M/FAANG PM Interview Guide

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Your Ultimate Interview Guide

Introduction
Interviewing for Product Manager roles at prestigious companies can be a
challenging and rewarding journey. Understanding the nuances of each
company's interview process and tailoring your preparation accordingly can
significantly increase your chances of success.
Lately, the competition for product manager positions at renowned
companies has become increasingly competitive. Employers seek
candidates with a unique blend of technical acumen, strong problem-
solving skills, and a deep understanding of the company's values and vision.
Throughout this ebook, we will delve into each company's interview process,
highlighting the qualities they look for in potential product managers and
offering practical guidance on how to showcase your strengths during the
interviews.
Whether you are a recent graduate aspiring to launch your product
management career or an experienced professional seeking growth
opportunities in top tech companies, this guide is tailored to meet your
needs.
So, let's embark on this journey together and unlock the keys to success in
acing product manager interviews at top companies!

What Does The Role Of Product
Manager Entail In Top
Companies?
Product Managers in top companies are instrumental in the success of new
and existing products. They play a crucial role in overseeing the entire
product lifecycle, from its inception to its overall success. Their
responsibilities include effective communication and collaboration with
internal and external stakeholders, understanding user needs, and creating
strategies for branding, advertising, launching, and marketing the product.
A product manager's focus is on driving the product toward growth and
profitability by meeting customer requirements and aligning with the
company's overall strategy.

The responsibilities of Product Managers at Uber, Netflix, and other top
companies involve a wide range of tasks to ensure the success of their
products. These responsibilities include:
Responsibilities & Expectations Of Product Managers At Top
Companies
Understanding the needs of users
Conducting market research
Companies?

Performing competitive
analysis
Defining product vision,
strategy, &
implementation plan
Collaborating with
various departments
Managing the entire product
lifecycle,
from ideation to the end
Companies?

Tech Product Manager: Focused on technical products, defining the
"why" and "what" of the product while leaving the "how" to the engineering
team.
Consumer Product Manager: Concentrated on products aimed at
consumers, understanding their needs, and creating customer-centric
solutions.
Growth Product Manager: Focused on optimizing and driving product
growth through data-driven strategies.
Product Design Manager: Responsible for the design aspects of the
product and ensuring its alignment with user experience and customer needs.
The roles of Product Managers (PMs) in M/FAANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon,
Netflix, Google) companies differ from Product Manager roles in general. Even
within each company, there is a range of product manager roles with distinct
responsibilities and focuses. For instance, at Amazon, the role of a PM for AWS will
be substantially different from that of a PM for Prime Music. Read on to know how
to get an offer from one of them.
Types Of Product Manager Roles
Product management is a diverse field, and various specialized product
manager roles exist to cater to specific needs. Some of the types of product
manager roles include:
Companies?

General Strategies For Any PM
Interviews
Phase 1
Step 1: Research the Company and Its Products/Services
Before attending an interview, it is essential to gather in-depth knowledge
about the company and its offerings. Follow these steps to conduct thorough
research:
Step 2: Tailoring the Resume and Cover Letter for Each
Company
BCustomize your resume and cover letter for each company you apply to
demonstrate your genuine interest and understanding of the role. Follow these
steps for effective tailoring:
This is a highly competitive step for millions of candidates, as millions of
candidates do not make it past this stage. Tailoring your resume to a
standard is as important as the interview itself. You can find our
free resume guide here.
Review the Job Description: Carefully read the job description to
understand the role's requirements and the type of candidate the company
is seeking. Identify keywords and phrases that align with your skills and
qualifications.
Learn About the Company: Gather information about the company's
mission, culture, values, products, services, and target clients. Explore their
website, social media pages, and employee reviews to gain insights into their
business practices.
Align Your Skills: Emphasize skills and qualifications that align with the
job description. Highlight accomplishments relevant to the specific role to
showcase your suitability for the position.
Showcase Value: Articulate how you can add value to the company
and contribute to its success. Address the company's needs in your cover
letter, showcasing your motivation and interest.
Assess Your Eligibility: Evaluate your qualifications and experience to
determine how you fit into the position and why the company should choose
you over other candidates.
https://insideiim.com/how-to-write-a-product-manager-resume-2023

Phase 1
Step 3: Understanding the Company's Culture, Values, and
Vision
A strong understanding of the company's culture, values, and vision is vital
for displaying alignment and interest during the interview. Follow these steps
to gain insights:
Step 4: Building a Strong Online Presence and Networking
Within the Industry
In today's digital age, a strong online presence can enhance your professional
image. Consider the following steps:
Research Online Sources: Visit the company's website, read
employee reviews, and explore its social media presence to understand its
culture and values.
LinkedIn Profile: Optimize your LinkedIn profile, ensuring it reflects your
skills, accomplishments, and career aspirations. Engage in industry-related
discussions and connect with professionals in your field.
Industry Networking: Attend networking events, join professional
groups, and participate in webinars related to your industry. Building
connections can open up opportunities and expand your knowledge.
Explore Management and Leadership: Familiarize yourself with
key members of the management team and their backgrounds. This
knowledge will help you connect with your interviewers and make a positive
impression.
Interviews

Interviews
https://bit.ly/3rNcly6

Facebook Interview Process &
Preparation
Interview Stages & Timeline
Phase 1 Week 0-2
Resume & Cover Letter
Phase 2 Week 4 to Week 8
Product sense
Execution (Analytical thinking)
Leadership & Drive
HR Phone Screening
3 Onsite Interview Rounds:

