Facebook Product Manager Interview Questions & Answers
Table of Contents
- 1. Accomplishment Questions
- 2. Adaptability Questions
- 3. Behavioral Questions
- 4. Career Goals Questions
- 5. Communication Questions
- 6. Compatibility Questions
- 7. Competency Questions
- 8. Creative Thinking Questions
- 9. Diligence Questions
- 10. Direct Questions
- 11. Diversity & Inclusion Questions
- 12. Education Questions
- 13. Experience Questions
- 14. Performance Questions
- 15. Problem Solving Questions
- 16. Scenario Based Questions
- 17. Teamwork Questions
Accomplishment
1. Please talk about your most significant accomplishment as a Product Manager and why you feel it is so substantial.
How to Answer
When the interviewer asks about your greatest accomplishment, they want to understand your work ethic and what professional achievements you value. When responding, show that you take pride in your work and display enthusiasm for your proudest accomplishment. Be sure to include details as to why you feel this particular accomplishment was so important to you and/or your employer.
This question is phrased as 'talk about your...' which is another way of saying, 'Tell us about a time when...' This means that the interviewer wants a specific story-based example from your work history. To craft a well-organized and engaging response, try using the STAR answer method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result.
- Situation: Set the stage with the background information the interviewer needs to make sense of your story.
- Task: Continuing to set the stage, give the interviewer an idea of your role and responsibilities in this story.
- Action: Next, offer a detailed description of the steps you took to achieve this accomplishment.
- Result: Last, talk about the specific outcomes that resulted from your actions.
At the end of your response, make a connection between your most significant accomplishment and the accomplishments you look forward to achieving as a Facebook Product Manager.
1st Answer Example
"(Situation) While working as a Product Manager for Company XYZ, we promoted two of my team members to Senior Developer titles. (Task) When I initially joined that particular team as their PM, I made it my goal to mentor the team members and helped them to achieve their most important career goals. (Action) I took my work as a mentor seriously and had weekly lunch and learns with the group to teach them about project management, acting as a leader in the workplace, and how to improve their communication. (Result) I'm proud of the impact I could make on my team, helping them better their life and career simply by conversing with them and sharing my knowledge. This mentorship approach is one that I am committed to delivering throughout my career since developing others will benefit Facebook as a whole while helping my team members to grow their career."
User-Submitted Answer
"About 20 years ago, I took several courses with Landmark Education including the Forum where I learned who to leverage my strengths which are sharing. I had two reports who wanted guidance on what they needed to work on. We had to present often to our customers and one would talk and not be able to put out key points and the other one was shy and had a hard time speaking in front of groups. So, I would coach them, tell them to put together an objective, key points, and successes and would review it together, then would role play with them. Within a month or so, they were more clear and confident in speaking and it was something that took the pressure off of them as well as me for it helped the company maintain its credibility and sme with its customers but also gave leadership more faith in succession plans and know they had true employee assets working as part of the team."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
It's great that you were able to help these younger team members by mentoring and training them. Are you also able to think of another example that focuses more on a work accomplishment specific to the product manager role (e.g., something related to identifying and understanding user needs, developing competitor analyses, defining a product's vision, prioritizing product features, etc.)?
Adaptability
2. Facebook is hiring an entrepreneurial Product Manager who moves quickly and can help innovate and drive product initiatives. Give us an example of a time when you acted as a highly entrepreneurial PM.
How to Answer
Successful entrepreneurs are self-driven and passionate. They work from a vision, ensuring that goals are met and that resources are allocated effectively. When working for Facebook as a Product Manager, you will be expected to act like an entrepreneur. The interviewer wants to see that you can work quickly and efficiently, helping your team to bring products and initiatives to the finish line as smoothly as possible.
When asked a 'Give us an example of a time when...' question, it's important to remember that the interviewer is looking for a specific story-based example that highlights your behavior in challenging situations. Using the STAR interview method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), you can form a story-based response that the interviewer can follow with ease.
- Situation: Set the stage with the background information the interviewer needs to make sense of your story.
- Task: Continuing to set the stage, give the interviewer an idea of your role and responsibilities in this story.
- Action: Next, offer a detailed description of the steps you took to express your point of view with your manager.
- Result: Last, talk about the specific outcomes that resulted from your actions.
When providing your story-based example, be sure to highlight the traits and characteristics you possess that Facebook leaders will appreciate seeing in a Product Manager.
1st Answer Example
"I agree that all excellent Product Managers should be entrepreneurial by nature. This means bringing an exceptional level of passion and focus to the company and each project I lead. (Situation) As the PM for Company XYZ, I was recently faced with a major budget cut to a product that was about to enter the development stage. (Task) I have a lot of autonomy and am expected to make many executive decisions in the organization's best interest while also maintaining product credibility. (Action) Knowing that I needed to make budget cuts without impacting quality, I focused on which product features were critical. Using the 'MoSCoW' model, I first went through the product feature list and asked if the product feature was a 'must-have.' Then, I asked which features were a 'should-have,' ensuring those features remained a priority. Moving down the list, I then ask if any product features were a 'could-have,' making them optional additions if the budget allowed. Then, I determined which features were a 'won't-have,' meaning it was time to scratch the idea altogether for this launch. (Result) By prioritizing the must-have and should-have features, we developed a superb product on time and budget. The stakeholders were pleased with our team's ability to change the scope and save the budget without sacrificing product quality. I have been trained in Agile methodology and rely on this training as an entrepreneurial-minded Product Manager because it allows me to act quickly on ideas that are still well-thought-out while presenting win-win scenarios for the company, our customers, and other stakeholders. I believe this approach will work very well with Facebook as it fits nicely with its core value, 'Focus on Impact.' I agree that to make the most impact, we need to solve the most important problems first and focus on considerable challenges rather than becoming swept away in the minor details or inconveniences."
User-Submitted Answer
"I have always had entrepreneurship at heart, which is why I am self-driven and passionate about building programs and new initiatives. I am efficient but also able to act quickly and decisively when pursuing a vision or strategy, which demonstrates true entrepreneurialship. In early 2019, strict regulatory deadlines quickly ramped up at the bank. One of the critical priorities was moving an immature independent Point of View program from concept to BAU. I immediately saw an opportunity to take an existing regulatory finding and build out a formalized approach using the Centralized IS Governance issue and develop it into a formal POV. The effort required me to reach out to multiple teams, from IS Chief of Staff to reporting teams to Legal, and formally documenting 28 current activities the Information and Cyber Security Front line was performing and obtaining sustainable evidence to support. I utilized the RMF to establish the risk ratings and was able to provide a final product with 25 effective areas and three areas in need of improvement. This report was eventually shared with the regulators and the BoD and became the POV standardized approach for the firm."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Nice! It's great that you are a self-driven and passionate entrepreneur at heart. The example you provide shows how you took the initiative to drive product changes. Try not to bog down your answers with too many acronyms (BAU, POV, RMF, BoD), though, as that might confuse the interviewer. Be sure to talk in a conversational and easy-to-understand manner.
