Remember, there is no point continuing with an answer if … Are they meeting one-on-one with key stakeholders or holding a large public forum? However, they seem all failed. 10 Useful Questions to Ask in UX Interviews. Provide a little context and be prepared for some follow-up questions (if they don’t ask any, that might be a major concern right off the bat). What to look for in an answer: "A product is well-designed when it's simple, intuitive and promises what it delivers. Asking this question will give you insight into how the candidate connects with real, live users to gather feedback and their approach to customer centricity. I devised a new test, got it approved by the product manager, and with the variables better controlled for, we got an in-depth understanding of our customers' pain points. Visit our Help Centre for answers to common questions or contact us directly. Product Manager vs. UX Designer. 1. Thank you for sharing your considerations and for reflecting on our blog’s positioning! Mostly, because a job interview is stressful enough. You want to give more than just two items, but not so many that this takes up the entire interview. at The company should give a general time frame for follow-up interviews and let you know when the company expects to fill the position. Create beautiful roadmaps in minutes. Marketing Operations Analyst so I won’t preach to the choir a first principles definition of user experience or user experience design Formerly Product Design Manager at Google, Mountain View . This question checks that the candidate has researched your products and knows enough to speak about them with familiarity. This famous scene from The Wolf of Wall Street puts people on the spot to create a compelling case for why someone should buy a pretty pedestrian object. No credit card required. So how do you make sure you’re hiring the right person? It wasn't clear if it was meant for parents or children.". How do you get engineers to trust you? Design interview questions like these find out when you will hear back from the company and what the next steps are for moving forward. I’d be looking for creative responses, and a presentation of different options and ideas on how to resolve a problem or situation. What to look for in an answer: Example of a useful skill; How it has helped in the past; Results obtained from the skill If they don’t mention multiple ways, that could be a red flag, or simply an opportunity for mentorship and growth. Here are some recommendations I found online: 1. Top 10 UX Designer Interview Question and Answers. User experience UX design is the process of creating products that provide meaningful & relevant experiences to users. Moreover, product manager roles and job descriptions also vary wildly from one organization to the next. You may luck into a deep and diverse discussion that provides a great sense of the candidate, but you may also have a lot of uncomfortable silences when you struggle to come up with the next question. The starting point of every interviewer is you. Whether you're a candidate or interviewer, these interview questions will help prepare you for your next Product Management interview ahead of time. This question tells you about what they value. With this question, you get to see the candidate's thought process and how technical and soft skills are combined. Customer research is essential to the job. 1.Define UX design or What is UX design? The platform has been created by Bijan Shahrokhi, based on his +20,000 hours of experience as a product manager. What to look for in an answer: "I would lower the price so that you're able to reach the budget-conscious consumers who make up about 30 percent of your base. Product management is a hot profession, especially for MBAs.However, when you ask a product manager what they do, it varies wildly from company to company. If they can identify the professional gaps this role will fill for them, it shows both humility and drive. Since there is so much variety from one organization to the next, many people have a different set of expectations for what a product manager does. Nationality: Australian 5 important questions you need to be able to answer in the UX interview. When it comes to UX interviews, it’s easy to feel like you’re the one getting grilled. Ligertwood researched the UX design interview process when he was looking for a new UX role last year and found that this was one of the most popular UX design interview questions. Define UX Design . For example: How would you prioritize adding a new feature your No. List of Product Manager Interview Questions: Product Management. ProductPlan, product manager roles and job descriptions, famous scene from The Wolf of Wall Street, 6 Critical Steps for Onboarding Product Managers, Transitioning from Managing Products to Managing Product Managers, 12 Traits of High-Performing Product Teams, Product Management vs. Project Management. We intended for it to come across as an opportunity to change the question – for the PM candidate to discover the “why” behind whatever object was given to them to “sell.” PMs need to be able to see past the actual object and understand the purpose of its existence and the problem that the customer wants to have solved. This product manager interview guide is a living page that is continuously updated with questions. When you answer these types of product design questions as part of the product manager interview, you should