment. For instance, if your product team comes up with a project that requires a high allocation of resources with low profitable rates, it’s best to shift your team’s energy and resources to a profitable workable project. The decision here will depend on the scale of your company, so again understand your job requirements.
Best Questions For Different Product Managers
Hiring a product manager is a cumbersome task if you are unaware of the requirements. Plus, hiring a good candidate requires time and resources. So, a ‘wrong hire’ means all efforts of a hiring manager go waste when the candidate is not fit for the organization. A ‘mis-hire’ could mean a hiring manager lost his months of efforts on the wrong candidate and also lost an opportunity to hire the right person.
So, to help hiring managers and aspiring product managers, here are a few questions for each kind of product manager–
Mobile Product Managers
How have mobiles changed in the last two years?
( Your answer should include the latest software updates, UX insights, and user engagement. This question tests the curiosity level of a candidate.)
How to monitor the performance of a product and measure its success?
( Your answer must begin with tools and data that help you measure the product’s performance. This tests the candidate’s conceptual and practical skills)
Data or Artificial Intelligence Product Managers
How will you share consumer insights with the tech team?
(The objective here is to analyze a PM’s communication skills and attitude. Here, your answer must include your previous experience gathering consumer data or research and your ability to communicate it with the tech team effectively.)
If we hire you, how will you prioritize your backlog?
(The aim here is to judge a candidate’s prioritization skills. You must address the technical possibility and consumer insights here.)
Community Connector Product Manager
How has social media changed the way people engage in the last five years?
(It checks a candidate’s knowledge about consumer behavior influencing product development. It must include the latest trends and behavioral changes that affect the product’s growth.)
Which factors contribute to consumer behavior?
(It checks a PM’s flexibility and understanding of social changes that may influence consumer behavior. Your answer must include the latest examples of political, social, and economic changes affecting consumer behavior.)
Finally!
Go through these questions and find/become a product market fit candidate who understands his job requirements and is well aware of trends. For more information, check our blog section!
