Ace Your PM Interview: Top 10 Revealing Interview Questions and How to Answer them (3/3 part series)

What happened this week?

Hey there!
This week was all about updating my team's OKRs and individual goals. I had to really think hard about what we want to achieve this quarter while also keeping up with my recruitment efforts, like always! It’s 30% of my time.

Anyway, I'm excited to share the last part of our 3-part series with you. I put in a lot of time and effort, and I think you'll find it super valuable. It’s based on my experience and also feedback from other hiring managers. They've been a great way for me to find the best candidate for my team.

So I'll be covering the top 10 revealing interview questions for PMs and giving you some tips on how to frame your answers successfully.

If you missed parts 1 and 2, don't worry! You can find them at the bottom of the page.

What’s in there?

1. Collaboration
2. Customer insights
3. Planning
4. Ownership
5. Impact
6. Execution
7. Leadership
8. Strategy
9. Communication
10. Vision

1. Collaboration

Inside the hiring manager’s mind:

• We're interested in seeing if you can effectively communicate your perspective while still maintaining a positive relationship in the long run.

• It's important to genuinely listen to the other person's point of view, understanding their needs and priorities.

• Ideally, you were able to reach a resolution where both parties were convinced and worked towards a common goal.

Red flags to watch out for:

• However, we want to avoid situations where someone simply gives in without a valid reason

• Forcefully pushes their own idea without considering others.

2. Customer insights

Inside the hiring manager’s mind:

• Did you have any conversations with customers before the launch that influenced what you eventually launched?

• Did you try out different research methods like surveys or one-on-one conversations?

Red flags to watch out for:

• You haven't actually had much opportunity to talk to customers

• Or if it's tough for you to recall an example

3. Planning

Inside the hiring manager’s mind:

• Encourage your team to collaborate and set deadlines together.

• Deadlines should be seen as a way to inspire and concentrate efforts, rather than a means to make everyone work non-stop.

• It's important to work backwards from fixed deadlines to ensure a smooth workflow.