Tips for Product Design Whiteboarding?
May 16, 2020
23 Comments
In a product design interview process, what are some good tips to keep in mind during a whiteboard session interview? Or maybe best practices? #interviews #design #ui/ux
comments
https://uxdesign.cc/how-to-prepare-for-your-facebook-product-design-interview-f80ab9e8f6fb
Generally though: ask clarifying questions first, demonstrate interest in the intended users, identify objectives and draw out a couple flows and more detailed screens. Also, think a bit beyond just the screen. Usually they want you come up with a couple “inventive” ideas, too.
On the other hand, sometimes there’s an unspoken ask that you really reframe the stated problem and get into more abstract thinking about what’s really going on.
I personally agree with you on these whiteboard exercises. It feels so unnatural and forced. When it comes to my actual work and actual product brainstorms, I’m pretty confident in my whiteboarding skills. But when it comes to an interview setting it feels really out of place for me and I tend to get too in my head.
Anyways, thanks for the advice! Really appreciate it.
I agree that at can come across as being forced and contrived, and the interviewers are aware of this.
There’s a couple of dimensions you’re being assessed on
1. Your capacity and willingness to collaborate
2. Your ability to communicate your ideas visually
3. Your ability to breakdown a problem
4. Your ability to ask questions
5. Your conceptual thinking and range
One key thing to remember is that there are no rules in the meeting. If you’re prompt is broad, open to interpretation, or lacking in constraints, it’s up to you to define them, ask questions and narrow down. Most problems you’ll solve at FB (and every where else tbh) are exactly like that - broad and ambiguous.
Also, a big part of being a Product designer is being able to work as thought partners with other functions like PMs and these are critical skills to do so.