Gbenga Adeniji on LinkedIn: Mastering Product Management Interviews: Episode 4 🎦 (2024)

Mastering Product Management Interviews: Episode 1 🎦 Welcome to our journey in mastering PM interviews! Today, we dive into the essence of product sense—an indispensable skill for every Product Manager navigating Nigeria's dynamic market.In Episode 1, we focus on mastering product sense—a vital skill to discern what makes a product outstanding. We'll explore practical frameworks and strategies to confidently tackle product design, improvement, and favorite product questions.⁉ Why Product Sense Matters?Product sense isn't about having all the right answers; it's about skillfully navigating uncertainties and delivering solutions that resonate with users. Imagine blending empathy for users’ needs with deep industry knowledge and creative thinking to craft impactful products.🗝 Key Abilities to Master Product Sense: ➡ Problem Mapping with Hypotheses: Identifying core issues and forming reasoned assumptions. ➡ Designing Rational Solutions: Crafting solutions that effectively solve identified problems. ➡ Evaluating Solution Trade-offs: Weighing pros and cons to make informed decisions. ➡ Second-order Thinking: Anticipating consequences and planning strategically.💎 Elements of Product Sense: ➡ Empathy: Understanding users’ perspectives deeply to address their real pain points. ➡ Domain Knowledge: Expertise in market intricacies, regulatory environments, and consumer behaviors. ➡ Creativity: Innovating solutions that stand out in a competitive landscape.⚠ Critical Interview Questions: ➡ Design Questions: Like developing a ride-hailing service tailored for senior citizens. ➡ Improvement Questions: Enhancing user engagement metrics for Instagram. ➡ Favorite Product Analysis: Discussing how to improve a beloved Opay banking app or Glovo's food delivery.💡 The CIRCLES Framework:The CIRCLES method is a comprehensive guide through all the key considerations product managers need before developing and designing new products. It ensures thorough problem-solving from understanding the problem to delivering a viable solution. C: Comprehend the Problem I: Identify Customer Personas R: Report Needs and Pain Points C: Cut through Prioritization L: List Solutions with clear metrics E: Evaluate Trade-offs S: Summarize with an MVPProduct sense interview questions are crafted to showcase your creativity, empathy, and problem-solving skills. They test your ability to envision innovative solutions that meet user needs.Join My Mentorship Program:📅 Only 5 slots remain for July! I offer:- Personalized Interview Coaching- Resume and LinkedIn Optimization- Mock Interviews and Detailed Feedback Sessions- Continuous On-the-Job MentorshipReady to excel in PM interviews? Book your screening call now!🌟➡ https://lnkd.in/d2Vt3bNcStay tuned for Episode 2 where we delve deeper into mastering product sense...Image by Product School

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Part 5 of the Interview preparation series for Aspiring Product ManagersAs an aspiring Product Manager, knowing how to use the structured frameworks will help you be better prepared for the product Management Interview. It will help you in answering product design and strategy questions. Here's how to ensure you’re ready:1. Familiarize Yourself with Popular Frameworks>> Practice applying these frameworks to real-world scenarios to internalize their steps and logical flow.2. Practice Case Studies and Mock InterviewsExampleUse resources like “Cracking the PM Interview” and online platforms such as Exponent or PM Exercises to find case studies. Practice with a friend or mentor, focusing on structuring your answers.>> Simulate a real interview environment and get feedback on your approach, clarity, and thoroughness.3. Break Down Product Design QuestionsExampleFor a question like “Design a new feature for a social media app,” start by identifying the target user, understanding their needs, brainstorming features, prioritizing them, and considering metrics for success.>> Structure your answer using a framework to ensure you cover all aspects comprehensively.4. Strategize with Real Company ScenariosExampleIf applying to a travel tech company, frame a strategy question such as “How would you increase user engagement?” using frameworks like SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) or Porter’s Five Forces.>> Tailor your responses to the specific challenges and opportunities the company faces, showing your strategic insight.5. Leverage STAR for Behavioral QuestionsExampleFor questions about past experiences, use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your answers. Describe the context, your role, the actions you took, and the outcomes.>> Prepare a few STAR stories in advance that highlight your problem-solving, leadership, and impact.6. Review Successful Product ExamplesExampleAnalyze successful products like Airbnb or Spotify. Break down their product strategies using frameworks and think about how you would tackle similar challenges.>> Discuss these examples in your interview to demonstrate your analytical skills and industry awareness.7. Refine Your Communication SkillsExamplePractice explaining complex ideas simply and clearly. Use the frameworks to organize your thoughts and ensure you’re concise and focused.>> Record yourself practicing and review the recordings to improve your delivery and clarity.Learning and practicing structured frameworks will not only uplift your confidence but also help you demonstrate your methodical approach to solving product challenges.#ProductManagement #CareerAdvice #InterviewPreparation #StructuredFrameworks #AspiringPMs

