Challenging Product Manager Interview Questions: Examples and Advice

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As you prepare for a product manager interview, you’ll find that some questions are more challenging to answer than others. You don’t want to be stumped, so it’s critical to put as much time into the preparation process as possible. 

A clear understanding of the most challenging product manager interview questions does two things:

• Allows you to prepare accordingly, such as by reviewing sample frameworks.
• Positions you to answer any question that comes your way.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a closer look at a handful of examples and advice for tackling the questions.

What should [company name]’s product strategy be for the next few years?

This question has the potential to spin your head in circles and cause you to freeze. In fact, you may immediately assume that you don’t have a good enough answer. 

The best way to approach this question is by requesting clarity. 

• How many years is a few years?
• Is there a particular goal or priority I should take into consideration?
• Are there any short or long-term constraints to take into consideration?

Not only does this bring clarity to the question, but it shows the interviewer that you’re an analytical thinker. 

The manner in which you prepare for product strategy questions has a direct impact on your interview performance. Here’s everything you need to know about how to answer product strategy questions.

Note: Visit our product strategy interview questions page for a list of examples (with answers). 

How would you design surge pricing for Uber or Lyft?

You don’t necessarily have to be interviewing at Uber or Lyft to hear this question. And of course, “surge pricing” can be replaced by any number of products. 

The challenge with this question is once again its vagueness. You’re being told the problem exists — in this case, surge pricing — and the interviewer wants your feedback on how to improve it. 

Seek clarification by asking questions such as:

• Are you talking about the user experience side?
• Are you referring to the technical side?
• Are there any limitations to consider?
• Are there any resource constraints or time frames I should keep in mind? 

The purpose of the questions you’re asking is to help you limit the scope of the question so you can better answer it. This is a useful approach for either product design or technical interview questions.  

You’re a product manager at [company name]. How would you design a strategy to improve revenue?

If you’re not careful, you could answer based on a framework that doesn’t suit the question. Your first thought should be: is this a product strategy or a product sense question?

Ask clarification questions to determine which path is right. Or, let the interviewer know that you want to treat it as a strategy question. The goal is to ensure that the interviewer knows the angle you’re taking. 

Here’s an example from our website along with a variety of answers: You are a PM at Uber. Devise strategies to improve revenue. 

Estimate the number of Uber rides each month.

This is difficult to answer because you don’t know what types of assumptions are and are not allowed. The best approach is to make assumptions based on data you’re able to validate in the real world. Consider this any publicly available information that you can find online.

Don’t make a crazy assumption that you can’t back up, such as there is x number of Uber drivers and each one gives x number of rides each month. You can’t validate this for many reasons, such as some people work full-time, others work part-time, and some cities are busier than others. 

What’s important to remember in this question is that the interviewer is evaluating your ability to estimate based on general data. We have frameworks on how to answer estimation questions, ensuring that you’re never caught off-guard. 

Can you tell me more about yourself? Can you tell me about a time when [scenario] happened?

These are behavioral questions that have no right or wrong answer. Instead, they’re based on your personal experiences. Even so, it doesn’t mean you should “wing it” and hope for the best.

The only way to prepare for behavioral questions is through repetitive practice. Make a list of these questions, write down several potential answers, and continually run through them live and in your mind. You should also record the answers and watch yourself in action. Even better, find a product manager who is willing to ask you questions and provide professional feedback.

You should expect a handful of behavioral questions, so you want the answers to become second nature. Enough practice will get you there. 

3 Key Takeaways

Yes, these product manager interview questions are challenging. The same can be said about many others. If you don’t remember anything else about the advice above, here are three takeaways to keep in the back of your mind:

• Vague questions require clarification: There’s nothing wrong with asking clarifying questions to narrow down the scope of the question. You can also assert assumptions upfront and ask the interviewer if they’re okay with these assumptions. 
• Frameworks can help: We focus heavily on this in our PM Interview Prep Course. For instance, our frameworks for answering product improvement questions touch on clarifying the scope and defining success metrics. 
• Practice makes perfect: If you know you’re going to face a challenge, it’s imperative to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more. Review common PM interview questions online, partake in mock interviews, and get involved with group practice. There’s no such thing as too much practice. 

There’s no one size fits all solution to overcoming challenging product manager interview questions, but the advice and guidance in this article — combined with practice — will position you for success.