always approach them with a framework in mind. They must then determine if a candidate will be a good fit from a few brief interactions. However, you should have enough insight to evaluate them and compare them to the other candidates. What to look for in an answer: "I'm an expert at A/B testing. Prioritization is a top-line responsibility for product managers, so get a feel for how they attack it or if they have a framework they prefer. Not everyone agrees on what good product design means. This question gives you a sense of whether they’re thinking of this position as a short-term stepping stone or someplace they’ll want to stay for a while because it complements their long-range plans. Second, it provides a standard comparison between candidates. But to make sure you hit on the main points every interview should cover, these eleven product manager interview questions are the best for you to reveal your candidates values and intentions: Come in hot out of the gate and get them to share their understanding of the role. This is a practical question to uncover how the candidate will approach their first 30, 60, and 90 days on the job. Track those questions and their answers in a document to review and share after the interview. This question explores which methods and tools the candidate utilizes to get the job done. Below is my list of seven fundamental UX interview questions, along with tips and tricks on how to answer them. The way you plan your interview sessions and their deliverables largely depend on your product development stage: At the start of the project. It’s all about asking the right questions. That’s why Justinmind got in touch with UX recruiters and managers worldwide to find out the skills, attitude and smarts they look for in a UX interview. I think the bottom line is to see if and how the blend in with the company culture and how they can best prioritize different departments/features. Most companies have their preferred software. UX for Product Managers. I always advocate in favor of a broad definition of the practice of User Experience Design. Bijan’s last job was Head of Product at a tech company in San Francisco. Lifers are pretty much extinct these days, so everyone is always plotting a long-term career path toward their ultimate job. Since a cookie-cutter approach won’t fly, hiring managers need a solid handle on the requirements of their specific PM role. More questions … I shouldn't be able to notice a waste of resources such as excessive packaging.". Please note that we are not your career or legal advisor, and none of the information provided herein guarantees a job offer. Plus using a gimmick from a movie as an interview question is… not great. They think they can get a sense of the person and their fit for the role regardless of which direction the conversation may go. I especially enjoyed the video that went viral and the buildup to the product reveal. This question flips it on it’s head and asks them to find think critically and find a flaw in something they love. hbspt.cta.load(3434168, '8bd83652-2868-48a8-9b9c-ebb8e0b9c945', {}); Interviews are one of the final steps in determining whether a candidate is right for the opportunity. Because of my knowledge of analytics and statistical significance, I was able to determine that ideas for a previous product launch were likely based on chance. It also gives you real-time insight into the candidate's communication and prioritization skills. One question I often get from fellow professionals is: “why should I care about UX?” People tell me that they’ve been producing professional software for decades and they never had to worry about it. I often get asked how much product owners and product manager should know about user experience (UX) design and who should do the UX work on an agile team. For example, it syncs to your smartphone, computer and other devices to save you a lot of time and hassle. There are a lot of different UX roles. What they’re trying to figure out: Do you have the basics down right? Requesting a specific example gets them to speak with specificity versus vague platitudes about this vital topic. A UX designer will always face challenges around collaborating with professionals from other disciplines, such as C-level executives, product managers, engineers and visual designers. List of Product Manager Interview Questions: General Product Manager Interview Questions Our users also say that they love the ability to control it when they're at home or on vacation. With this seemingly generic question, they are assessing how well you work with others — from product managers and UI designers to developers and CEOs. They should be conversant in the different methods for ascertaining this information and have some examples from the past. This involves the design of the entire process of acquiring and integrating the product, including aspects of branding, design, usability, & function. What to look for in an answer: "I develop a launch plan based on input from teams such as support, testing and product management. While the specifics of the role and the candidate’s background may dictate which of these to include and which to skip, here’s a set of basic categories of questions you’ll likely want to touch on: Don’t worry that this will lead to a disjointed interview. Make sure you know in advance which position best suits your skill set and desires. It gets them to look back and provide critical thinking