Behavioral
3. Would you ever make a critical decision without approval from your boss?
How to Answer
As a Product Manager, you may encounter situations where you need to make an executive decision. As your career progresses, the executive decisions you make will have a greater impact on your career, team, and company. The interviewer wants to know that you are comfortable making critical yet strategic and thoughtful decisions independently. Show that you can take independent action. Facebook's culture is 'Move Fast. Be Bold. Be Yourself,' after all!
If you have ever made a critical decision without your boss's approval, consider telling a brief story of the situation, the action you took, and why you did so. Also, be sure to include the results you were able to generate.
When making critical decisions without approval from your boss, express that you would take action if you felt the decision would impact the business positively. Otherwise, you can treat this question as a hypothetical query by expressing your stance and supporting it with why you would or would not choose to make a critical decision without approval from your boss.
1st Answer Example
"I understand that Facebook values speed and sound decision making. Since Facebook places a lot of value on moving fast and being bold, I say yes - I would make a critical decision without approval from my boss. This decision would come with some stipulations, however. I do believe it's essential to involve all of the relevant people when facing a critical decision. I also know that I have strong decision-making and leadership capabilities. If the decision needed to be made quickly and waiting caused a negative business impact, I would take the lead and move forward based on my strong judgment and good instinct. Facebook desires its leaders to act on behalf of the company. I would take a calculated look at the worst-case and best-case scenarios to the most likely outcomes. I would also consider breaking the decision down into smaller challenges to see if I could make an executive decision based on one step rather than all. This approach could minimize the impact of a completely solo decision. If there were any other leaders available at the time who were lateral in seniority to my boss, I would consider consulting them if it were appropriate."
Behavioral
4. Talk about a time when you failed to reach a work-related goal. How did you react?
How to Answer
Workplace goals, targets, and deadlines are not always met due to a variety of circumstances. The interviewer wants to know about such a time and, most importantly, how you reacted when the situation does not entirely go your way.
When answering this behavioral interview question, be ready to incorporate a specific story example rather than giving a general response to how you react to failure. This story-based approach can be achieved using the STAR answer method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result.
- Situation: Set the stage with the background information your interviewer needs to make sense of your story.
- Task: Continuing to set the stage, give the interviewer an idea of your role and responsibilities in this story.
- Action: Next, offer a detailed description of the steps you took after you failed to reach your goal.
- Result: Last, talk about what you learned and how you transformed the situation into something positive.
You want to be honest about when you failed, but you also don't want to give such an extreme example that the interviewer determines you are not well-suited for a job at Facebook. To find a good balance, talk about a time when you failed to reach a goal but transformed the circumstance into a positive situation.
1st Answer Example
"(Situation) Earlier in my Product Management career with Company XYZ, my team was offered control of a unique product feature. (Task) As the PM, it was my job to calculate an appropriate project timeline before communicating a firm delivery date to the stakeholders. However, I succumbed to pressure from my leadership team to overshoot the delivery date and please the stakeholders. (Action) I convinced myself that we had enough developers to keep momentum on other projects while tacking this new product feature. I underestimated the depth of the work, and our team missed the deadline for the new feature by two weeks. Although the product feature launch was successful, I was ashamed of how the timeline panned out. I was so eager to prove myself as a new PM that I put the entire team's credibility at risk. (Result) I consider failure an important source for learning and gathering deeper insights. In this instance, I learned to become better at project estimates and make room for hiccups along the way. I learned to be a PM that does not go into a project overconfident on the timeline, causing the team to miss targets. Now, I am honest with my leadership team if I believe their expectations are too aggressive. If I see a project slipping, I express my concern to the development team right away and come up with a plan for us to stay on track. I am happy that I learned this lesson so early in my career. As a result, I am much more careful when giving project estimates, ensuring that my team meets their mark every time."
Behavioral
5. Tell us about a time when you disagreed with your manager. Why did you disagree, how did you state your case, and what was the resolution?
How to Answer
Facebook's Product Managers are accountable to a variety of individuals. Although you may not always be on the same page with your leaders 100% of the time, the interviewer wants to know that you handle any disagreements with the utmost respect and professionalism. Getting along well with others puts you in a favorable position because it shows your desire to collaborate and highlights your ability to problem solve and produce excellent results, despite a challenging situation.
In your current position, you may have a great relationship with the people you report to. However, there will be times where you don't see eye to eye. Think of a conflict or disagreement you had with your manager, and you responded well, stated your stance very clearly, and perhaps even persuaded the manager to approach the situation from your perspective.
When asked a 'Tell us about a time when...' question, it's important to remember that the interviewer is looking for a specific story-based example that highlights your behavior in challenging situations. Using the STAR interview method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), you can form a story-based response that the interviewer can follow with ease.
- Situation: Set the stage with the background information the interviewer needs to make sense of your story.
- Task: Continuing to set the stage, give the interviewer an idea of your role and responsibilities in this story.
- Action: Next, offer a detailed description of the steps you took to express your point of view with your manager.
- Result: Last, talk about the specific outcomes that resulted from your actions.
1st Answer Example
"(Situation) In my most recent PM position, my Senior PM believed that the company did not need to invest time or money into growing an email distribution list for a specific product we were rolling out. (Task) As a skilled Product Manager with product marketing training, I strongly disagreed but knew that I needed to state my case compellingly since this Senior PM was all about the numbers. (Action) I approached the topic gingerly and used hard data from previous cases. I then tied past results to the company's current business goals to show how a distribution list could benefit us in the short and long term. By removing emotion from the equation and focusing strictly on data from a couple of cases, I presented my viewpoint in a way that was hard to dispute. (Result) Ultimately, the Senior Product Manager gave my team the green light for piloting the program, and it was a great success. We built an email list of over 100,000 contacts, and our conversion rate ended up being 22% higher than we had originally forecasted."
Career Goals
6. Why do you want to be a Product Manager with Facebook?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to know why you are seeking a Product Manager position, specifically with Facebook. This question is not the opportunity to discuss why you are looking for a new job. Instead, the interviewer wants to see that you have enthusiasm and interest in the role and Facebook as a company. They want to hear that you believe in the company's mission and values and that you are ready to make a specific contribution to Facebook. The interviewer also wants to see evidence that there is a strong match between the job and your career goals.
