Bijan Shahrokhi 
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Article Contents
“One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.” — Arthur Ashe
Confidence isn’t the only thing you need to ace your product manager interview and receive a job offer, but it’ll allow you to handle anything the interviewer throws at you. Confidence puts you in control of the interview, which helps you stand out from other candidates.
With this in mind, it’s time to answer the million-dollar question: what’s the best way to boost your confidence in advance of a PM interview?
The first thing you must do is realize that gaining confidence is a marathon, not a sprint. There are short-term things you can do to boost your confidence — many of which are discussed below — but don’t expect it to happen overnight.
Secondly, dig deep to determine the reason(s) for your lack of confidence. Reasons vary, with some of the most common including:
- Uncertainty regarding the questions you’ll be asked in a PM interview.
- You’ve watched or read guides on how to answer questions and realize that you’re not up to speed.
- Reservations about your experience, knowledge, job fit, and/or preparation.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s examine how you can increase your confidence for an upcoming PM interview.
1. Practice, Practice, and Practice Some More
Getting good at anything in life takes practice. This holds true for young children learning their colors, teens learning algebra, and working professionals preparing for a job interview.
A PM interview isn’t something you “wing.” Instead, dedication to the preparation process best positions you for success.
There’s a lot you can do on your own, such as reading through our list of 2500+ product manager interview questions. Not only will you become familiar with frequently asked questions, but our community has answered each and every one. This gives you the jumping-off point you’re searching for.
The more you practice, the more you’ll hone both your knowledge and interview skills. Doing so will put you in the best light possible — and you can’t ask for anything more than that.
2. Partake in Mock Interviews
There’s nothing wrong with preparing on your own. In fact, it’s crucial to your success. But there’s likely to come a point when you hit a wall. You need to bring someone else into the equation. This is where mock interviews and group practice sessions make a difference.
Mock interviews and group sessions will benefit you in many ways:
- Targeted feedback from other interviewees and/or currently employed product managers.
- Build confidence in your ability to think on your feet and provide sound answers to even the most challenging questions.
- Constructive criticism on what you can improve.
By doing mock interviews, you put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer. This helps you understand what is in the mind of the interviewer, thus allowing you to pay closer attention to their criteria.
You can only do so much preparing on your own, so keep the door open to mock interviews and group practice sessions. There’s help to be had, as long as you’re receptive to it.
3. Become Familiar with Frameworks for Answering Interview Questions
You may not realize it — especially if you’re applying for your first job — but there’s a right and wrong way to approach and answer PM interview questions. This is where familiarity with frameworks can help.
For example, our “How to Answer Product Improvement Questions” prep course lesson is described as follows:
Product improvement questions evaluate your ability to discover users’ pain points and solve them. This lesson provides a framework for answering these questions, from describing the product and clarifying the scope, to listing solutions and defining the success metrics.
We give you the frameworks you need to properly answer any and every interview question that comes your way. And with that, your confidence will skyrocket.
What About the Day of Your PM Interview?
When “interview day” finally arrives, there are things you can do to ease your mind and proceed with confidence. Try these tips:
- Give yourself plenty of time to get ready: The last thing you need is to be rushing around in the hours leading up to your interview. Leave plenty of time in your schedule to prepare, as this helps minimize the stress and anxiety you’re sure to feel.
- Meditate: Take 15 to 20 minutes to meditate. Relax your mind and body, visualize the outcome of the interview, and realize that you’re embarking on a learning experience regardless of what happens.
- Focus on the basics: Get in the right frame of mind by practicing how to answer basic questions such as what is your favorite product and why; how would you improve your favorite product; and how do you deal with difficult co-workers?
Along with the above, there’s one final thing to remember: don’t schedule a PM interview until you’re confident in your ability to prepare accordingly and perform at a high level.
Summary
Regardless of the job you’re applying for, confidence is the name of the game. It helps you tackle every aspect of the interview process while proving to the interviewer that you’re the right person for the position.
If you’re ready for a confidence boost, review our long list of interview questions while also signing up for a group practice session. With each passing day, your confidence will rise and you’ll begin to realize that you’re ready to take on the interview process with a clear mind.