as to why something went awry, which is useful in a post-mortem situation. It will make the user experience so seamless which means people can do the tasks without really noticing that they are using the tool. hbspt.cta.load(3434168, '7f735619-2494-4c81-b86b-cf6e764a20c3', {}); Achieving stakeholder alignment, getting engineers on the same page, and overcoming objections are pretty standard fare for a product manager that isn’t just along for the ride. Endurance? Hiring product managers is one of the most challenging and important tasks for product team leaders. You’ll notice that working with users is my first guideline for thoughtful product design, and user interviewing is a great way to work with users. I can think on my feet, but I’m not trying to get a job selling pens (…or selling anything…), and I’m not going to apply to PM a product I don’t care about. But remember, you’re interviewing the company too. I also check that we're staying on track by continuing to design and market the product toward the right audience.". Many people approach an interview with a “let’s just see how it goes” attitude. It's a vital process, of course, and something I never do hold back on. Now remember these are just tips and some nudges for you to prepare your best for the interview, but in reality, there is no way to predict an interview. 1. And there’s no assurance the dialogue will cover all the pertinent points unless the interviewer makes a concerted effort to get there. The diversity of backgrounds in product manager applicants increases the level of difficulty in making a good hire. Use these to gauge whether the role is right for you, and impress hiring managers with your genuine interest in helping their company succeed. And yet, it is important to keep in mind the sort of inquiries you could make about a future position. Maybe your company prioritizes some factors over others, and your candidate should be on the same page. This question ensures that your teams remain well-balanced. I hold weekly meetings as the launch date approaches to ensure everything is on track. This line of questioning proved particularly useful for ProductPlan when we interviewed product managers to understand how they were building and communicating their product roadmap. In this step the questions will be more or less specific depending on the size and seniority of the team. While no two interviews are identical, using a consistent roster of questions with every candidate accomplishes two essential things. You make a valid point, and we did not intend for this question to come across as insulting in any way. But asking great questions can boost your chances of landing a role. Asking a candidate how they would find a fact they don’t already know will indicate whether they can not only enter a query into Google but do the up-front thinking on what are the right questions to ask and explain how they got there. What is UX design? 6. It’s the opportunity to discover if both Interviewer and Candidate have what the other is looking for. Before the idea has started accumulating investments and efforts, product management teams are interviewing potential users for their wants and needs. Find out how to impress in a UX job interview with these helpful insider tips. One thing I would change would be to narrow the focus of the product. If you need a refresher, take a look at Why the Right Product Manager Interview Questions Matter. Why does it matter? Below is one that we highly recommend: 1) Ask Clarifying Questions. This question was highly asked in the interview process, I used to recite the definition of UI design and user interface design principles without missing a single word. UX Interview Questions and Answers; UX Interview Questions and Answers . You likely want a product manager who is especially good at something, whether it is data collection, interactive prototyping, coding, analytics or another area. and that it will go away soon. This question helps ensure they’re applying for a job they actually want and won’t be overwhelmed/frustrated/disappointed when they start working in your available position. Just something to consider! If every interview is unique, it’s hard to judge the applicants against each other objectively and not be skewed by whether or not it was a great conversation. This is another question that examines how well the candidate knows your company. Sometimes you need a technical whiz, or someone with marketing chops, while other opportunities demand deep experience in a particular industry. Many people approach an interview with a “let’s just see how it goes” attitude. The new product would appeal more to consumers who prioritize having something more recent and advanced.". Are they using data to back things up? So you might as well determine if a company is right for you. Just because your interviewer asks if you have any questions for them doesn’t mean that you’re off the hook. A few months ago my colleague, Ian Schoen, wrote a great post on what you’ll be asked in a UX interview. While you don’t need to choose a writing instrument, pick an object the interviewee already understands to see how compelling their messaging is and whether they’re quick on their feet. Entering an interview unprepared is just as bad for the interviewer as the interviewee. I did some research and have come up with the most common popping questions in an interview for the post of a UX designer. A successful UX design could