While your passion and excitement for the job are essential, it's always good to have some hard facts prepared as to why you want this Product Manager position with Facebook. Be ready to mention specific details of how you will contribute once hired. Take some time to think about your work-related passions and desires. Consider the ways that this job aligns with your career goals. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- How will I contribute to this company
- What results have I created in the past, and could I repeat them here
- How has my education prepared me to succeed here
- How do my professional values match those of this company
- How will my personality complement the company culture
1st Answer Example
"I want to work at Facebook for many reasons; however, the most personal and compelling are [give one or two reasons why this job is a stand-out opportunity]. I have spent a lot of time researching and getting to know Facebook and [discuss your findings with enthusiasm]. This partnership would be mutually beneficial in the sense that [discuss how the findings tie to your career goals]. Should Facebook choose to hire me, I will contribute to [the original highlights you mentioned in the beginning] by [offer details on how you will contribute]."
User-Submitted Answer
"I want to work at Facebook for many reasons; however, the most personal and compelling are how I believe I can help Facebook bring back trust in its user's data privacy. I have worked with multiple control frameworks and policies and there is no perfect answer or solution. It takes a multi-lens and multi-layered approach to give the coverage in areas to ensure commitment to the FTC's requirements along with its users and advertisers."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Great response! You come across as genuine, enthusiastic, and passionate about the company and its mission. Can you possibly talk a bit more about the trust problem and how it originated? Also, consider reminding the interviewer about the qualities, education, skills, and experience you have that align with the job description. Remember to take every opportunity to really sell yourself!
Communication
7. Facebook Product Managers work to maximize efficiency in a constantly evolving environment where the process is fluid and creative solutions are the norm. Please share your favorite approach to maximizing team efficiency.
How to Answer
As a Product Manager, you must be a well-equipped leader, ready to ensure your team is working at ultimate efficiency, ensuring product deadlines are met on time and budget. The interviewer would like to see that you can adapt to Facebook's unique environment where efficiency, creativity, and ambiguity are the norm. Share with the interviewer your favorite approach for maximizing team efficiency. Describe the approach, where you learned the method, and talk about a time when this approach generated a successful result.
1st Answer Example
"Delegating to the strengths of my team is undoubtedly my favorite approach to maximizing my team's efficiency. Learning to let go and delegate tasks is one factor to efficiency; however, delegating to strengths is even more impactful. As a Product Manager for the past eight years, I have tried many different approaches to optimize time and work as efficiently as possible. Time and time again, I have found the best approach to be the proper delegation of tasks. Delegating seems like a simple task; however, it takes a lot of practice and consideration to be executed properly. I always encourage my team to collaborate, and I actively empower every member to show the team where they can shine. When everyone is focused on tasks that highlight their greatest skills, we generate results faster and with higher quality outcomes. I believe this approach is well-suited for the team culture at Facebook, where the focus is on creating real value for the world. When team members can apply their best skills to the tasks where they want to create genuine value, we will generate much higher quality results for the company and its customers."
User-Submitted Answer
"First is continual open communication. Learning and understanding where the strengths and passion are and helping others gain knowledge through delegating tasks. "Delegating to the strengths of my team is undoubtedly my favorite approach to maximizing my team's efficiency. I find things are more smooth and impactful when someone with strength in GRC configuration takes over design and also if possible shadows and mentors others on the team to learn their strengths. Learning to let go and delegate tasks is one factor to efficiency; however, delegating to strengths is even more impactful. Delegation through organization and clear communication with simple Tasks Lists with simple objective and end results to be achieved. I always encourage my team to collaborate, and I actively empower every member to show the team where they can shine. When everyone is focused on tasks that highlight their greatest skills, we generate results faster and with higher quality outcomes. When team members can apply their best skills to the tasks where they want to create genuine value, we will generate much higher quality results for the company and its customers."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Wow! This response clearly shows that you have put a lot of thought into how to maximize team efficiency. Communication and delegating are certainly good strategies here. Is there also an example you can provide of a time when you helped to improve your team's efficiency during a project?
Compatibility
8. If hired as a Facebook Product Manager, how do you plan to promote operational excellence?
How to Answer
Operational excellence is a must for Facebook's Product Managers to strive for and achieve. Operational excellence means that you are always striving toward continuous improvements. The interviewer wants to know specifically how you plan to promote operational excellence within Facebook. Outline for the interviewer what this means to you and give tangible examples of how you will work toward operational excellence if offered this job opportunity.
1st Answer Example
"As an organized and focused Product Manager, I understand the importance of clear, consistent systems and process and the part they play in continuous improvement efforts thus achieving operational excellence. Errors occur when a process is not right, and then it's tough to produce ideal results. I will work hard to generate and ensure consistent and correct processes. I will ensure that quality begins right at the core. When every part of the process is correct, we can achieve excellent quality in our products. I will keep an eye out for potential problems at all times so that if a mistake happens, it's immediately visible, and we can work toward repairing the issue. Also, I think systematically and with a broad vision. In my current PM position, our projects have dozens of components that are highly interconnected. I lead my team to focus on the fact that each part of the project works with another, so we keep a broad vision and constantly remind ourselves of the relationship between all project parts. Another way that I will promote operational excellence is to check in with my team daily to ensure that everyone is aware and invested in the project's plan and purpose. When we all work towards the same goal and mission, we move forward as one cohesive team. I will consistently lead the team in a way that aligns our goals and actions to those of Facebook and the project at hand."
User-Submitted Answer
"Need to first learn what areas of priorities are relevant if it is internal or external such as regulatory.
As an organized and focused Product Manager, I understand the importance of clear, privacy and risk process, controls, and frameworks with KPIs and kris, It is important to show our maturation and have supporting evidence which proves effective against our internal controls and policies. I will work hard and provide consistency and streamlined processes which align with LOBs key privacy areas. We can show sustainability and if not, process and or controls need to be updated."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Great! You have offered a lot of good suggestions here that would definitely help to promote operational excellence. Other ideas you might mention could include respecting team members, being a humble leader, maintaining high standards, focusing on processes and optimizing them, thinking systematically, and so on.
Compatibility
9. Whether we're creating new products or helping a small business expand its reach, people at Facebook are builders at heart. How are you a builder at heart?
How to Answer
Facebook describes its culture through the statement: 'Move Fast. Be Bold. Be Yourself.' On its careers website, the company goes on to describe that 'you'll have the opportunity to work with great people, tackle big challenges and make a real impact, wherever you work--while being your unique, authentic self.'