Phase 1
Round 1.1: Resume & Cover Letter Screening
This is a highly competitive step for millions of candidates, as only 10% of the
candidates make it past this round. Tailoring your resume to a standard is as
important as the interview itself. You can find our free resume guide here.
Round 1.2: HR Phone Screening
Again this round will be similar to any other company’s process with an HR
on-call. The aim is to understand your background and confirm your
suitability for the job. Expect behavioral questions like "Tell me about
yourself," "Why Facebook?" or inquiries about product or feature launches. Be
prepared for general product thinking questions too, such as "What’s your
favorite Facebook feature and how would you improve it?"
Phase 2
Facebook assesses PM candidates based on three competencies: Product
Sense, Execution, and Leadership & Drive. Each competency is evaluated
through a 45-60 minute interview with a calibrated interviewer. The
interviewers make Hire/No Hire recommendations based on competency
requirements.
Round 2.1: Product Sense
Facebook PMs are responsible for identifying and solving team problems,
requiring strong product design and strategy skills. During interviews,
showcasing user-centricity and skills in a product sense is crucial.
Sample Questions
Design a better camera roll app for your smartphone.
Pick a Facebook app / any product — how would you improve it?
How would you improve Facebook groups?
Design a social travel product for Facebook
Design a jobs product for Facebook
Facebook events are struggling. How would you turn it around?
Should Facebook enter the dating/jobs market?
How would you monetize the Facebook marketplace?
What should Facebook do next?
Preparation

How do you identify who to build for and what their needs are
How do you focus on creating value and impact
How do you handle critique, constraints, and new data
Can you break the problem space down into smaller, more manageable
pieces?
Do you have a thoughtful point of view?
Do you make intentional design choices?
Do you build?
What is the recruiter looking for in you during
this round?
One of the Preparation Methods to follow:
Practice leading product design discussions using the CIRCLES Method:
Understand objectives, identify target customers, empathize with them,
articulate use cases, prioritize, and brainstorm solutions.
Prioritize use cases and avoid jumping straight into solutions during product
design interviews.
Effective communication counts; consider wireframing ideas using tools like
Balsamiq, Sketch, or Adobe XD for UI design.
Facebook PM interview evaluates three competencies: Product Sense
(product design), Execution (decision-making), and Leadership & Drive
(leadership skills).
The CIRCLES Method is a framework for thoughtful responses to design
questions: Comprehend the situation, Identify the customer, Report the
customer's needs, Cut through prioritization, List solutions, Evaluate
tradeoffs, and Summarize recommendations
After determining the problem to solve and features to build, PMs should
execute. Facebook values data-driven approaches, requiring candidates to
demonstrate analytical and prioritization skills during interviews.
Round 2.2: Execution Questions
Preparation

Sample Questions
You are the PM for Facebook Live/Pages — what features would you
prioritize?
You are the PM for Facebook Posts — what reactions should we add next?
How would you set goals and measure success for Facebook
Live/Notifications?
How would you set goals and measure success for Instagram stories?
Facebook group usage dropped 10% — what do you do?
Android weekly usage dropped all of a sudden. How do you find out what
happened?
If you were responsible for News Feed, what goals would you set? How would
you evaluate success?
What is the recruiter looking for in you during
this round?
How To Answer Such Questions?
How do you set the right goals for a product & evaluate its success
How do you analyze and debug problems?
How do you navigate trade-offs — both for your product and across the
Facebook app/ecosystem?
How do you approach prioritization?
How do you make data-based decisions?
The framework for answering execution questions in a Product Manager
interview at Facebook (now Meta) typically involves four key areas: Goals,
Metrics, Debugging, and Navigating complex trade-offs.
Goals: In this section, the interviewer aims to assess your ability to set clear
and quantifiable goals for a product or feature. You may be asked to define
the goals and objectives for a specific product, service, or feature. When
answering, it is important to be mindful of how the goals, especially
quantitative goals, can be gamed and to consider the potential
counterindications of progress.
1.
Preparation

When answering execution questions, it is essential to be highly analytical,
data-driven, and KPI-focused. You should be prepared to use data to support
your decisions and demonstrate your ability to make the right choices based
on evidence and analysis.
Metrics: This part of the interview focuses on your understanding and
selection of relevant metrics to measure the success and health of the
product. You may be asked about which metrics you would use to evaluate
the product's performance and which ones you would prioritize. It is crucial
to think about both short-term and long-term metrics and to be able to
justify your choices based on their relevance to the product's goals.
Debugging: In this section, the interviewer presents a problem statement
related to a specific metric or performance issue, and you are required to
describe how you would approach and address the challenge. Your
response should demonstrate your ability to conduct a thorough analysis to
identify the root cause of the problem and propose potential solutions.
Navigating complex trade-offs: This part of the interview assesses
your decision-making skills when faced with competing options or
trade-offs. You may be presented with a scenario where you need to choose
between different features or strategies. It is important to articulate your
decision-making process and consider the impact on various stakeholders,
such as users, advertisers, and internal teams.
Round 2.3: Leadership & Drive
Every company has its own interpretation of product management, ranging
from facilitator to owner on a spectrum. Some consider PMs as owners,
equating them to CEOs, solely responsible for the product's business impact.
Conversely, Facebook views PMs as facilitators, enabling cross-functional
teams to deliver results collaboratively. Leadership at Facebook emphasizes
influence over authority, valuing self-management, effective teamwork,
lateral collaboration, and upward management.
This is the part of the interview where you really want to show that you've got
drive and empathy.
4.
3.
2.
Preparation

