Bijan Shahrokhi 
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Article Contents
As you prepare for a product manager interview, you’ll spend a lot of time focused on questions that fit into categories such as product design, product strategy, metrics, and behavioral.
But here’s a common question that many candidates forget to address:
Why have you chosen product management as your field of choice?
The why product management interview question can be asked in various ways, but the way you answer it can generally remain the same. Here are some “why product management interview answers” to help guide you when this question comes to light.
Why do you want to become a product manager?
Being a product manager requires a combination of technical knowledge and business acumen. It is a unique position that combines the skills of both an engineer and an executive, making it a highly sought-after role.
While there are many reasons why someone would want to become a product manager, there’s no right or wrong way to answer this question. Pull from your experiences and career goals to craft the perfect answer, and use the following guidance for inspiration.
The ability to impact change
One of the most attractive aspects of becoming a product manager is the ability to have an impact on change. As a product manager, you will be responsible for managing the entire lifecycle of a product from conception to completion. This means that you will need to have a deep understanding of the market and customer needs so that you can make informed decisions about what features should be included in your product or service and how they should be developed.
You will also need to be able to efficiently manage resources and lead cross-functional teams to ensure that your project is successful.
The opportunity to develop and use various skills
Another benefit of becoming a product manager is that it provides an opportunity to develop and hone your existing skills while learning new ones. Product managers are expected to have expertise across multiple disciplines such as marketing, finance, engineering, design, user experience, operations, etc., which can help them understand how various departments within an organization work together.
As such, being a product manager allows you to gain valuable insights into different areas within the business world. Additionally, learning these skills can prove invaluable if you ever decide to venture out on your own or take on additional leadership roles within your current organization.
The opportunity to make meaningful contributions
Finally, becoming a product manager allows you to make meaningful contributions that can help improve people’s lives. By combining technical knowledge with business acumen, you can create products or services that solve real problems for customers or organizations in meaningful ways.
For example, as a product manager at Google Maps you could use data analysis techniques and machine learning algorithms to create better routes for drivers or improve navigation services for those who use public transportation – ultimately making people’s day-to-day lives easier and more efficient!
First-person answers
With the above, you should now have a foundation for how to answer the “why product management” question. But we’re not stopping there. Let’s examine a handful of first-person answers that you can customize to match your professional situation and the direction of the interview.
Start with your path to product management
My journey into product management began several years ago when I was working for a tech startup. My role at the time was focused on customer service and operations, but as our customer base grew and we started launching new products and features, I found myself becoming more involved in the product side of things. This led me to pivot towards a more technical role where I worked closely with our engineering team in developing products from conception through launch.
This experience taught me a lot about how important it is for product managers to understand both the business side of things and the technical side of things. It also taught me how important it is for product managers to be able to bridge the gap between these two worlds—to be able to communicate effectively with both engineering teams and executive teams to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to delivering value for customers.
The impact of product management
As my career has progressed, my passion for product management has only grown stronger. What excites me most about this field is its potential impact on people’s lives. As technology continues to evolve at an exponential rate, so too do our opportunities as product managers—opportunities not just to develop innovative new products, but also opportunities to help shape society and improve people’s lives on a much larger scale than ever before.
Additional tips on formulating an effective answer
When answering the question, “Why have you selected product management as your career path?” it is important to focus on your personal motivations and qualifications. Here are a few tips on how to answer this question effectively:
1. Highlight your passion for product development: Explain how your passion for creating and launching new products led you to pursue a career in product management.
2. Discuss your relevant experience: Share examples of previous experiences that have prepared you for a career in product management. This could include experience in product development, market research, or team management.
3. Explain your strategic thinking skills: Product management requires the ability to think strategically about a product’s vision, goals, and roadmap. Explain how your problem-solving and critical-thinking skills make you a strong candidate for the role.
4. Emphasize your ability to work well with cross-functional teams: Product management requires the ability to work well with cross-functional teams, such as engineering, design, and marketing. Explain how your ability to collaborate and communicate effectively makes you a strong candidate for the role.
5. Share your interest in the company’s products and vision: Show your interest in the company’s products and vision and how that aligns with your career goals.
Ultimately, your answer should demonstrate your passion for product development, relevant experience, strategic thinking skills, ability to work well with cross-functional teams, and interest in the company’s products and vision.
Summary
Becoming a product manager is an exciting career path with plenty of rewards. Not only does it provide an opportunity for personal growth but it also enables you to make meaningful contributions through innovative products or services that solve real problems for customers and/or organizations alike. And the PM salary isn’t bad, either!
With its broad skill set requirements and ability to drive change within businesses around the globe, there’s no doubt why so many professionals are interested in pursuing this career path.
If you’re seeking additional advice on how to ace a product manager interview, our course is a great place to start. With 100+ video hours and 100+ online lessons, it’s a big step toward landing your dream job.