Facebook also has 5 core values which include:
1) Be Bold. Building great things means taking risks. We have a saying: 'The riskiest thing is to take no risks.' In a world that's changing quickly, you're guaranteed to fail if you don't take any risks.
2) Focus on Impact. To make the most impact, we need to solve the most important problems. We expect Facebook employees to avoid wasting time on minor issues and focus on truly big challenges.
3) Move Fast. We believe that it's better to move fast and make mistakes than to move slowly and miss opportunities. Doing so enables us to build more things and learn faster.
4) Be Open. Informed people make better decisions and make a greater impact -- so we work hard to ensure that everyone at Facebook can access as much information about the company as possible.
5) Build Social Value. At Facebook, we're trying to bring the world closer together -- not just grow our business. Our people focus on creating real value for the world -- every day and in everything they do.
These details can help you to carve out how you can make an impact, as a builder, at Facebook. When approaching this question, remember that the interviewer wants to discover how you will fit into the workplace culture of Facebook. If you can incorporate the company's culture, values, and mission into your response, your answer will resonate further with the interviewer.
1st Answer Example
"Facebook outlines the most important qualities of a builder in its 5 core values of Be Bold, Focus on Impact, Move Fast, Be Open, and Build Social Value. I consider myself a builder at heart, and as I read these core values, I realized that I already embody them in my career. I show that I am a bold builder by taking calculated risks and being unafraid to fail forward. When I build a product, I focus on impact by emphasizing the outcome first. As an enthusiastic builder, I move fast, make dedicated decisions, and actively learn new skills that I can develop quickly and implement immediately. I am eager to continue growing my PM career with Facebook and join your team of talented builders. I'm excited to help create real value for the world."
Competency
10. In your opinion, what are the most critical steps a Product Manager should take during a product launch?
How to Answer
As an experienced Product Manager, you likely have a product launch checklist (or a similar tool) to help ensure that steps are never skipped over pre and post-launch. The interviewer wants to know that you are diligent, organized, and can clearly define your accountabilities as a Product Manager. Discuss what you believe to be the most critical steps during pre and post-launch, and be prepared to explain why you believe these steps are so critical. Your response should give the interviewer confidence that you are a well-organized and diligent PM.
1st Answer Example
"There are many moving parts when correctly preparing for a product launch. I utilize a pre-launch and post-launch checklist that I have developed and tweaked over my Product Manager career. Aside from first clearly defining the products' features, I believe the most critical step pre-launch is to write a creative brief or press release for the product. We must know how the product will be best positioned before ever jumping into a launch. Setting a launch date and communicating this date with my team and the project stakeholders is also critical. When everyone is on the same page with the launch target, we can better ensure that this timeline is met. Also, gaining momentum for the product requires figuring out which social media channels and other media the marketing team will use to build hype for the product release. Last, and perhaps the most important, is to test the new product and its functions rigorously. A launch will only be as successful as the product is simple to use, after all. I understand that Facebook is firm with its approach to product launches. I have heard that Facebook Product Managers must write a mock press release for every product before development begins to ensure an exciting idea that generates customers' interest. If this is correct, I would love to learn more about this creative approach."
Competency
11. You are planning to add a new product to Facebook's portfolio. How do you approach conducting sophisticated quantitative and qualitative analysis?
How to Answer
Facebook seeks a Product Manager who can incorporate data, research, and market analysis to inform product strategies and roadmaps. As a Product Manager for Facebook, you will spend time performing critical analysis to build strategies that guide your team and projects.
In simple terms, quantitative data is considered information that can be measured with numbers. For instance, the number of times a certain feature was used. However, qualitative data is more subjective and casual. For instance, it's data you gather from customer service tickets or during conversations.
The interviewer wants to know more about your approach to gathering quantitative and qualitative data and how you use this data to help you in your strategic analysis and planning. Walk the interviewer through your approach with as much helpful detail as possible, allowing the interviewer to visualize your methodology.
1st Answer Example
"Depending on the situation, and what I am measuring, I will begin with either quantitative or qualitative data. Let's assume that there is quite a bit of uncertainty around the product and what customers really want to see. In that case, I would begin with quantitative analysis since the hard data will likely answer more questions for me from the start. Next, I would build a survey to send out to our customers and perhaps perform some A/B testing. The responses we receive will show us what our customers are most excited about and what they are least engaged in. Next, I want to understand why the customer is leaning one way or the other. This is where I would begin the qualitative analysis. In my current PM role, we often take a select number of survey respondents and have a 15-minute call with them to uncover further why they chose the preferences they did. This information will help us to make sense of the survey results. Once the team has collected both hard and soft data, we can better analyze the results and make a balanced decision before moving forward on the project."
User-Submitted Answer
"For example, I had to perform a very detailed Topical Point of View on a subject area or domain. Depending on the topic would drive the type of data I would analyze. Many times it is qualitative from the LOB and thus have to look at data and understand does the rationale for the subjective statement make sense. On other hand, if looking at specific operational systems and measuring the availability and uptime or how many Risk Accpetions were signed off by the business for high risks. I would look at and compare multiple months or quarters and provide a trend diagram with examples of the risk acceptances. These would be highlighted in a summary deck and then presented with observations or findings/issues.
If the privacy area needs to show how many users' data was being shared on a 3rd party app or I would look at quantitative but if there was more a look at risk acceptances or security exceptions I would use both."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Good job! You provide lots of great ideas when it comes to how you approach quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Creative Thinking
12. As a Product Manager, you are the primary driver for identifying significant opportunities and driving product vision, strategies, and roadmaps. Talk about your proudest time developing, implementing, or managing a new service or strategic program.
How to Answer
As a leader for Facebook, you are expected to drive exceptional product results. The interviewer wants to know that you are a creative thinker and have work-based accomplishments that make you proud. They also want to see that you view innovation as a group effort rather than a solo accomplishment.
Talk to the interviewer about the product you are most proud of from your PM career so far. Be sure to outline your role in the project and highlight your stand-out contributions. If you learned any important lessons during the process, consider discussing your biggest takeaways from the project.
1st Answer Example
"When I was working as a Product Manager for Company XYZ, one of the most exciting parts of my job was to come up with and pitch new product ideas. The most memorable, and I believe the most innovative, was Product XYZ (describe any features you can without breaking confidentiality or breaching an NDA). The role I played as the PM was to perform the proper analysis to ensure it was a viable product, then shape the strategy and create the product roadmap. Then, I presented the plan to the stakeholders so they could see the entire outline of our proposed process. Once my team received the green light from all stakeholders, we went ahead with the project. The project took 18 months from start to finish and presented many exciting learning curves for me and my team, such as (discuss any obstacles you faced and what you learned)."