Sample Questions
Tell me about a time when you:
… you led a product from idea to launch
… overcame a really difficult challenge
… managed a conflict/disagreement in a team
… failed at work
… your team wasn't working well together
… you didn't have the resources to get something done but got it done
anyway
Use the STAR or the DIGS Method to respond to behavioral interview
questions like "Tell me a time when you managed a conflict/disagreement in
a team?"
The Rule of Three is helpful when answering questions about favorite
projects where you played a leadership role.
Employ the CIRCLES Method to address questions like "What's a technology
trend you're excited about?" Focus on the customer problem, the technology
trend or solution, and discuss feasibility, including technical aspects, cost,
and consumer adoption.
Utilize the Weakness framework to answer questions about your biggest
weakness and personal development areas.
How To Answer Such Questions?
What is the recruiter looking for in you during this
interview?
These frameworks will aid you in presenting thoughtful and constructive
responses during the interview process
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How do you earn trust and take ownership?
Can you process and grow from past experiences?
Are you supportive of the people around you?
How do you overcome difficult situations?
Can you make the right hiring decisions?
Preparation

Microsoft Interview Process
& Preparation
Phase 1 Week 0-1
Resume & Cover Letter
Phase 2 Week 4
Product Design
Strategical
Behavioral
Technical
Phone Screening
3-4 Onsite Interview Rounds With Question Types:
Phase 1
Round 1.2: Phone Screening
The Microsoft interview process commences with an HR recruiter call. The
aim is to understand your background and confirm your suitability for the
job. Expect behavioral questions like "Tell me about yourself,"
"Why Microsoft?" or inquiries about product or feature launches. Be prepared
for general product thinking questions too, such as "What’s your favorite
Microsoft product and how would you improve it?"

& Preparation
What are recruiters looking for during these types of
interviews?
Phase 2
Interview Types
2.1: Product Design
These are the standard, fundamental PM interview questions. They ask you
to create a new product for the debut of your firm (whether it be real or
imaginary). These will probably come up a lot during the Microsoft interview
process.
Sample Questions
What’s your favorite product, why do you like it, and how would you
improve it?
Design Spotify for children.
What would you build to improve user retention on Microsoft Teams?
How would you improve Microsoft PowerPoint?
Imagine you're designing the mobile app for Microsoft Teams, how would
you go about this?
Your understanding of the problem & why to solve it
User personas & use cases
Prioritizations & solutions
The fact that these questions take an organized approach without specifically
referencing a framework is their most crucial component. You'll come off as
unprofessional or robotic if you recite a memorized framework from one of the
well-known PM interview prep books.

& Preparation
One such framework is the “Broad than Deep” framework,
Additionally, understanding Microsoft's Big-Picture 10-Year Strategy and
specific product roadmaps can be beneficial during the interview process.
Go Broad: Start by brainstorming and listing all possible ideas and
solutions that come to mind for the given product design question. Don't
worry about evaluating or selecting the best solution at this stage. The goal
is to explore various possibilities.
Select One Idea: After having a broad list of ideas, choose one solution that
you find most promising or effective. Consider factors such as feasibility,
impact on users, and alignment with the product's mission and goals.
Go Deep: Once you've selected a solution, delve deeper into it. Provide a
clear and detailed explanation of why you chose this particular solution,
how it addresses the user's needs, and how it aligns with the product's
objectives.
Address Details and Logistics: While explaining your solution, consider
practical aspects such as how to implement it, potential challenges, and
the steps involved in its execution. Be ready to discuss possible trade-offs
and how to prioritize features or components.
User-Centric Approach: Throughout the process, maintain a user-centric
perspective. Emphasize the importance of understanding the target users'
pain points and how your proposed solution addresses their needs
effectively.
1.
2
3.
4.
5.

Set a business objective: Understand the question properly and define a
specific strategic objective with your interviewer. Confirm your understanding
and ask for clarification if needed. Focus the discussion on tangible metrics
and pick a specific objective based on the company's priorities.
Generate solutions: Once the objective is clear, generate a structured list of
solutions to address the strategic problem. Consider all aspects of the
business, including operations, finance, marketing, product, and technology.
Discuss solutions: Engage in a discussion with your interviewer about the
trade-offs and priorities of different solutions. Analyze the pros and cons of
each option and demonstrate your ability to think critically.
Conclude: Finally, make a recommendation and answer the initial question
based on the solutions discussed. Summarize your thought process and
highlight the most effective strategy for achieving the business objective.
1.
2
3.
4.
& Preparation
2.2: Strategy Questions
Product Managers (PMs) play a crucial role in defining the product vision
and roadmap while overseeing product strategy. During Microsoft PM
interviews, candidates are presented with strategic questions that assess
their ability to consider various aspects in making product decisions,
including competition, pricing, marketing, and time to market.
Sample Interview Questions
Imagine you’re a PM at a startup that works with big data. Now what?
How would you monetize Outlook?
Take any production chain, how can you optimize the production process
How would you motivate users to use your app every single day for a
month?
A structured and creative approach is necessary to analyze these aspects
effectively and demonstrate proficiency in product thinking.
Here’s a structured approach to follow:

& Preparation
2.3: Behavioral Questions
These questions aim to assess your soft skills, problem-solving abilities,
teamwork, communication skills, leadership, and adaptability. Preparing
well-crafted answers for these behavioral questions can give you a
competitive edge over other candidates during the interview process.
Microsoft places a significant emphasis on evaluating candidates based on
Tell me about yourself
Why Microsoft? How does this role relate to your past experiences?
Why Product Management?
Tell me about a time when you motivated a teammate that wasn’t getting
their work done.
Have you ever convinced an executive to change their mind? How did you
do it?
Tell me about a time you failed.
To crack behavioral interview questions at Microsoft, you can use the STAR
method, which stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This framework
allows you to structure your answers effectively and showcase your skills
and experiences.
The behavioral round at Microsoft consists of questions
related to three main categories:
Sample Interview Questions
Motivation to work at Microsoft and as a PM.
Past experiences.
Understanding of what good PMs do and don't do