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Great summation and quick guide to handling PM interviews, for friends in my network in the application and interview process at the moment. #interview #pm #productmanagement #tips

“How do I crack the 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄?”PM interviews are notoriously difficult. But if senior PMs are making $400k, the challenge 👏is 👏worth 👏it.🔴 There’s no way to jampack everything on PM interviews, so I whipped together a crash course for you in 20 min in 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 → https://lnkd.in/gic4Mg6xHere’s the quick and dirty rundown:✍️ 5 Types of PM Interview Questions: 1. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲/𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻: How would you design a dating product for Facebook?, What’s your favorite product and how would you improve it?2. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 How would you define success metrics for Uber? Instagram posts are down 10%. What do you do?3. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆: How would you design surge pricing for Uber or Lyft?4. 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Tell me a time you disagreed with Design or Engineering?5. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Tell me a time your product failed. What did you do?✍️ For Product Execution, there are 3 types:1. 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: How do you measure success for this product?2. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲-𝗢𝗳𝗳𝘀: X metric went up but Y metric went down. What do you do?3. 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 (𝗮𝗸𝗮. 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴): You’re the PM for X. Y metric dropped by Z%. How would you figure out what happened?The questions are very open-ended, which triggers that initial fear of not knowing where to start, but there are actually very reliable frameworks to use. After all, for PM interviews, it’s less about the final solution and more about how you get there. I’m running out of word count, but do watch today's Youtube video for PM interview questions and frameworks!...and I also announce the 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 from Taiwan! tl;dw - I accepted a role as an Instructor with SAT Knowledge (basically the Masterclass of Taiwan) to teach product management, product thinking, and mastering your tech career. I'm also doing media work as a host and guest to elevate tech for Taiwan!Watch the end of the YT video for all the context! ⭐️ 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 → https://hi.sat.cool/o845K(The course is in English, but the website is in Chinese. For English speakers, you can Google Translate the page to navigate it.) This is just the first update of many updates to come!! Stay tuned ~ #productmanagement #productmanagementinterviews

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Launching Product Management interview Preparation series. Part- 1/10Answer, Your 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 question like a pro in a PM interview.👨 Are you an aspiring product manager at an early stage of your career preparing for a product interview this post gonna help with this.Favorite product question is the most common PM interview question and the only question is readymade in nature to asses the product sense of a candidate. Here, We gonna talk about how to prepare this silly👉 Why is it gonna asked1. Assessing how the candidate views daily product use.2. Judging PM thinking through product favoritism evaluation.3. Showcasing PM's distinctive thinking by applying specs to products.👉 What can be asked●Simply, What's your favorite product, and how you would improve it?For this be ready with 4-5 readymade answers with a mix of digital and physical/hardware products (𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵)●The second dimension could be, Suppose 'abc' is your favorite product and how you would improve it.Approach for the both types would be different, For the second we will learn in the next post.✅ Approaching the 1st type of favorite product question:It can be asses o three core parameters:1. Usability: Does the existence of the product serve a purpose?𝐎𝐑Ease of use (On some extent)2. Efficiency: How is solving JTBD in comparison to pastexperience?3. Innovation: Is the use of the product triggering any sentimental value for the user? 𝐎𝐑 Is it making a paradigm shift in doing the job?Asses your product on the above-mentioned parameters and write in the comment below. Then check the first comment for a model answer.Waiting for what go and assess your favorite product and comment down below. In the next part, I will talk about the second type.Follow Jitendra for more such content :)P.S. This series was launched in association with the "Product Art & musing" community by Shravan. Attaching the community joining link in the first comment, One of the most happening communities I have been ever part of.#productmanagement #interviewprep