User-Submitted Answer
"When I was working as an Info Security Architect, there was a critical program for dealing with the Firecall Emergency IDs with passwords in envelopes that were created by a privileged access administrator. I was asked to solve the problem and an alternative approach to these known passwords. I first tried to learn what the issue was and what was driving it, then what options were available to solve it internal vs external. I had basically two options, develop a solution in-house with limited developer resources or buy a Cots application. I met with Gartner and there were only two solutions that they had not formally reviewed. Met with both did proof of concept with both. Had SMEs who were privileged Admins UNIX and WINDOWS work on the POC. At end of the day, both products were limited on their platforms but one was more bank workflow focused. So I went back to leadership to find out what kind of budget we could spend. Total with hardware licensing etc 400K. Went back to the vendor and negotiated if they would work with our administrators on several additional platforms and develop PAR (Password Auto Repository), we would go with their solution. This was a win-win for both vendor and the bank. This project took about 2 years to be completely BAU across 7 platforms. But, they are still using the solution today."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
This is a powerful example - wow! This will undoubtedly impress the interviewer who will find you to be organized, motivated, and a strong communicator and negotiator. Your example also shows your ability to put in place a new program/solution. Great response!
Diligence
13. When developing a new product or feature, how do you approach gathering and integrating customer feedback?
How to Answer
As a Product Manager, you may sometimes be referred to as the 'CEO of the product.' This adage hints that, as a PM, you have primary accountabilities to a product and its performance. The interviewer wants to hear evidence that you place importance on customer feedback and the needs of your internal or external customers. Speak in detail about your approach to customer feedback and implementation. Be as detailed as possible, ensuring that the interviewer sees you as an actionable Product Manager who has enthusiasm for delivering world-class products.
1st Answer Example
"Customer feedback is an imperative component to a products' success, so this factor is always top on my radar. In my current Product Manager position, Company XYZ approaches gathering customer feedback in a variety of ways. We often utilize focus groups; however, we don't lean on these focus groups as our only source when making decisions about a product. We also have a well-established support community made up of customers who are avid users. We ask for customer feedback early in the development process, and then we invite this support community to test new products throughout the different stages of development. It's important to take customer feedback with emotional intelligence. Rather than becoming defensive, my team and I listen and absorb the information. As the Product Manager, I practice self-awareness to avoid pushing my personal preferences onto the product. When we take on a new project, the team performs robust user testing. We also conduct customer interviews and perform market assessments. Then, after launch, we spend a great deal of time tracking the success metrics that we defined during the planning phase."
User-Submitted Answer
"I practice self-awareness to avoid pushing my personal preferences onto a process or policy. I like to incorporate in discussions, what is your opinion, any additions you wish to add? Also, let them know to reach out to me or the team with constructive feedback or something they wish to be added to the approach. When executed, I feel some form of key risk indicator or key performance indicator will also gain input based on agreement or not."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Nice! It's great that you don't push your personal preferences when developing new products and/or features and that you listen to customer feedback. How exactly do you connect with customers in order to hear their thoughts? How do you gather their feedback? Consider talking a bit more about this aspect of things.
Diligence
14. As a Product Manager, how do you approach prioritizing tasks and product features?
How to Answer
Prioritization can be one of the most challenging aspects of your position as a Product Manager. When you and your team are faced with endless tasks and numerous product feature options, it's up to you to decide what gets tackled first. The interviewer wants to know the process you take when coming to decisions and conclusions.
Provide evidence that you are calm under pressure and that you have a reliable framework for triaging tasks and features when they may all seem urgent at first. Walk the interviewer through your prioritization process, showing that your approach is a good fit for Facebook.
Some of the most common frameworks for task prioritization include:
- The MoSCoW method, which is an acronym for Must have (vital), Should have (priority), Could have (optional), and Won't have (scratch it!).
- The RICE scoring model, which is an acronym for Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort.
- The Kano model, which focuses on product features and how important they may or may not be (Delighters,
Performance Features, and Basic Features).
1st Answer Example
"Typically, when I am prioritizing tasks or product features, I will use the MoSCoW model. I have been trained in Agile methodology and lean toward this model because it focuses on both the project stakeholders' goals and the customer's needs. I also find it the easiest method to use when I need to explain my decision-making process to individuals outside of the technical aspects of the project. The first step is to ask if the product feature is a 'must-have,' vital feature. Then, I ask if it is a 'should-have,' which makes the feature a priority. Moving down the list, is I ask if the product feature is a 'could-have.' Perhaps it's optional or could be visited at a later time. Then, I can determine if the feature is a 'won't-have,' meaning it's time to scratch that particular idea. Then, my team will prioritize the must-have and should-have features. I am also aware of other methods such as the RICE scoring or Kano models. Could you share with me if there is a preferred prioritization model at Facebook?"
User-Submitted Answer
"- The MoSCoW method, which is an acronym for Must have (vital), Should have (priority), Could have (optional), and Won't have (scratch it!).
"Typically, when I am prioritizing tasks or product features, I will use the MoSCoW model. I have been trained in Agile methodology and lean toward this model because it focuses on both the project stakeholders' goals and the customer's needs. I also find it the easiest method to use when I need to explain my decision-making process to individuals outside of the technical aspects of the project. The first step is to ask if the product feature is a 'must-have,' vital feature. Then, I ask if it is a 'should-have,' which makes the feature a priority. Moving down the list, is I ask if the product feature is a 'could-have.' Perhaps it's optional or could be visited at a later time. Then, I can determine if the feature is a 'won't-have,' meaning it's time to scratch that particular idea. Then, my team will prioritize the must-have and should-have features. Could you share with me if there is a preferred prioritization model at Facebook?"
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Good for you - asking a question back to the interviewer in order to keep the conversation going. Nice! Your MoSCoW method sounds useful and will provide the interviewer with a clear picture of how you prioritize tasks and product features. You might also mention that you take urgency and deadlines under consideration when prioritizing projects and tasks.
Diligence
15. Tell us about the last skill you taught yourself. Why did you choose to learn this skill, and how will it benefit you as a Product Manager with Facebook?
How to Answer
Continued education and learning is a critical skill for any professional. As a leader with Facebook, you must work to continue building your Product Management expertise. Consider the latest skill you taught yourself. Be prepared to discuss why you chose to build that skill and how it will benefit you in your new Product Manager role with Facebook.