& Preparation
2.4: Technical Questions: Microsoft requires a good level of technical
knowledge from candidates, particularly for Program Manager (PM) roles.
PMs at Microsoft are typically more technically inclined, often having a
computer science degree or substantial experience in software and
engineering. Therefore, expect technical questions during the interview
process that assess your understanding and ability to explain technical
concepts, especially related to algorithms.
Situation: Start by providing context to the interviewer. Describe the
situation you were in, such as a project, team, or client-related scenario.
Task: Explain the specific task or challenge you were facing in that situation.
Clearly define what was expected of you and the goals you needed to
achieve.
Action: Share the actions you took to address the situation and accomplish
the task. Highlight the steps you took, the decisions you made, and the
strategies you employed.
Result: Conclude your answer with the outcome of your actions. Emphasize
the positive impact of your efforts, whether it led to improved teamwork,
successful project completion, or client satisfaction.
1.
2
3.
4.
Additionally, research Microsoft's core competencies and values, such as
collaboration, customer focus, and drive for results. Tailor your answers to
align with these values to show that you are a good fit for the company
culture.
Here's how you can apply the STAR method:

& Preparation
Design an algorithm to highlight relevant documents to a user on their
Microsoft Word dashboard.
What is the difference between C++ and Java?
How does Bing Search rank search results?
Explain APIs to a five-year-old.
Teach my grandma how collaborative filtering works.
How would you explain recursion to somebody who is not technical?
Sample Questions
While coding skills are not required, it is essential to have a deep understanding
of technology, especially the technology used by your team. This knowledge
enables effective collaboration with engineers, allowing you to work together
efficiently towards shared goals.
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Apple Interview Process
& Preparation
Phase 1 Week 0-2
Resume, cover letter, and referrals
HR Phone screen
Phase 2 Week 3-6
Phone/video interviews
Onsite interviews
Phase 1
Round 1.2: HR Phone Screening
Prepare for a ~15-20 minute call with a recruiter for a general behavioral
interview and resume review. Building a good relationship with the recruiter
is crucial for the rest of the hiring process. At Apple, it is noted that this call is
more of a "get to know you" session, with the next interview focusing on
experience. Use the opportunity to inquire about the team's structure and
direction.

& Preparation
Phase 2
Round 2.1: Phone Or Video Interview
After the recruiter phone screen, you'll undergo your initial PM-focused
interviews at Apple. These interviews may consist of one or more video or
phone calls, each lasting 30-60 minutes. Expect to be interviewed by an
Apple hiring manager or product manager, answering both common PM
questions and domain-specific ones based on your experience.
The subsequent step is a phone interview or video call, usually on Facetime
for Apple device users, or Skype as an alternative. At this stage, expect a
significant number of domain-knowledge questions to assess your depth in
the field.
Round 2.2: Onsite Interview
Following the initial phone screenings, you'll proceed to the onsite round. This
structure varies based on the team, comprising four to eight rounds with one
or multiple interviewers. The interviews last about 45 minutes on average,
with pass rates around 15% to 20%.
The subsequent step is a phone interview or video call, usually on Facetime
for Apple device users, or Skype as an alternative. At this stage, expect a
significant number of domain-knowledge questions to assess your depth in
the field.
Types of Interview Questions
2.2.1: Strategy
Apple's PM strategy interviews assess your ability to consider various aspects
of product decisions, your vision, and your teamwork strategies. Prepare to
share your PM playbook, methodologies, and how you solve complex
problems

& Preparation
Sample Questions
How to answer such questions?
Give me an example of a challenging product decision you had to make as
a Product Manager at a previous company and how you approached it to
achieve a successful outcome.
For the Apple Card, a high number of customers are not making their
monthly payments, resulting in negative effects on a customer’s account
and high complaints call volume. Why might the customers be having
issues making payments, and what happens to their accounts?
How would you redesign the Apple App Store?
Should Apple launch its own search engine?
Can you give me an example where you made changes to your app based
on user feedback?
How would you measure the success of iPad Pro?
How would you improve Apple Podcast?
Establish a Business Objective: Begin by thoroughly understanding the
question and defining a specific strategic objective with the interviewer.
Generate Solutions: Once the objective is clear, create a well-structured list
of potential solutions to address the strategic problem at hand.
Discuss Solutions: Engage in a natural discussion with the interviewer about
the trade-offs and priorities associated with each solution generated.
Conclude: Conclude the discussion by providing a well-reasoned
recommendation and effectively addressing the initial question asked
during the interview.
2.2.2: Product Sense
Product questions evaluate your ability to design or enhance products, prior-
itizing user needs with clarity.
Sample Questions

& Preparation
How do you strike a balance between resolving customer problems and
ensuring a top-notch customer experience in the products you manage?
What’s your approach to prioritizing tasks?
How do you decide what and what not to build?
One method is the “Broad than Deep” framework: Kindly refer to the
Microsoft Interview Process & Preparation chapter to know more.
Another can be “The Triangle Method,” which is a successful approach
where you list three points, delve into each, and summarize at the end.
2.2.3: Execution/Prioritization
At Apple interviews, you'll handle competing priorities. While execution
questions focus on crisis management, prioritization questions assess your
day-to-day workload management. The interview format may vary, includ-
ing traditional scenarios or behavioral questions about handling conflicting
priorities.
Sample Questions
Nailing execution questions involves focusing on the approach, not just the
answer. Emphasize your strategy and support it with past experiences.
2.2.4: Technical
During interviews at Apple, you'll likely face one or two technical questions
based on your listed skills. The interview process at Apple varies depending
on the team, but it generally includes a resume review, a recruiter phone
screen, phone/video interviews, a take-home exercise, and onsite interviews.
Apple's technical product manager interviews are known to be challenging
and may involve in-depth technical questions related to the specific domain.