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The Product is You: The Most Powerful Interviewing Secret in Product Management 🤐Are you struggling to hit the mark when it comes to acing interviews? Are you falling short at the last hurdle? Panic over as we'll help you ace your next product interview in this week’s episode of Product Speak 📣🔗 https://lnkd.in/eq-VpRj4This week's feature is written by Ian Randolph, a product leader with over elevenyears of experience building ground-breaking products and teams with special expertise in designing and delivering UX powered by AI and psychology.Ian is VP Product at Qured, a health tech with a mission to shift mindsets away from reactively treating illness and make preventative health screening accessible to millions. A snippet from today's post 👇"It took me too many years to realise I had it all wrong. My biggest problem with interviewing was not my lack of talent or preparation. I was just brainwashed into a losing strategy and failed to apply the most fundamental product principles to my job search."Product Speak is written by #productmanagers for #productmanagers. We boast a number of incredible product leaders who've signed up to provide insightful new content for you every week. 🥳If you're interested in contributing, reach out to us at hello@getrecruited.io. Your input could be the next valuable addition to the product community 🚀#productmanagement #interviewtips #interviewpreparation #productjobs #technology

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👋Happy Friday All! FREE PM Masterclass Alert!!If you’re an experienced Product Manager looking for a new role or looking to grow, or an Aspiring PM wondering what PM interview expectations are, Come join us TODAY afternoon 3:30-4:30 PM Pacific time for a FREE PM Interview Masterclass! Masterclass topic: “5 PM interview mistakes blocking you from your next role” (and a few strategies on what to do differently !)Register from the link in comments! Will I see you there?#pminterviews #productmanagement #PMjobs #productcoach #careercoach #careergrowth

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What's the scariest part of the job hunt? For most people it's the job interview, especially if there are case studies involved. That's why Nesrine Changuel, PhD is teaming up with Product Academy to share her experience of getting into companies like Microsoft, Google and Spotify. In a 4-hour online course she'll share tips and insights that help you increase your chances of finding and securing the PM job you are looking for. Whether you are trying to break into product or working up the confidence to apply for a senior PM or a first leadership position - block your calendar for March 29, this is time well spent :)As always, we are keeping the class size at a max of 12 participants to ensure enough time for questions and hands-on exercises. So, grab one of the remaining seats to meet our lovely Nesrine in class. #productjob #productmanagement #product #productmanager #productleader

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📣 The Most Flawless Metrics Answer 📣Over the past few weeks, I've been working on something special that I believe will be incredibly valuable for anyone looking to break into Product Management, especially within the tech giants like Google.I'm thrilled to share with you a detailed YouTube Analytics Product Manager Mock Interview Handbook that I've put together. This isn't just any handbook; it's a comprehensive guide designed to help you navigate the challenging yet rewarding journey of preparing for a Product Manager interview.🔍 What's Inside:1️⃣ Step-by-Step Interview Structure: From clarifying questions to detailed answer frameworks.2️⃣ Mission and Goals Alignment: How to connect your metrics to the broader company mission.3️⃣ Key Actions and Metrics: Identifying the most crucial actions and metrics for YouTube Analytics.4️⃣ Evaluation and Prioritization: How to prioritize metrics effectively.5️⃣ Handling Follow-up Questions: Strategies to think on your feet and adapt your answers.✨ Why I Created This:As someone who's been in your shoes, I know how daunting the preparation process can be. My goal is to provide you with a structured approach and practical insights to boost your confidence and increase your chances of success. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this handbook is tailored to help you refine your strategies and ace that interview.🌐 Who Should Read This:Aspiring Product Managers preparing for interviews.Current Product Managers looking to sharpen their skills.Anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of product management in a leading tech company.💡 How to Use This Handbook:Read Thoroughly: Absorb the detailed guidance provided.Practice: Use the structured approach in mock interviews.Reflect: Adapt the strategies to fit your personal style and experiences.I genuinely hope this handbook serves as a valuable resource for you. Your feedback is incredibly important to me, so please feel free to reach out with your thoughts, questions, or success stories!💪 🔥 Are you looking to break into product management? I’ve recently launched a program that is focused on helping folks learn product management and crack interviews!🧠 Fill in the form in the comments to register your interest in the program and I’ll reach out to you with further details. Best of luck to all of you on your journey to becoming exceptional Product Managers! 🚀#productmanagement #productinterview #productlearning #productjobs #mentormalay

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Are you an aspiring PM or preparing for a product management interview? Here are some common questions that have been asked in the last 2-3 years at top product companies.We have covered most of them. Let's start practicing! 🚀 If you need proper solutions, do reach out to us or comment "Solution" below. 👇Feel free to share your own experiences or questions in the comments. Let's help each other succeed! 💪#ProductManagement #CareerGrowth #InterviewPreparation #PMSurge #ProductManager #JobHunt #PMCommunity

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