Each product management interview has to be tailored to best present the values and the culture of the company as well as to assess the candidate. Most of the time you will go through the same list of questions starting with your experience and ending up with your hobbies. However, very rarely you end up face to face with a manager that makes the interview just a little bit more unique by adding a twist to it. I love when the interviews have something out of the ordinary. Here is a list of the most quirkiest questions I love to ask or I have been asked along the years and some of the reasoning behind them.
What makes you angry?
This is a big one and I ask this in order to understand what frustrates you the most. This usually shows a candidate personality. Usually answers are around arguments with colleagues, menial tasks or stealing ideas. This gives you the opportunity as an interviewer to drill through a candidate’s mind and to make sure you hire the right personality.
What don’t you like doing as a Product Manager?
Very similar to the one above. While most candidates have been asked what they love most about their role we need to be aware that there is no such thing as a perfect role. If you are hiring for a product manager that will work on a highly technical back end product and the candidate says that he hates most explaining requirements to developers then you know he is not the best of fit.
Tell me the best piece of advice you’ve been given in the last year.
We all receive advice and it’s most common to receive it when we need to solve a challenge. In order to understand the candidate’s challenges you have to ask about the advice he received. He will usually mention the one he holds most dearly and that got him through the biggest of challenges.
What is the biggest change you introduced in your organisation?
The product manager has to be a self starter and has to lead. If you want to recruit a leader and a doer you have to look into how he / she tried to transform the organisation. Did he try to change a process? Did she try to increase departmental communication? It’s equally important to see how they tried to implement the change – did they discuss this with the wider business and showcase the benefits or they approached it with the “shoot first ask questions later” strategy?
Would you hire your line manager?
No one is perfect and no one expects to be friends with your line manager, however there is no point in being rude to your soon to be ex line manager. We always have to remember that every step is an opportunity to learn and I always loved when candidates have provided an objective answer. I personally love the quote: “My mother always said that if I can’t say anything nice about another I should say anything.” Also as a hiring manager you should remember that you will be this candidate next line manager… so in the next interview he might describe you as he does with his current line manager…
Harry Potter vs Lord of the Rings or Star Wars vs. Star Trek?
Can be any “vs.” question really. I ask this to understand how a candidate will mitigate a difference of opinion and yes – off course if he says he likes Harry Potter I will like Lord of the Rings. Will he stick to his own beliefs or will he change his mind? Is he combative? Is he emphatic? All this can be answered by a nerdy question.
Please explain what an API is as if I was your grand mother / 5 year old.
You can tailor this question to something specific to the role and the sought profile but the essence should remain – as a product manager you have to be able to explain a feature to a vast majority of stakeholders more or less knowledgeable. So – does your grandma uses APIs?
Image this pen is on a billboard – Can you tell me a tag line for this pen?
I write with a fountain pen and before I ask this question I usually give the fountain pen to the candidate – I know a bit silly, however this shows you if a candidate can think on the spot and how creative they are. This also will show a bit of the values they cherish? And yes – of course they are expecting you to ask them to sell you the pen. This is a question I received a few years back from someone that helped shape me (and yes I passed that interview).
What are the most quirkiest questions you received or have asked during an interview? I would love to hear them. Also if you are preparing for a product manager interview and what to cover more serious questions or if you want to discuss product management feel free to reach out here.