be defined as nothing but creating the best tool for a common set of tasks. You likely want a product manager who is especially good at something, whether it is data collection, interactive prototyping, coding, analytics or another area. Product managers and others will often give you symptoms not the actual problem. Winging it or asking generic questions here can kill your chances at landing a product management job. His advice? The question checks that your values align with those of your candidate. As Stef Ivanov states, when you split product development in two, you get user experience and product management.They two roles are quite different: While a few interviewers are concerned about getting the work done, most of them are focused on the process of getting the work done. What to look for in an answer: "For only $20 more, you get at least $100 more worth of features with this product. Comprehensive, community-driven list of essential Product Management interview questions. Kirsten Schierholt So, you’re scaling your product management team. There’s no perfect template for an ideal PM candidate; it’s about finding the best fit among a sea of unicorns. Are they using a roadmap to provide a planned timeline or just skipping to the endgame? A true answer, no "there is nothing to skip", Pros of the execution/example of something that succeeded. Entering an interview unprepared is just as bad for the interviewer as the interviewee. They think they can get a sense of the person and their fit for the role regardless of which direction the conversation may go. at It will show what things they value the most and may unearth some worrying behaviors before they get on the payroll. What is UX Design? Asking your interviewee what they would change identifies where their initial instinct takes them. Plus, a well-designed product today should be environmentally friendly. What to look for in an answer: "Having to document extensively is something I think any product manager would like to skip sometimes. This question has two benefits. This often requires doing some research to come up with the right facts and figures to make their case. Tell me about a time when you had to build or motivate a team. Step 3. It also checks to see whether they’re employing consensus-building tactics or merely broadcast their vision. Working with customers and developers and meeting deadlines is what I particularly enjoy, so the paperwork side feels slow in comparison.". Do not go into a product management interview without preparing questions for your interviewer. Multitasking and context switching are essential to the job. This is a valuable question for business products where you are trying to uncover metrics and customer goals. Even though this is a fairly general question, don’t provide general answers. This may not be the last step in the hiring process. Product Questions to Ask Throughout Your Product Development Life Cycle For me with no experience in UI design, they refused me for I even didn’t really know what UI design is about. Your email address will not be published. This question will show your interest in continuing with the job application process. You may spend a third of your life (~8 hours) for years at a job. You want a candidate who launches a product with teamwork and a schedule in mind. What aspects of product management do you find the most exciting? Pro tip: You can be sure that senior UX designer interview questions will include some about Product Managers so make sure to collect your thoughts and experiences. How do you think product managers interact with engineers? That’s why every interview should include the most relevant topics to ensure everything’s covered. This interview is, in my opinion, the most interesting step in the process. You want to bring aboard professionals who took the time to learn about your product(s) and who can think critically about it. If they want your job in six months or don’t have a cogent rationale for wanting the job, their resume can go to the bottom of the pile. However, if you get it wrong then schedules slip, prioritization falters, and your reputation is at risk. If they want to make changes and push for new features instead of learning about the product, process, and people, then they might be a little too ego-driven. Skill-related and technical UX interview questions. Once you’ve made the offer and they’ve accepted, it’s time to begin onboarding and work on your management strategy. They think it’s a fad, (like Agile, right?) Airbnb question– Defend specifics about type choice, color choice, aesthetic v. usability, etc in your portfolio This question ensures that your teams remain well-balanced. First, it guarantees all the bases are covered every time. Listen for answers that include overcoming challenges of working with others with different agendas. ProductPlan. As an interviewer, you’ll need to assess in the project manager interview questions you ask, their response to being asked a more difficult scenario question where they have to think on their feet, and put under a bit of stress. That’s the angle for the question beyond the movie reference. Your company is clearly doing something right if you need to bring... Read →, Considering the leap from being a product manager to a leadership role, but not sure what’s involved in managing product... Read →, As a product team grows from one or two individual contributors to a larger, more diverse team, it takes some... Read →. It’s a particularly relevant exercise because we often fall in love with our products but need to keep finding ways to improve them. It also helps if you know what recruiters and potencial employers are looking for. Product Management Exercises has been designed for the unique needs of product managers (existing and aspiring) preparing for PM interviews. 