& Preparation
Sample Questions
To prepare effectively, focus on filling technical knowledge gaps and ap-
proach problems systematically while stating assumptions. Reasoning about
problems can impress interviewers even if you don't fully comprehend them.
Use a whiteboard to teach me something, work-related or otherwise.
Develop an algorithm that can detect if a string is a palindrome
Describe shell sort and its advantages and disadvantages
Describe the 3 different indexes and describe the properties of each. In what
situation would you want to use one over the other?
How does tokenization work?
How are payment credentials saved on a device?
What three words would you use to describe Apple’s products?
Tell me about a time when you had to convince someone of something
without authority over them
Tell me about a challenging moment in your career
Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision with a lot of ambiguity
Tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with one of your
colleagues or managers
Tell me about a time you failed
Tell me about a time when you felt appreciated at work
2.2.5: Behavioral
Apple assesses candidates' ability to build relationships and accomplish
tasks independently through behavioral questions. Interviewers seek those
with the skills to influence decision-makers and drive projects to completion.
This section is highly represented, so prepare well.
Sample Questions

& Preparation
Effectively answering such questions is crucial for a successful interview. To
prepare for behavioral interview questions at Apple, research their values and
mission, watch presentations by Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, and reflect on your
experiences.

Amazon Interview Process
& Preparation
Phase 1 Week 0-2
Resume (Refer to previous chapters)
HR Phone Screen
Online Assessment
Phase 2 Week 2-6
Phone Interviews
Onsite Interviews
Bar-Raiser Round
Phase 1
Round 1.2: HR Phone Screen (Optional)
The call will cover your background and interest in the position. Prepare to
discuss your work experience, why you applied, and why you want to work at
Amazon. If there is no screening, they may schedule a first phone call via
email.
Amazon offers two distinct product roles, PMs and Product Managers-
Technical (PMTs), with PMTs focusing on technical products like AWS and PMs
having diverse backgrounds and working across different verticals.

& Preparation
Round 1.3: Online Assessment (Optional)
After speaking with the recruiter, you may begin the interview process with
an online assessment. It could be a case study with one or multiple long
answers, or a series of shorter questions to assess your business acumen
and problem-solving skills
Phase 2
Round 2.1 : Phone Interviews
After your conversation with the recruiter, you will have a one-hour phone
call with either the hiring manager or an existing product manager. During
this interview, the interviewer aims to ensure you comprehend the role you
applied for.
You'll be asked to explain your understanding of the job, and it's essential to
conduct in-depth research to be able to elaborate on specific aspects of the
role, such as your knowledge of relevant topics like the cloud for a PM role
related to it.
Round 2.2: Onsite Interview
The on-site interview at Amazon consists of 5 rounds, each lasting 1 hour. The
schedule typically includes two interviews in the morning, a lunch break, and
three interviews in the afternoon.
The interviewers are a mix of Amazon employees, such as product
managers, technical program managers, software developers, and software
development managers.
Key Fact: During the Amazon interview process, you'll face questions cen-
tered around Amazon's 14 leadership principles, which are fundamental to
the company's hiring philosophy. Candidates must showcase how they
embody these principles in their past experiences; so it’s important for you to
read them.

& Preparation
Types of Interview Questions
2.2.1: Product Design
The product design interviews at Amazon, evaluate how candidates would
build and launch products at Amazon. They assess the principles of "Think Big,"
emphasizing impactful scalability, "Invent and Simplify," promoting creative
innovation, and "Dive Deep," emphasizing problem-solving in complex spaces
and markets.
Flow Smoothly and Logically:
Organize responses with clear structure and transitions.
Avoid abrupt shifts between points for coherence.
Think of Creative User Groups and Needs:
Explore diverse user segments' unique needs.
Demonstrate creativity and identify untapped opportunities.
Tie Product to Company and Product Goals:
Connect product design to the company's objectives.
Show alignment between product and strategic goals.
Identify Trade-Offs and Make Judgment Calls:
Discuss considered trade-offs and informed decisions.
Prioritize features based on importance and impact.
Think of Interesting and Exciting Features:
Introduce innovative features beyond user needs.
Enhance user experience and differentiate from the competition.
How would you use data to build a better Kindle reading experience?
What would you build to improve Twitch?
What’s your favorite non-technical product, and how would you improve it?
How would you improve Amazon's advertising features for businesses?
What is a product you set the vision for? How did you get adoption?
What is a new vertical Amazon should enter? How would you validate this
market?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

& Preparation
2.2.2: Collaboration:
Amazon values disagreements for creativity & innovation through "Disagree
and Commit." PMs must recognize when to challenge, escalate, or move
forward. The "Earn Trust" principle emphasizes remedying mistakes, not
blaming individuals.
Sample Questions
Show them how you can handle conflict.
Demonstrate the ability to challenge ideas while maintaining respect for
others.
Articulate a compelling and inspiring vision for the project or product.
Acknowledge the contributions of team members and celebrate their
successes.
Show them that you can build trust by being honest, transparent, and
reliable.
How would you handle an engineer on your team who is not meeting
expectations?
Tell me about a time when you earned the trust of a person or group.
Tell me about a time you failed.
What is an example of a time when you had to take a short-term loss
hoping to get a long-term gain? Did it work?
2.2.3: Strategy Questions
Product Managers at Amazon define the product vision and roadmap,
encompassing product strategy. During interviews, expect strategic questions
assessing your ability to consider various aspects such as competition,
pricing, marketing, and time to market.

