Product improvement, such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon, is the most prevalent topic in Product Manager interviews. For example, you can practice critical questions such as, “Would you enhance Google Maps if you had the chance?” At times, the question may make you feel anxious. You can think and respond; however, this will only come with experience. We’ll go through some of the most crucial tips and questions from the product manager recruitment agencies to think about before heading to a Product Manager interview.
Step 1: Give A Brief Description Of The Product
The most important thing to remember while fixing any product problem is that you must keep the interviewer informed at all times. Start by discussing your brand knowledge once you’ve clarified the inquiry. Include the following information about the product:
- What is the purpose of the product?
- Who makes use of it?
- What are they doing with it?
- What problem is it addressing for the users?
If you get a question regarding a product you are unfamiliar with, you might ask the interviewer to give you a quick overview. They are typically willing to assist. Before going any further, be sure the interviewer agrees with your knowledge of the product.
Step 2: To Reduce The Scope Ask Clarifying Questions
It would help double-check that each term in the problem statement is specified correctly.
Ask for clarification on the concept of “improvement” if the question is “How would you enhance LinkedIn?” For example, if the question is “How would you improve LinkedIn?” ask for clarification on the definition of “improvement.” Does it relate to higher utilization, more money, or something else? Is there a specific platform that the interviewer wants you to concentrate on (for example, mobile native, mobile web, or desktop web)? Or do you have the option of picking anyone?
Step 3: Determine What You Want To Accomplish.
If the New York Product Manager interviewer does not tell you which one needs improvement, you will have to establish a measure. Ensure that you explain why you choose that metric/goal and that the interviewer is okay with it.
Ideally, it would help if you prefer a goal that you believe is strategically significant to the product or one with which the product is/might be experiencing issues.
Step 4: Make A List Of The User Segments And Pick One To Focus On.
Make a list of the various user groups who utilize the product. User groups should be different and possess distinct features.
Here are some examples of user groups that utilize Gmail:
- Users with a lot of power:
- Throughout the day, they check their email many times.
- Many emails are sent and received.
- A working professional is usually more tech-savvy.
- Casual User:
- They check the email either once sometimes a day.
- Send and receive a restricted number of emails.
- Occasional Users: Once every few days, they check their email.
- Only sends and receives a small number of emails.
- It’s usually an elderly individual who isn’t very tech-savvy.
- Finally, decide which user group you want to concentrate on. It is the user group for whom you will be improving the product. Also, explain to the interviewer why you believe focusing on this particular user category will be advantageous.
We intend to continue with the Power User phase in the preceding example. This segment of users is very active and is always looking for features that help them increase their productivity and communicate faster.
Step 5: Make A List Of Your Pain Points And Prioritize Them.
The interviewer is looking for evidence to sympathize with a product’s users—your ability to recognize and prioritize the critical pain areas that users are experiencing. You’ve explained the product, stated the aim, and chosen one user segment up until this point.
You will submit a list of use cases, or pain areas that you believe are currently underserved in this stage. Before responding, feel free to ask for a moment to consider the use cases. Thinking about the user journey from beginning to end is one technique to develop a list of use cases. By reviewing the whole customer experience, you can better understand the client’s needs and opportunities for improvement.
Closing Notes!
Keep in mind that interviews are two-way streets. You’ve come to learn as much about them as they have about you. Though it will never appear that way since they will outnumber you, question you more, and because you are the candidate and they are the all-powerful corporation, the interview will appear to be utterly one-sided.
It’s excellent if you know a Product Manager who can assist you. However, finding the right relationships to make this happen is difficult for most. It may also be tough to rehearse for several hours with that individual unless you are familiar with them.
Because of the unclear questions, preparing for a product management interview might be intimidating, but we believe the frameworks discussed above can assist! Regarding your interviews, best of luck.