Google Product Manager Interview
Starting a loop for google product manager. Trying to prepare for both the first phone screen and then on-site (hopefully I pass the phone). Any tips on 1) what to expect during the phone and 2) what I should study for the onsite (if I make it)?
I went through this earlier this year for Google Cloud. Phone screen was easy enough that I don’t remember anything about it. On-site was tougher - I was onsite for about 5 hours (5 45 minute interviews with an informal lunch). Interviews were 4 PMs and one Eng Manager. PM interviewees all asked product design and estimation questions. Examples: Design a wearable for handicapped individuals. How many dolphins are in the ocean? Etc. Spend some time researching how to answer those questions...they aren’t hard if you have any experience with them but can be a surprise if you’re coming in cold. Also, practice talking through your reasoning out loud. Don’t worry about getting it “wrong” since no one is expecting a billion dollar idea in 45 minutes. You do need to demonstrate that you can break down the problem and approach it in a logical manner. Don’t skip prioritizing features to get to MVP, it’s easy to do this and you’ll be dinged heavily if you do. For the eng manager, I got a systems design question but most others seem to get the typical “what happens when you type a URL” sort of question.
Do you mind if you can DM me the questions you got asked? I would like to practice them...
Same experience
Sometimes a question begs for justification. For example if asked to design a wearable for handicap individuals,ask what is the motive here? Research? Profit? Quality of life? What is our aim? Define success before you start so you know when you’ve achieved it. So we’re aiming for quality of life? Have we got any metrics or dimensions on how a wearable makes quality of life better for someone handicapped? Oh we do? Etc etc
Good pointer.
Are you a pm at Microsoft
I’d recommend reading Swipe to Unlock. It's a book that breaks down technical knowledge (algorithms used products we use everyday, how apis work, how machine learning is being used in the industry) in easy to understand cases. This book was invaluable for me when I interviewed for a PM role, and I know a lot of friends who also applied for PM roles who prepared with this book. I think it was written by a Google PM actually. And then check out Decode and Conquer if you if you want to prep for actual PM interview questions and learn the frameworks and such.
Just ordered the books. Thanks.
In the same boat