UBM Product Manager - Interview

### Summary The discussion focused on preparing for two upcoming interviews with hiring managers for roles in growth/monetization and B2B product management. The interviews are scheduled for the following week, with an emphasis on behavioral questions and potential product sense case studies. Key areas of preparation include refining the candidate’s introduction, structuring responses using frameworks like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result), and practicing product design scenarios. The mentor provided a detailed framework for tackling product sense questions, breaking down the process into stages: - **Identifying the problem and setting goals** (user, business, and product objectives). - **Segmenting users** (e.g., prioritizing 16–18-year-olds for an “Uber for Kids” service due to maturity and lower risk). - **Proposing solutions** (balancing short-term practicality with visionary ideas). - **Prioritizing features** using frameworks like MoSCoW (Must-have, Should-have, Could-have, Won’t-have). - **Measuring success** through North Star metrics, supporting metrics, and guardrail metrics. The candidate’s introduction was workshopped to highlight career progression, achievements (e.g., scaling a startup’s ARR by 3x), and alignment with the target roles. Emphasis was placed on avoiding negativity and framing motivations around growth, learning, and cultural fit. ### Wins - A **structured interview preparation plan** was established, including timelines for drafting behavioral stories and practicing delivery. - Clear **frameworks for product sense questions** were provided, enabling the candidate to approach ambiguous problems systematically. - The mentor committed to creating a **tailored question bank** based on the job descriptions, ensuring alignment with each role’s requirements. - Progress was made on refining the candidate’s **self-introduction**, with actionable feedback to emphasize relevance and positivity. ### Issues - The candidate lacks prior experience with **product sense case studies**, requiring focused practice to internalize the structured approach. - The initial self-introduction needed adjustments to avoid vague statements and better align with the target roles’ expectations. - Time constraints were noted, with interviews scheduled within a week, necessitating efficient preparation. ### Commitments - The candidate will share **job descriptions** for both roles to enable the creation of customized behavioral questions. - The mentor will provide a **product sense case study document** and a behavioral question bank by the next day. - Follow-up sessions are planned to **practice delivery** of behavioral answers and product sense scenarios, ensuring clarity and confidence. - The candidate will draft and refine **behavioral stories** using the STAR method, focusing on past product management experiences.