As a Product Manager, some of the skills you may want to consider include:
- Interpersonal communication
- Research skills
- Timeline management
- Task delegation
- Strategic thinking
1st Answer Example
"I believe that one of the most important skills a Product Manager could possess is the ability to define a product vision and design a roadmap around that vision. For that reason, I decided two months ago to enroll in eCornell's Product Roadmapping course. The course focused on creating compelling roadmaps that articulate the plan clearly. Other focus areas included how to source ideas and present product roadmaps to stakeholders and other team members. The course was two weeks long, and I invested 20 hours of study into the program overall. Next, I plan to take eCornell's Product Management 360 Certificate Program. The initial Roadmapping course, along with this new PM certificate program that begins in June, will allow me to provide master-level skills to Facebook with even stronger expertise in product strategy, analytics, and innovation."
Direct
16. How would you describe the Facebook business model?
How to Answer
The Facebook company includes Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Facebook also sells hardware devices such as Oculus VR and Portal. The interviewer wants to know that you understand the business model behind the company. This knowledge will show the interviewer that you have performed ample research before your interview and that you are ready to bring a strong foundation of knowledge to this Product Manager role when you are hired.
Facebook expresses in its Product Manager job posting that its mission is to 'give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together. Through our family of apps and services, we're building a different kind of company that connects billions of people around the world, gives them ways to share what matters most to them, and helps bring people closer together.' Be prepared to tie the company's mission statement into its business model to show that you bring a full understanding of its importance in Facebook's overall success.
1st Answer Example
"I have spent a great deal of time studying Facebook and its business model. Whether it's Facebook or its other offerings such as Instagram, Messenger, or WhatsApp, users can access most of the Facebook company's services for free. Facebook profits primarily through the ads it shows its users on these digital platforms. Companies large and small widely advertise within Facebook and Instagram, which accounts for billions in revenue. I recently read that Facebook made $86B in 2020, and 98% of that revenue came from advertisers. The other 2% was generated from the sale of Oculus and Portal devices and other smaller revenue streams. Through my research, I also discovered that Facebook's US market share on ad revenue was 23% in 2019, coming closely after Google's 32% market share. I found this statistic fascinating, especially considering that Facebook is reportedly growing faster than Google overall. This success, plus the fact that Facebook advertising is affordable and accessible for most, truly drives home the truth behind Facebook's mission to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together. I look forward to learning more about the Facebook business model as I join the company and contribute to these notable successes."
Direct
17. As a Facebook Product Manager, you will deliver products aligned with our mission and goals. What do you know about Facebook's mission and strategic competitive position?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to make sure you are in alignment with Facebook's mission 'to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.' Facebook expresses that its global teams are constantly iterating, solving problems, and working together to empower people worldwide to build community and connect in a meaningful way. First, showcase what you know about Facebook's mission and how it is woven into the company's competitive positioning. Then, discuss how you plan to support this mission and strategy as a Product Manager for Facebook.
1st Answer Example
"I have spent a fair amount of time learning about Facebook, its mission, and its strategic and competitive positioning. I appreciate that Facebook's mission is 'to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.' As far as competitive position, Facebook offers social media services and digital advertising options via its mobile apps and websites, including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and Oculus. When it comes to Facebook's advertising pricing strategy, the company ensures that its mission is met by
The company uses the following pricing strategies for its online display advertising service from 'Pay-what-you-want' and 'Market-oriented' pricing. Pricing is often based on a per-impression or per click model, making digital advertising accessible to business owners with large and smaller budgets. This flexibility is well-embraced by many advertisers, making Facebook advertising a very competitive option compared to other marketing and advertising options. As a Product Manager for Facebook, I will always keep Facebook's mission and competitive strategic positioning in mind as we bring new products to the market and further improve existing products."
User-Submitted Answer
" I appreciate that Facebook's mission is 'to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.' I feel this mission allows for openness and creativity in bringing new approaches and ways of being more efficient through innovation. Examples include its digital advertising and how that has changed traditional advertising in terms of making advertising affordable for everyone. The new F2 and the Novi wallet and the Diem stablecoin may be the biggest game-changer to banking and payments as the internet was to shopping. Also, Oculus has cutting-edge VR that leverages its strong infrastructure. As far as competitive position, Facebook offers social media services and digital advertising options via its mobile apps and websites, including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and Oculus. When it comes to Facebook's advertising pricing strategy, the company ensures that its mission is met by -
The company uses the following pricing strategies for its online display advertising service from 'Pay-what-you-want' and 'Market-oriented' pricing. Pricing is often based on a per-impression or per click model, making digital advertising accessible to business owners with large and smaller budgets. This flexibility is well-embraced by many advertisers, making Facebook advertising a very competitive option compared to other marketing and advertising options. As a Product Manager for Facebook, I will always keep Facebook's mission and competitive strategic positioning in mind as we bring new products to the market and further improve existing products."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Excellent! Your answer will definitely show the interviewer that you have done your research on the company and are excited to carry out its mission. Way to be thorough and knowledgeable. Also, the examples you cite certainly strengthen your response even more. Great job!
Diversity & Inclusion
18. Facebook is proud of its inclusive environment that's welcoming for everyone. Have you ever experienced or witnessed a lack of inclusion in the workplace? If so, how did you address the situation?
How to Answer
On Facebook's career website, the company states, 'From our holistic benefits to our commitment to diversity to our personalized approach to flexibility, we focus on building an inclusive environment that's welcoming for everyone who works at Facebook.'
Inclusion is different from diversity, and it's essential to be prepared to make the distinction. Diversity refers to 'what' the company is doing to create a diverse workplace, and inclusion is 'how' the company is developing a safe culture. The interviewer wants you to recount a time when you experienced firsthand or witnessed a lack of inclusion in the workplace. This question is not the opportunity to speak poorly of an employer or co-worker but instead spotlight how you address a workplace imbalance.
When responding to a question like this, it's best to give a specific story-based example rather than responding with a generalization. You can form your response using the STAR framework, an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. This framework will allow you to keep your reply well-organized so that the interviewer can follow along with your story.
If you have not experienced this situation in the past, you can speak hypothetically, being sure to address how you would handle the issue and how you plan to support your co-workers in achieving equality in the workplace.
1st Answer Example
"(Situation) I worked for a company many years ago that did not have proper inclusion efforts for employees with physical disabilities. There was very little assistive technology, and accessibility was not a priority. (Task) As the Product Manager, it was up to me to spotlight these shortcomings and stand up for my talented team members. (Action) I brought my concerns to the Senior Product Manager in the form of a few critical points, and I provided a list of helpful resources. I explained that many companies are relatively aware that diversity is important, but this does not mean much without inclusion efforts as a follow-through. I spent time explaining the differences between diversity and inclusion. Together, we came up with a plan that would further support inclusion. (Result) In the end, our inclusion program expanded, and we made more effort toward creating a comfortable workplace for employees with physical disabilities. The company's head office was impressed with our plan, and they ended up deploying our ideas across all other locations."
