How I Nailed the Meta Product Strategist Interview

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As an aspiring product manager with an engineering and consulting background, I quickly came to realize that the majority of my time should go toward interview preparation. My previous positions, especially as an engineer, provided good exposure to all things product-related. However, there was a lot I needed to learn before tackling the PM interview process head-on.

While I didn’t have as much time to prepare as I would have liked — since I landed a few interviews early in my search — three steps put me on the path to nailing my Meta product strategies interview and subsequently receiving a job offer (which I accepted).

Note: I applied for both product manager and product strategists positions. I found the interview process to be very similar throughout. 

1. Heavy Networking

One of the most important things I did was to start networking early in the process. As soon as I decided to transition to product management, I started to work my network as heavily as possible. 

I probably spoke with 20+ product managers to gain a better understanding of what it means to work as a product manager. I wanted to get feedback on what the average day of a PM looks like, both in regards to product management and product strategy. 

As I spoke with these people, many of them introduced me to professional contacts in their network. So, even though I had yet to receive an interview request, I was building out my network, gaining knowledge, and positioning myself for success when the time came. 

When networking, I recommend that you truly do so to learn more. Don’t start out by asking do you have a job for me? Let the person know that you’re genuinely interested in learning from them. It’s okay to share that you’re looking for a PM job, but make it clear that that’s not what you’re interested in. 

My intensive approach to networking eventually led to a connection at Meta’s Reality Labs team reaching out to ask if I was interested in interviewing. Of course, I took him up on the offer. From there, I nailed the interview, received a job offer, and accepted the position. 

From my experience, there are three primary benefits of networking (when done right):

• [50% weighted]. Networking is the best real opportunity to learn what it’s like to hold the job you’re aspiring to get. Ask your contacts about the good, the bad, and the ugly!
• [30% weighted]. You can ask your connections to introduce you to others in their network. This helps you build up your connections. 
• [20% weighted]. It’s a great way to get interviews. Even if a connection doesn’t have an opening right now, they see your enthusiasm, interest, and genuine effort. This makes them more likely to contact you when an opportunity arises on their team. 

Don’t underestimate the importance of networking while searching for a PM job. Go into it with the idea of learning as much as you can about product management, but always keep your eyes open for any opportunities that move to the forefront.

2. Reviewing PM Interview Questions (and potential answers)

After being introduced to Product Management Exercises, this is where I spent the majority of my time. As noted above, since my interviews came about quickly, I didn’t have an overabundance of time to prepare. So, instead of heavily researching four or five questions a day, I focused on 10 or 15.

Yes, I had to move through them at a faster pace, but I was still able to make enough progress to feel comfortable answering them. My approach was simple:

• Think about and create a framework of the solution in my mind.
• Provide high-level answers to each question. 
• Speak my answer aloud.
• Review example answers from other community members.

Not only did this make me more comfortable answering questions, but I was able to gain exposure to a variety of questions — categorized by company and type — all in the same place. 

3. Participating in Mock Interviews

I’ll be honest in saying that I didn’t participate in as many mock interviews as I would have liked. In fact, I didn’t even know that PM Exercises offered this feature until after I interviewed. However, I did go through a handful of mock interviews with my wife.

She doesn’t work in the product management space and has never prepared for a PM interview, but she was able to pick up the basics to the point of asking me questions and providing some level of real-life experience. 

It’s important to answer questions on your own, in your mind, as this is a good time to build out frameworks and really think about your approach. However, there’s no replacement for speaking with someone else face to face or remotely. This takes you out of your comfort zone and into the environment you’ll experience when your interview day arrives. 

Two Other Points of Advice

I strongly believe that my approach above is what led me to ace my Meta PM interview and receive a job offer. However, there are two additional things I strongly recommend. 

1. Read Cracking the PM Interview: How to Land a Product Manager Job in Technology

You won’t find any books more valuable than this one when it comes to landing your dream PM job. 

Cracking the PM Interview is 364 pages of information, guidance, and advice. It shares valuable information broken down into chapters including:

• The Product Manager Role
• Companies
• Getting the Right Experience
• Career Advancement
• Behind the Interview Scenes
• Resumes
• Cover Letters
• Company Research

You don’t want to spend all your prep time on this book — as you need to do other things like mock interviews — but it’ll help solidify your foundation and build confidence. 

2. Take the PM Exercises Course

The PM Exercises interview course walks you through everything you need to know in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step manner. I particularly enjoyed how the majority of the lessons were presented via video. This allowed me to soak up 50+ hours of information and advice, all without the need to sit down and read. 

If at all possible, I would suggest completing the course a minimum of one time before your first interview. And if you have the time, revisit any sections that you’re unsure of. 

Summary

As I look back at my journey of becoming a product strategist at Meta, it’s interesting to see how far I came. Early on, I was unsure of myself and how to best manage the interview process. But as I practiced and gained more experience, I could see the transformation happening before my eyes.

I know it sounds cliche, but getting a PM interview and receiving a job offer isn’t rocket science. It all boils down to your preparation, which puts you on the road to success. I hope my advice helps you land your dream job in the near future.