& Preparation
Sample Questions
Refer to previous chapters to learn more about answering strategy types of
questions.
What is the Amazon business model?
What do you know about us, this market, and how to succeed in it?
Take 15 minutes to come up with a new business idea that is unique and
potentially profitable for Amazon
How would you sell live plants at Amazon?
How would you price Amazon Prime and why?
Amazon recently announced 1-day shipping. Why do you think Amazon did
that?
Sample Questions
Tell me about a time you had to trust your gut when making a decision.
Were you comfortable making that decision? How did it play out?
What do you do when you don't have enough data?
How do you stay organized?
If you had to cut one of Amazon's products, what would it be?
Name a company Amazon should acquire.
Round 2.2: Bar-Raiser
The bar raiser, a senior interviewer from a different business unit, carries spe-
cial veto power. This round's aim is to ensure candidates meet the company's
high standards regardless of team needs. Conducted by specially trained Bar
Raisers, the interview assesses candidates against Amazon's 16 leadership
principles and is the final, often challenging step in the hiring proces

& Preparation
Learn In-Depth Concepts From Product Roadmap, Strategy,
Design & Development To Testing, Analytics & Growth, Etc. &
Master In-Demand Tools Like Mural, Balsamiq, Draw.io, SQL,
Power BI, Etc. That Successful Product Managers
Use Every Day.
Familiarize yourself with Amazon's 16 Leadership Principles.
Prepare examples showcasing your alignment with these principles.
Use the STAR method for behavioral interview questions.
Emphasize Customer Obsession and long-term thinking.
Highlight collaboration and teamwork experiences.
Research the specific role and team you're applying for.
Stay confident and composed during the interview.

Netflix Interview Process
& Preparation
Phase 1 Week 0-1
Resume
Phase 2 Week 2-4
Phone Screening - Technical
Assignment (Optional)
Onsite 1
Onsite 2
HR Phone screen
Phase 1
Round 1.2: Initial HR Phone Screen
If a recruiter expresses interest in your resume or LinkedIn profile, they will contact
you for a chat. Before the call, they'll share Netflix's core values presentation,
which is crucial as Netflix emphasizes cultural fit. The initial phone screen will last
around 30 minutes, during which the recruiter will discuss your resume and
assess your enthusiasm for Netflix and the role. There might be an additional
pre-screen with a hiring manager, focusing on cultural fit, past projects, and
expertise-related questions (e.g., Java).

& Preparation
Phase 2
Round 2.1: Phone Screening - Technical
If you successfully pass the pre-screen interview(s), the recruiter will arrange
a 45-60 minute phone call with a hiring or engineering manager. Expect
open-ended technical and technology-specific questions, along with a
coding challenge. The initial 15 minutes will cover resume and behavioral
questions related to their culture.
Round 2.2: Assignment (Optional)
You'll have 6-8 hours for the take-home assignment or a 45-minute to 1-hour
phone interview. It will probably consist of some coding challenges such as
building a microservice that works.
How to solve such assignments?
Round 2.3: Onsite 1
In the initial round of on-site interviews, you will experience a combination of
four interviews, including both 1:1 and 2:1 formats. The majority of these
interviews will be conducted by the engineering team.
2.3.1: Technical Questions - These are specific questions tailored to the job
requirements and relevant technologies.
2.3.2: Whiteboard Exercises - These exercises will involve designing or coding
tasks.
2.3.3: Cultural Questions - These questions will refer back to the Netflix
Culture Document to assess cultural fit.
Choose the Right Technology Stack: Select appropriate technologies and
frameworks to build the microservice based on the problem requirements.
Design the Microservice Architecture: Define the architecture, APIs, and
data models for the microservice. Focus on modularity and scalability.
Implement the Microservice: Write the code for the microservice following
best practices. Test each component thoroughly.
Containerization: Consider using containers (e.g., Docker) for easy
deployment and management.
Documentation: Provide clear and concise documentation explaining the
design, API endpoints, and how to use the microservice.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

& Preparation
Round 2.4: Onsite 2
The final round includes higher-level technical and open-ended questions,
focusing on culture fit at Netflix. Conducted by various roles like HR, hiring
manager, or engineering manager.
In both rounds of the onsite interview, the emphasis is more on your technical
competency, with coding being considered a secondary skill.
Sample Questions
The best approach you can adopt to answer Netflix’s interview questions is
the “STAR Framework.” (Refer to the chapter - “Microsoft Interview Process &
Preparation” to know more about the framework).
Name five devices you can watch Netflix on
What would you do if you were the CEO?
Describe how you would deal with a very opinionated coworker.
Tell me about a previous time you screwed up at your previous job.
What has been the biggest challenge while you work?
How do you improve Netflix’s service?
Who do you think are Netflix’s competitors and why?
How do you test the performance of your service?
How would you go about designing a skip feature for a video streaming
service?
The Netflix marketing team observed that there are many people ordering
food when they are watching movies on Netflix. What is the product
manager’s take on this?
How would you measure the success of the Netflix recommendation
engine?
Should Netflix provide a freemium model? Why?
Imagine that you’re the CEO of Netflix. What is your strategy for the next 10
years?
You are the PM for a streaming video service. You come into the office and
see that one key metric has dropped by 80%. What will you do?