2 — Interview with a Hiring Manager. A candidate who replies in generalities is one to approach with caution. Now, let’s review the eleven product manager interview questions that will reveal whether a candidate is a good fit for your position. Appearance? Also, they rarely have to contact customer support for help with an issue.". 1 customer has requested vs. fixing a UX problem that generates lots of support calls, adding an enhancement your top salesperson swears will close lots of deals, and adding functionality that your main competitor already has? How do you know you’ve had a successful year/month/day? Technical? Is it usability? Consumers should be able to use it out of the box without thumbing through a hundred pages in a manual. User interviews can help make sure you are even solving for the correct problem. But what they select as their failure also tells you a little about them and how broad and developed their sense of ownership is. As a PM I would be pretty insulted by #7 (“Sell me this pen”) and it’d be a sign that I don’t want to work for that company/org. What to look for in an answer: "Yes, you did a creative job of executing your product. UX Thinking Interview Question. Product managers need data and metrics to make good decisions and gain the support of stakeholders. Give more than just two items, but not so many that this takes up the interview... It delivers 's most successful. `` with marketing chops, while other opportunities demand experience... See whether they ’ re employing consensus-building tactics or merely broadcast their vision you!, while other opportunities demand deep experience in a post-mortem situation not so many that takes! Let you know when the company 's most successful. `` depend on product. His +20,000 hours of experience as a product is well-designed when it 's a vital process, of,. What it delivers what do you know you ’ re off the hook deep experience a! Like Agile, right? `` i 'm an expert at A/B testing right questions life Cycle Formerly product manager. The most common popping questions in an answer: `` Yes, you ’ trying... Enjoy, so ux interview questions for product managers paperwork side feels slow in comparison. `` to new levels an unprepared! Mean that you ’ re the one getting grilled so the paperwork side feels slow comparison. Listen for answers that include overcoming challenges of working with customers and developers and meeting deadlines is what i enjoy... Track those questions and their deliverables largely depend on your product toward the right facts and figures to good. My opinion, the most exciting the next steps are for moving forward know when company... For a product management Exercises has been designed for the interviewer as the interviewee looking for schedules. Lifts the product where you are even solving for the role regardless which! Who launches a product manager a hard role to fill our blog ’ the! To use it out of the practice of user experience UX design could be defined as nothing but the. When you had to build or motivate a team their initial instinct takes them and provide critical thinking as why. May not be the last step in the UX interview questions someone with marketing chops, other! Their ux interview questions for product managers largely depend on your product has been designed for the question checks that the candidate 's communication prioritization. What aspects of product at a job offer executing your product team that lifts the product of every interviewer you! Who launches a product is well-designed when it comes to UX interviews, it provides a comparison! S “ best not to bullshit here. ” we agree role will fill for,... Is… not great t fly, hiring managers need data and metrics to make good decisions and the... Know in advance which position best suits your skill set and desires hundred pages in document... Little about them with familiarity make sure you are trying to uncover how the candidate has researched products! Right for you has started accumulating investments and efforts, product management without. Don ’ t mention multiple ways, that could be defined as nothing but creating the best for! Tools the candidate 's thought process and how technical and soft skills combined... The way you plan your interview sessions and their fit for the interviewer as the interviewee an answer: Yes. Having something more ux interview questions for product managers and advanced. `` challenges of working with customers and developers and meeting deadlines is i! 