Behavioural interviews make or break your chances of getting through in a Product management Interview process.

Yes, you read it right. Even with epic product vision, solid communication, and a well-thought Root-cause analysis, one could get rejected at the interview just because of behavioural flaws.

Since there are no particular hard skills for Product managers, having the right attitude is more than essential for a successful product manager.

Not only that but they are also important since the role of a product manager is so pivotal for the company.

Before we dive into what behavioural questions the interviewer asks and how to answer them, let’s first understand why interviewers ask these behavioural questions.

Hiring a Product manager is about having the right fit.

Behavioural interviews are the best for understanding the person behind the resume. The idea is that past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour, and therefore future success. Employers can acquire information from candidates using these situational interview questions to aid in making a strong hiring decision.

They are searching for someone who is driven to succeed, who can collaborate with different teams, and who has the ability to prioritise features that they already know users are looking for. Not only this but since each company is different, the company fit also plays a huge role, which can be identified in these interviews.

How do you recognize one of these questions?

Behavioural interview questions typically begin with statements like

“Tell me about a time [Situation]”

“How would you [Situation]”

“Give me an example of a time [Situation]”

Whenever you face these types of questions, take a few seconds to think back, dig into your background and give specific examples and details from your past experiences. It’s your chance to showcase your storytelling approach.

Now let’s look at the Common Behavioral Interview Questions and Themes that you can expect to be asked in a Product Management interview.

How do you fit into the team?

Research shows that collaborative problem-solving leads to better outcomes. If one has a team behind them, people are more inclined to take calculated risks that result in innovation. Working in a team encourages personal growth, increases job satisfaction, and reduces stress.

Hiring managers want to gauge looking for context clues to understand what type of role you take in a team environment.

Sample Questions:

• - Have you ever found it difficult to work with a manager or other team members?
• - What makes a team function successfully?
• - According to you, what is the importance of a good team member?
• - Give me an example of a time when you had to work with a difficult coworker or team member. Were you able to resolve the issue? Why or why not?

How well can you lead?

A good leader is able to bring out the best abilities in his/her team members and motivate them to work together in achieving a shared goal. A good leader is also organised and keeps the team on track and focused to avoid delays.

Hiring managers look for leadership abilities at all levels. This can include mentoring or training others, making decisions, and solving problems.

Sample Questions:

• - What strategies would you use to motivate your team?
• - How would you handle it if there was a problem with a member of your team not doing their fair share of work?
• - Tell me about someone you have personally mentored.
• - How do you keep projects on schedule?
• - What makes you an effective team leader?

How do you handle conflicts?

Conflicts are part of life, but how you handle those conflicts and difficult situations is what’s important and this is what interviewers are looking for.

Sample Questions:

• - How do you handle disagreements when working as part of a team? Provide an example.
• - How do you deal with angry customers who complain about your products/services?
• - Walk me through a past conflict. What strategies did you use to resolve it?

Your Problem-Solving abilities

Employers like to see good problem-solving skills because it also helps to show them you have a range of other competencies such as logic, creativity, resilience, imagination, lateral thinking, and determination. It is a vital skill for your professional and personal life.

Sample Questions:

• - Describe a time you had to solve a problem without managerial input. How did you do it and what was the result?
• - How do you know when to solve a problem on your own or to ask for help?
• - Tell me about a time when you improved a process or made something more efficient.

How to deal with failures?

Everyone makes mistakes and experiences failure, but these situations can be difficult to talk about–especially in an interview and also an opportunity to showcase how you overcame them and what lessons you learned.

Hiring managers want to see how you view failure, and how you have handled the failure in the past.

Sample Questions:

• - Define failure in your own words.
• - What is your biggest failure? What happened and how did you handle it?
• - Give me an example of a time when something didn’t go according to plan. How did you respond?

Work Ethic

Questions about work ethic can also help a hiring manager determine your level of confidence in the position you are applying for. This question can be a good opportunity to showcase your positive outlook toward work and willingness to contribute to the company's objectives.

Sample Questions:

• - Do you ever lie? Share an example of when you last lied?
• - What does having a good work ethic mean to you?
• - Can you share a time you put in extra effort at work?
• - Tell me about the situation which was the most uncomfortable or difficult thing you’ve had to do at work.

Now, How to prepare for these types of questions?

In order to successfully respond to these situational interview questions. You must be ready to discuss your experiences, particularly those that are relevant to the position for which you are applying. You need to be able to tell stories from your past that demonstrate your success and help the interviewer envision you performing well in the position.

To practise, Go through these sets of questions mentioned in this article. Take a deep breath and think about how you would answer each question, try to add stories, if there are any.

Lastly, If you're asked about a situation you haven't dealt with yet, instead of saying "I haven't done that yet," discuss how you would deal with it in the future.

All the best for your preparation and upcoming interviews. Keep upgrading your knowledge.

Until next time!

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