Updated in 2023
You have prepared extensively for your technical product manager interviews and behavioral interviews so that you can respond with confidence when you get into the room with the interviewer.
Then, as the interview winds down, your interviewer will ask, “so, do you have any questions for me?” and you’ve forgotten to plan for this! But, that’s a serious missed opportunity because asking good questions can often give you the final push when it comes to interviewer feedback.
As a product manager and now a mentor here at Pathrise, I’ve interviewed hundreds of candidates throughout my career. When I hear them ask good questions, I always write them down in my notes. This is a practice that a lot of interviewers follow. We then use these notes to determine if we think the candidate will accept the position and remain interested in the long term. In short, these questions affect the decision to move forward and/or extend an offer.
So, we’ve come up with the 10 best questions to ask in your product manager job interview to ensure they show interest.
10 best questions for product managers to ask in their interviews
- How do you see the product changing in the near future? What about a bit further down the line?
- What are the challenges that the team is facing currently? How can I, in this role, best contribute to solving these challenges?
- I read that [recent update about company]. How does that affect [the mission, the work of the product team, etc]?
- What opportunities will I have to learn and/or teach my teammates?
- Is the product team more collaborative or autonomous?
- How much ownership would I have over my projects? And how much guidance would I expect to receive from my supervisor?
- What do you like most about working at [company]?
- What is the most challenging part of your day at [company]?
- How would my work directly affect the company’s mission of [company mission]?
- If I were to start on the product team tomorrow, what would my first task be?
Preparing questions before your interview will help make you confident when the time comes to ask. Your questions should show a willingness to learn, drive to work hard, and excitement about the company and mission. If they do, you will ensure that the interviewer is left with a positive impression of you.
For a more steps on how to become a product manager by landing a great job, check out our guide.
Pathrise is a career accelerator that works with students and professionals 1-on-1 so they can land their dream job in tech. With these tips and guidance, we’ve seen interview scores double for fellows in the program.
If you want to work with any of our mentors 1-on-1 to get help with your product manager interviews or with any other aspect of the job search, become a Pathrise fellow.
Apply today.