Education
19. Facebook Product Managers should have a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in a relevant field. Please walk us through your education.
How to Answer
The interviewer is asking for an overview of your education, which may seem redundant considering your degree is likely outlined on your resume. However, the interviewer also wants to know why you believe your education and training are relevant to this role.
Facebook expresses in its Product Manager job description that the company will accept a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree in a relevant field. These relevant fields might include Business Management, Finance, Economics, Marketing, Management Information Systems, Engineering, or other related disciplines.
Take a minute or two to walk the interviewer through your post-secondary education. Discuss your favorite or best coursework and where your skills shone through during this time in your life. Then, be sure to connect how your knowledge and experiences will add value to the Facebook team when they hire you for this Product Manager role.
1st Answer Example
"I graduated from USD with my Bachelor of Science, major in Computer Science. I received various scholarships due to my strong grades, and I was on the Dean's list for three out of four years. My best grades were in algorithms, trends in database technology, and information security. I also performed very well with learning complex concepts such as biometric security. My education helped build a strong foundation for my Product Management and helped me to develop strong professional discipline and interpersonal skills. I look forward to joining Facebook and leveraging my post-secondary experiences, along with the knowledge I have gained over the last five years in a high-demand PM role within a tech-startup environment."
User-Submitted Answer
"My liberal arts education built a strong foundation for a broad range of topics to develop strong professional discipline and interpersonal skills. I was involved in many social activities while enjoying studies that were fun and interesting to me."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Nice! Be sure to cite your specific degrees and which colleges you went to. You might also want to mention courses or projects that were especially impactful to your education. Adding more details here will make your response more memorable to the interviewer!
Experience
20. Facebook's Product Managers work to identify, develop and implement revenue-generating and cost-saving projects and programs. How will your Product Management expertise impact our business and overall customer experience?
How to Answer
A talented Product Manager can play a significant role in the success and productivity of a product roll-out, ensuring that each project generates optimal revenue and is delivered on time and budget. As a Product Manager for Facebook, you will be highly involved in processes that bring new products to market or improve existing products. Talk to the interviewer about the specific impact you plan to make for Facebook when hired for this Product Manager role.
1st Answer Example
"I recently read in a survey from '280 Group' that effective product management from a fully equipped Product Manager can increase a company's profits by more than 34%. This number is pretty incredible, and it also shows me how critical my role is as a PM with working hard to achieve cost savings while making decisions that are focused on generating revenue. As an experienced and calculated Product Manager, I will dedicate myself to impacting Facebook's business and the overall customer experience. Just like I have generated exceptional results with Company XYZ, I will carefully identify new product opportunities, develop methods for streamlining project processes, and keep a keen eye on opportunities to save resources while optimizing revenue-generating opportunities."
Experience
21. We seek candidates with at least five years of product management or related industry experience. Please take a few minutes to walk us through your resume and related experience.
How to Answer
In most of its Product Manager job postings, Facebook asks for 5 years of product management experience or experience in a related field. These related tasks could include roles with accountabilities in strategic quantitative and qualitative analysis within e-commerce, consulting, or the tech industry, for instance. The Facebook interviewer wants to hear that you have experience and results supporting and improving business operations related to program, process, product, and/or project management.
Take some time to walk the interviewer through your related work experience, bringing your most notable achievements and successes to life. Highlight the experiences that you believe will be most interesting to the interviewer and most relative to the department you are interviewing with. If you have a lot of work experience, briefly describe your work history, starting at the least recent position, and outline a couple of stand-out and relevant achievements from each role.
1st Answer Example
"After graduating with my Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Education, I furthered my training by completing two certifications. One in Marketing & Communication and the other in Project Management. Since my education and training were so robust, I was fortunate to get an excellent opportunity right out of school to be a Product Manager for Company XYZ in their e-commerce division. I worked for Company XYZ, first as a Junior Product Manager for 3 years, and then earned a promotion to Product Manager. This intermediate PM role is the position I have operated in for the past 4 years. In total, I have functioned successfully in a Product Manager position for 7 years. During this time, the bulk of my focus has been on creating new digital products that help our small business partners and third-party vendors boost their customer conversions and improve customer lifetime value (CLV). I work cross-functionally with a global team of engineers, sales, and marketing professionals, collaborating every step of the way and ensuring smooth product roll-outs. When I read the job description for Facebook's Product Manager, I saw a clear connection between the work I currently lead and the accountabilities in this role. I look forward to growing my experience with a global leader like Facebook, where I can take on additional responsibilities, lead a larger team, and take responsibility for digital product launches that help connect people worldwide."
Experience
22. How well versed are you with financial analysis and P&L management?
How to Answer
As a Product Manager, you will be accountable for participating in strategic financial decisions. Many of those decisions will be related to a project's budget. This is one reason why a strong foundation of financial analysis and profit and loss (P&L) management will be a beneficial addition to your resume.
If you have a firm understanding of financial analysis and P&L management, discuss your level of understanding (perhaps you hold an intermediate, advanced, or expert understanding). Provide the interviewer with details of the related accountabilities you have held in the past. It's also wise to include an example of a time when your keen financial analysis skills and attentive approach to P&L management made a positive difference on a project.
If you are not as well-versed in financial analysis and P&L management, you can express that you are actively working to strengthen your knowledge in these areas. Give a tangible example of the action you are taking to support your response further.
1st Answer Example
"While earning my Bachelor of Arts in Marketing Management, I learned about financial analysis as it relates to business marketing. I also learned how to read financial statements such as profit and loss statements correctly. As a Product Manager, I believe it's essential that I read a P&L statement and make sense of costs and expenses incurred during a project. This data will help me better understand the company's ability to generate profit from the product we are focusing on. Overall, I consider my financial analysis and P&L knowledge to be intermediate. I plan to learn more and grow my knowledge base by continually educating myself on financial analysis. For instance, I have recently applied to Harvard Business School Online course called 'Leading with Finance.' This course stands out because it will equip me with a stronger foundation of knowledge of financial principles, understand my employers' market, create and assess value, and communicate financial decisions to stakeholders. I look forward to starting this course and coming to Facebook with a stronger knowledge in identifying ways to create and measure value to evaluate and pitch-worthy products."