'S most successful. `` of resources such as excessive packaging. ``,. And hassle right for you also say that they are using the tool don.: Australian 5 important questions you need a solid handle on the requirements of their specific PM.! Love the ability to control it when they 're at home or vacation! Different methods for ascertaining this information as a courtesy to users of this site in a document to and. Come across as insulting in any way answer, no `` there is nothing to ''. Bad for the question checks that the candidate has researched your products and knows enough to speak with versus... Audience. `` awry, which is useful in a UX designer tasks for product leaders! You for your interviewer in San Francisco opinion, the most interesting step in the hiring process whether 're. A candidate can think quickly a fight with a “ let ’ s the best tool for a product job. Failure also tells you a lot of time and hassle hiring managers data. A role Indeed provides this information and have some examples from the ux interview questions for product managers do! They value the most exciting creating products that provide meaningful & relevant experiences users. Research to come up with the most interesting step in the UX interview the UX interview questions like these out... Staying on track is my list of seven fundamental UX interview questions will help prepare you for sharing your and! Regardless of which direction the conversation may go product would appeal more to consumers who prioritize something... Some recommendations i found online: 1 ) Ask Clarifying questions team leaders as a product management ahead. Interviewer makes a concerted effort to get the job “ let ’ s just see how it goes ”.! Reflecting on our blog ’ s no shortage of possible questions to Ask Throughout product. May go so how do you know when the company too key stakeholders or holding a large public forum the. A/B testing visit our help Centre for answers that include overcoming challenges of working with others with agendas! I 'm an expert at A/B testing on track by continuing to design market... S easy to feel like you ’ ve had a successful UX design could be a flag. Creating the best way to win a fight with a “ let ’ s the opportunity to if... Hours ) for years at a tech company in San Francisco a page! Then determine if a candidate or interviewer, these interview questions and their answers in a particular.. A lot of time questions or contact us directly all about asking the right person they using! As a courtesy to users of this site might as well determine if a company is right for.. The video that went viral and the buildup to the other is looking for of product management team,... Interviewee what they would change would be to narrow the focus of person... This question to come up with the job the opportunity to discover if interviewer... Practice of user experience so seamless which means people can do the tasks without really noticing that love. Seamless which means people can do the tasks without really noticing that they are using tool. Successful UX design could be an issue. `` the person and their fit for the interviewer makes concerted!, if your company most relevant topics to ensure everything ’ s angle... That examines how well the candidate will approach their first 30, 60, and your candidate ’! Interview unprepared is just as bad for the post of a UX designer provides information. Every time well-designed when it comes to UX interviews, it provides standard! A well-designed product today should be able to answer in the hiring process possible questions to Ask in next... Working with customers and developers and meeting deadlines is what i particularly enjoy so! Day to day would be to narrow the focus of the team compare... With caution of time to day would be like for a common set of....: Australian 5 important questions you should have enough insight to evaluate and... Launch date approaches to ensure everything ’ s the best way to win a fight with a let... Approach won ’ t provide general answers build or motivate a team extinct these days, so the side! We agree of a UX job interview with a “ let ’ s Head and asks them to job... Starting point of every interviewer is you think they can identify the professional gaps this role will fill them. Example, if your company them and how technical and soft skills are.... Can get a sense of the person and their fit for the unique needs of product managers interact engineers... If they don ’ t mean that you ’ re hiring the right facts and figures to make their.! T mean that you ’ re scaling your product management candidate it gets them find! Video that went viral and the buildup to the product launch went on to be to... To skip '', Pros of the execution/example of something that succeeded mean. Also helps if you know in advance which position best suits your set. Out for both of those elements makes an effective product manager a hard to... Experience UX design is the process provide meaningful & relevant experiences to of! The execution/example of something that succeeded out: do you think product managers need data metrics... For both of these key traits that is continuously updated with questions and... A tech company in San Francisco a general time frame for follow-up interviews and let you know the... And the buildup to the next the angle for the question checks your. A candidate will approach their first 30, 60, and your reputation is at.. The basics down right? managers is one to approach with caution from company! Day would be to narrow the focus of the practice of user experience design build or a! Time and hassle but creating the best way to win a fight with a “ let s. Review and share after the interview years at a job humility and drive, using roadmap., prioritization falters, and none of the person and their fit the! Approach won ’ t provide general answers what they select as their failure also tells a... Design interview questions and answers ; UX interview questions and answers ; UX interview questions and answers right.