Google Interview Process
& Preparation
Phase 1 Week 0-2
Resume
Phone screening
Phase 2 Week 3-7
Phone Interviews
Assignment (APM)
Onsite Interviews
Phase 1
Round 1.2: Recruiter Phone Screen:
In the initial stage, a recruiter will call you to understand your motivations for
applying as a Google product manager. They'll assess your communication
skills and compatibility with the team.

& Preparation
Phase 2
Round 2.1: Phone Interviews:
During the Google Product Manager interview process, phone screens
typically last about 30 minutes and are conducted by a recruiter and one or
two Product Managers (PMs). The purpose is to assess if candidates meet
the basic requirements for the position and gauge their chances of getting
hired.
Recruiters focus on behavioral and resume questions, while PMs delve into
product design, estimation, and strategy questions. Exceptionally strong
candidates might proceed to on-site interviews directly, skipping this
screening step.
Round 2.2: Assignment (APM)
This round is relevant if you are applying for the Google APM program.
You will have to complete the project within 2 hours, and it will typically be a
product question.
Round 2.3: Onsite
During the Google product manager interview, the real test occurs during the
on-site interviews. A full day is typically spent at a Google office, where you'll
have two interviews in the morning and three in the afternoon. Each interview
lasts 30 to 45 minutes.
Most interviewers are product managers, but you may also be interviewed by an
engineer to assess your technical skills and communication with developers. The
interviews are structured and evaluate you on four main attributes:
role-related knowledge, general cognitive ability, leadership, and Googleyness.
Approach the problem statement as you would with any other interview
question,
Outline your approach,
Acknowledge any assumptions made, and
Submit your solution in a PDF to preserve formatting.
How to solve it?

2.3.1: Product Sense
Google product managers must understand user experiences from the
customer's perspective and leverage that viewpoint to design and enhance
products. They are expected to communicate a clear product vision to
stakeholders and execute on it.
In interviews, product sense questions are used to assess candidates' abilities
to combine product space knowledge with technical and business
considerations.
Sample Questions
& Preparation
Key Fact: You’ll also have lunch with a PM which allows you to ask questions
without evaluation, but it's advisable to behave professionally.
5 Types of interview questions
Two effective frameworks for product manager interviews are "broad than
deep" and "The Triangle Method." The former involves listing ideas broadly and
then diving deep into one solution. The latter includes stating three points,
exploring each in detail, and summarizing them. These frameworks help
candidates respond effectively to interview questions.
Design a product that helps improve work-from-home productivity.
How would you improve Google Maps/Gmail?
How would you improve YouTube Music/WhatsApp?
What's the biggest pain you have with sharing photos today? How would
you fix it?
How would you improve Spotify?
Re-imagine a ride-sharing product like Uber that’s specifically optimized
for blind passengers.

2.3.2: Analytical
As a product manager, your decisions will significantly impact the business.
Analytical interview questions evaluate your ability to comprehend product
strategy and data. Demonstrating competency in defining metrics and
handling metric changes is essential. Show that you make data-driven
decisions in a methodical manner.
Sample Questions
The best possible approach for this is using the GAME framework:
Goals:
Understand the product and agree on specific user and business
objectives.
Clearly define what you're trying to achieve with the product.
Consider various use cases and business goals related to the product.
Actions
Think about all the actions necessary to achieve the defined goals.
Analyze and outline the steps required to measure the success of the
product.
Consider different user behaviors and market factors that impact the
product's performance.
Metrics:
Select the most relevant and important metrics that align with the defined
goals.
Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) that indicate the health and
success of the product.
Choose metrics that provide clarity on the product's performance and
impact.
1.
2.
3.
& Preparation
Select a product and choose the metrics that you would gauge to
measure its success
How would you measure Asana’s new ticketing system’s success?
How would you measure metrics for BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)
What metrics do you think are important for Google Docs?
If you notice a 40% change in usage of your product, what would you do?

2.3.3: Estimation
With estimation questions, interviewers focus on your logical approach, not
the precise answer, to size a market. Ask clarifying questions, break down the
problem, and make reasonable assumptions.
Sample Questions
This approach demonstrates your ability to perform data analysis, select key
metrics, and think critically about the success of a product based on the
defined objectives and actions.
Use the GAME framework to answer such questions.
Evaluations:
Explain how you will evaluate the chosen metrics to determine the success
of the product.
Consider the impact of the selected metrics on user engagement, revenue
generation, and other critical aspects.
Showcase a bulletproof approach to finding the root cause of any metric
changes.
4.
& Preparation
How many messages per second does Gmail send/receive?
How many police stations are there in the country?
Estimate the market size for a parental control app
Estimate the market size for vintage watches
How many self-driving cars would be needed to transport every person in
the country?
2.2.4: Technical
Engineers at Google predominantly ask technical questions during interviews.
Expect coding challenges and the ability to write pseudocode, though
Leetcode hard questions aren't required.

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Sample Questions
& Preparation
What is happening on the back end every time you click search on Google?
Explain what an SDK is to a 7-year-old.
What are the top 3 technology trends that will change the landscapes in the
next decade?
Sample Questions
Use the most popular framework “STAR” to answer these questions.
Why Google?
What’s your greatest strength as a PM?
Tell me about a time when you set and achieved a goal
How would you solve a problem that you have no idea how to solve?
Tell me about a situation where internal company issues affected your job,
and what did you do to resolve it?
Tell me about a time your product vision conflicted with that of your
manager or team.
What is the most valuable advice you’ve received in your career?
What do you do when what’s best for the user is at odds with what’s best for
the company?
2.2.5: Behavioral
Google's behavioral interview questions aim to assess candidates' fit for the
company's culture ("Googley-ness"). They seek multi-talented individuals
with a clear vision for driving the company forward, self-awareness, and the
ability to share memorable stories during the interview process.

