How to Prepare for a PM Interview with the VP of Product

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Every step of the product manager (PM) interview process is an important step. However, once you reach an interview with the VP of product, product lead, head of product, or director of product (the title varies by company), you can see the finish line. 

Regardless of their title, this person is responsible for managing a group of product managers within the company. So, if you’re hired, you can expect to work closely with this person. 

The interviewer has three goals in mind:

1. To evaluate your PM skills

To a certain degree, every step of the interview process is designed to evaluate your PM skills — just on different levels. For example, the recruiter you first speak with will ask high-level questions. But when you reach the VP of product, you can expect them to drill down with a focus on the finer details. 

2. To determine if you can handle the job

The person you’re interviewing with knows the company like the back of their hand. Furthermore, they know the ins and outs of what it takes to be a successful product manager. They’ll take as much time as necessary to determine if you can handle the job, based on the environment you’ll be in.

For instance, if they need someone who excels in a collaborative environment, they’ll focus more on your cooperation and teamwork skills. And of course, you can ask questions about past positions in which you had to work closely with others. 

3. To see if they’ll enjoy working with you

Will they enjoy working with you day after day? Will they find pleasure in coaching you? Are you the type of person who is coachable and willing to learn? 

As noted above, the VP of product, product lead, head of product, or director of product leads a group of PMs. If the person doesn’t like your personality or considers you difficult to coach, they won’t recommend you. They don’t want to choose a candidate with a high chance of failure, even if you meet all the other qualifications. 

5 things to prepare for and tips for success

Now that you know the approach the interviewer will take, let’s turn our attention to specific things to prepare for and tips for impressing. 

1. Prepare for a variety of PM interview questions

It wouldn’t be a PM interview without a variety of questions. Prepare for any and every question that could come your way, spanning categories such as:

• Estimation
• Metrics
• Product design
• Product improvement
• Problem solving
• Product launch
• Product strategy
• Execution
• Behavioral
• Technical

Two of the most commonly asked questions include:

• Can you tell me more about yourself and your past work experience?
• Why do you want to work as a product manager at this company? 

2. Prepare to ask questions 

As important as it may be to prepare for a variety of PM interview questions, you must also make a list of your own. This is your time to ask anything that’s on your mind. It’s also your time to show your passion for product management, the company you’re interviewing with, and your future. 

Here are five examples of the types of questions you can ask:

• Questions about the product team.
• Questions about the relationship between the product team and other departments. 
• Questions about product strategy.
• Questions about the product development process. 
• Questions about who you’ll be working with directly. 

Note: read our blog post on questions to ask in a PM interview for more information and guidance. 

It’s also worth noting that you always want to have a few questions prepared. If you don’t ask questions, you come across as unprepared or uninterested — even if that’s not true or your intention. 

3. Tip: know the background of the company and the interviewer 

Before you even start the interview process, it’s good practice to learn more about the company, its culture, how its product managers work, and anything else that could be helpful. Then, as you move through each step, you’ll add to your knowledge base. 

Before you interview with the VP of product, quickly refresh yourself on the background of the company and how it applies to the position you’re interviewing for. 

Along with the company, learn more about the interviewer. Answer questions such as:

• How long has the person been at the company?
• Did they move up the company ladder or were they hired from the outside?
• What type of experience do they have? Did they once work in the position you’re applying for?

With the help of LinkedIn, you can typically answer these questions within a matter of minutes. But you don’t necessarily want to stop there. Ask people in your network if they know the person you’re interviewing with and/or have advice on how to proceed. 

4. Tip: know the challenges facing the interviewer

Have a sense of the potential challenges the person could be facing. The best way to learn is to pay close attention to the questions that you’ve asked and answered in previous interviews with the company.

Maybe you had two interviews with two other people to date. Did the same “theme” come up time after time? An example would be a company that’s had issues with a lack of leadership from PMs in the past. 

Once you know the challenges facing the interviewer, you can frame your answers to put yourself in the best light possible. 

5. Tip: talk to your recruiter

Your recruiter wants to see you do well. They want you to land the job, as it looks good on them. So, rely on them whenever necessary, such as to ask what the focus of the interview will be. Once you have this knowledge, you can tweak your approach accordingly.

Take for example a PM interview at Amazon. If your recruiter tells you to get up to speed with Amazon’s 16 Leadership Principles — which is something you’re likely to hear — you know that you should focus more time on this subject matter.

Final thoughts

There’s a lot that goes into preparing for a PM interview with the VP of product. Fortunately, when you know what the person is looking for and how to prepare accordingly, it’s easier to proceed with confidence.

If time allows, sign up for a mock interview session with an experienced product manager. This gives you the practice necessary to wow the VP of product and hopefully receive a job offer in the near future.