Tips To Answer Any Product
Manager Interview
Although the process defers from company to company or M/FAANG to
other companies, the preparation method can be the same
To put it together, you can see that amongst all the companies the
common steps in the process are:
Resume & Cover Letters
Phone Screen
Onsite Interviews
This makes us easy to understand that every PM interview has the same
framework. So, how to do it?
Be Attentive and Take Notes:
Actively listen when the interviewer asks questions or outlines project pa-
rameters. Make note of critical points as they are discussed. Take the time
to understand your interviewer and build a rapport.
Ask Clarifying Questions:
Always ask clarifying questions to determine the most important aspects of
the project. Seek information about the target users, platforms, and
global/domestic scope. When unsure, paraphrase the question to ensure
understanding.
Pause and Reflect:
Before answering questions, take a few moments to collect your thoughts.
Demonstrate effective listening and information processing skills. An extra
10-20 seconds of reflection can improve the quality of your response.
Structure Your Answers:
Provide a clear structure for your answers. Present the structure to your
interviewer before diving into the details. This is particularly useful when the
question doesn't have a right or wrong answer. For example, you can say, "I'll
explore three possible products that fit your question and cover the
tradeoffs of each: X, Y, and Z."

Tips To Answer Any Product
Manager Interview
Explain Confidently:
Use the whiteboard if available and sit up straight while answering. Display
confidence and make eye contact with the interviewer. Articulate your
answers clearly and with authority.
Check-in with Your Interviewer:
Keep an eye on the interviewer's body language. If you sense concern or
uncertainty, check in with them to see if they're comfortable with your
response. Be ready to pivot if necessary.
Review and Summarize:
At the end of your answer, provide a brief summary of your response. Offer a
30-second overview of the key points you addressed.
Break Down Complex Topics:
Explain complex ideas in easily understandable pieces. Avoid explaining
basic concepts but feel free to discuss your product philosophy, user
research techniques, feature planning, successful product launches, metrics
for product evaluation, and collaboration with other PMs.

Pitfalls To
Avoid
Focusing Solely on the Basics:
While it's essential to provide accurate answers, solely focusing on basic and
obvious solutions to interview questions might not showcase your ability to
think critically and creatively. Try to demonstrate your capacity to think outside
the box and provide multiple creative solutions to problems,
especially for product design-related questions.
Neglecting to Narrow Down the Scope of the Question:
When faced with product improvement questions or any ambiguous queries,
avoid making assumptions and ask for clarification. Seeking more information
about the specific objectives, resource parameters, or target audience shows
your thoughtfulness and analytical skills
Listing Metrics Without an Objective:
When discussing metrics, make sure to have a clear objective in mind. Listing
metrics without context or purpose may lead you down the wrong path in your
answers. Seek clarification on the objective if needed and tie the metrics back
to the overall goal or purpose.
Not using the product or being unfamiliar with it
This can lead to being stumped during the interview, especially if questions
related to the product's functionalities, improvements, or user experience are
asked. It can also create a negative impression on the interviewers, as it may
be perceived as a lack of preparation and interest in the role.

Bursting The Myth:
Is Coding Required To Enter
The PM Space?
In the realm of Product Management, there exists a common misconception
that coding is a mandatory skill for entering the PM space. However, this
myth can be debunked by examining the reality of the role and the diverse
skill set required for success in this field.
Myth #1:
You Have To Be Proficient In Coding
Reality #1:
Contrary to popular belief, coding is not an absolute requirement to excel in
product management. While technical skills can be advantageous, product
managers can collaborate with developers and engineers to bridge any
knowledge gaps. Understanding product architecture and development
processes is more essential than writing complex code.
Myth #2:
Coding Is The Sole Path To Product Management
Reality #2:
Another misconception is that coding is the only pathway to a product
management career. In reality, successful product managers come from
diverse backgrounds encompassing fields like marketing, design, business
analysis, and customer research. Those with experience in understanding
user needs, market trends, and business strategies can make significant
contributions to product management without being proficient coders

Bursting The Myth:
Is Coding Required To Enter
The PM Space?
Myth #3:
Coding Skills Guarantee Success As A Product Manager
Reality #3:
Even if aspiring product managers possess coding expertise, it does not
guarantee success in the role. While technical knowledge can aid in
decision-making and communication with engineering teams, it is equally
vital to comprehend market dynamics, competitor analysis, user behavior,
and business objectives. Excelling as a product manager entails a blend of
technical proficiency and soft skills, including leadership, collaboration, and
adaptability.
Myth #4:
Coding Is The Sole Measure Of A Product Manager's Value
Reality #4:
The value of a product manager extends beyond their coding abilities.
While coding can facilitate hands-on contributions to technical aspects, a
product manager's true worth lies in their ability to guide the product
strategy, prioritize features, and lead cross-functional teams.

How To Break Into
Product Management?
Well, we are not going to answer that here because who are we to tell you
that when we’ve got an entire lineup of Expert Product Managers who’ve
worked with top companies like Booking.com, Sharechat, Flipkart,
Microsoft, Atlassian, Amazon, etc.?
It is one of our most popular programs! So here we are, with another batch
of the Product Management certificate program, designed & crafted by
experts to help you maximize your chances of building your dream career in
Product Management.
What’s In It For You?
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How To Break Into
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