Experience
23. Walk us through your experience going through an entire product lifecycle.
How to Answer
A significant part of Facebook's business model includes digital services, advertising, and selling virtual reality and other hardware products such as the Portal product line. The interviewer wants to know how well-versed you are with the product lifecycle from a Product Manager's perspective. Be sure to tailor your answer to showcase your depth of knowledge in the business area where you will be focusing as a Product Manager. For instance, if your interview is for a PM role where you are rolling out products for advertising clients, consider focusing the bulk of your response on your related product lifecycle knowledge and experience.
1st Answer Example
"While completing my degree, I focused a great deal on the management of Retail Product Lifecycle. I am very familiar with the product lifecycle stages, particularly with product management in the hardware sector. This experience that I bring will help Facebook approach the competitive landscape of VR and hardware, where we must know about the market, ever-shifting demand, and fierce product competition. Proper product lifecycle management is also critical to preventing deadstock, a situation that does not benefit anyone involved in the product delivery or merchant process. The 4 stages that I understand are introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. I believe these stages apply to nearly every product on the market. Some move more quickly through these stages than others, especially if they are a product such as a specific app or game. Other products are evergreen and will move through this lifecycle much slower. I look forward to using my knowledge in the PM role to help Facebook further succeeded."
Performance
24. Facebook Product Managers are expected to display strong leadership, organizational, and execution skills. How do you maintain the highest standards during project delivery?
How to Answer
Facebook places great focus on setting standards of excellence in all areas of its business. The interviewer wants assurance that, when hired, you will put significant effort and enthusiasm into helping the company maintain these standards of excellence. There are many ways that you, as a Facebook Product Manager, can ensure and maintain consistently high standards. These might include clearly defining the product from the start, never sacrificing quality, sticking closely to the product requirements at all times, and carefully following project processes, no matter how tempting it may be to sway for the sake of a deadline.
Share with the interviewer the steps you take and the consideration you put into maintaining high standards as a Product Manager. Take the interviewer through a detailed journey of your process on the job, highlighting how your high standards have benefitted project delivery in the past. Then, assure the interviewer that you are ready to do the same as a Facebook Product Manager.
1st Answer Example
"The Facebook development team is built of world-class developers, designers, engineers, data scientists, researchers, and more. Rest assured, I will always put a premium effort forward to ensure that projects are delivered with the highest quality standards. To ensure that the highest standards are built and maintained during a project, I utilize numerous checklists and procedures that I consider non-negotiable. For instance, since the term quality can be subjective, I make sure that the project's quality criteria are incredibly clear from the start. I repeatedly reinforce with my team the need for quality at every stage. Sometimes shortcuts are attractive, but I ensure that we never trade quality for time. I am hyper-aware of threats such as scope creep, so I never let my guard down when it comes to changes in requests. I also perform quality audits along the way to ensure we are on track for every project milestone. When we can identify defects right away, the project can remain on track. The more closely we follow the project roadmap, the smoother the outcome."
User-Submitted Answer
"The Facebook development team is built of world-class developers, designers, engineers, data scientists, researchers, and more. To ensure that the highest standards are built and maintained during a project, I ensure there is a clear objective and scope. Also, if there are any things that are open to interpretation such as quality, risk, are aligned to enterprise criteria or I spell it out. I am big on continual daily checkpoints at beginning of the day, go over any issues or roadblocks. Stay focused even though additional functions, bugs feedback come up, overcome them by staying the course on what the limitation or problem trying to solve. Key tasks are part of the milestone if tasks can be combined without losing quality we move forward. milestone. When we can identify defects right away, the project can remain on track. The more closely we follow the project roadmap, the smoother the outcome."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Great! So you make sure there are clear objectives and scopes, that you spell out all quality and risk criteria, that you frequently check in with your team, and that everyone stays focused. You come across as an organized and effective leader who successfully executes on projects. Nice job!
Performance
25. How do you measure customer satisfaction after launching a new product?
How to Answer
As a Product Manager, there are many ways to measure customer satisfaction post-launch. The interviewer wants to know which metrics you track. The way you respond to this question should show the interviewer that you are diligent and outcome-focused. It's important that, as a PM, you are place value on gathering important user feedback on your product. This information will help you and your team to solve any problems that arise quickly. Direct customer feedback is also helpful when approaching your team and stakeholders about any suggested product changes or pivots. Perhaps you look at:
- Customer Conversion Rate
- Churn Rate
- Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT)
- Daily Active Users (DAU)
- Monthly Active Users (MAU)
- Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV)
Whatever your preferred methods for measuring customer satisfaction, be sure to highlight the importance of understanding and listening to your customers after a product launch. Show the interviewer that you are interested in understanding the customer, what they love, and where they might be dropping off.
1st Answer Example
"Feedback from customers is constructive and important. The data from customers post-launch helps my team, and I discover where and how we can improve and resonate most with our target customer. One of my favorite ways to measure customer satisfaction is through NPS scores. By sending out a simple customer email survey and asking, 'How likely are you to recommend this product to a friend?' and offering a 1-10 option, we quickly collect valuable customer satisfaction information. After answering, we segment our customers into 3 categories: Detractors, Passives, and Promoters. Detractors will rate the product a 1-6 out of 10. We then know that these customers dislike part of the product or have an overall issue with it. Passives will rate the product a 7 or 8 out of 10. This segment is more likely to use the product but will not be loyal to it. Those who rate the product a 9 or 10 out of 10 are the Promoters. These customers are more likely to recommend our product. Using Net Promoter Scores, we can quickly assess whether the product is being embraced. I like this method as it's more of an average and helps the team focus on who to survey further based on an extreme dislike and an enthusiastic love of the product."
Problem Solving
26. How do you break down a complex problem into manageable pieces?
How to Answer
Breaking down problems into smaller parts is an essential skill as a Product Manager. Facebook PMs often come across unexpected issues, and the core of the problem is not always obvious at first glance. The interviewer wants to know that you are a talented problem-solver who can look at a potentially overwhelming issue and address it quickly and efficiently, assuring your team doesn't get stuck on a project. By having a sure method for complex problem-solving, you can prevent 'analysis paralysis,' ensuring that you are ready to solve complex issues. Explain to the interviewer your approach to dealing with (and solving!) complex issues that arise in the workplace.
1st Answer Example
"When I face a complex problem, I first look at the overall problem and the situation. Next, I consider the outcome we want to achieve. Then, I take stock of the resources available to the team and the amount of time that we have to find a solution to the problem. Next, I make sure that all roadblocks are considered before ever entering solution mode. I also look at all potential sub-problems that could be encountered. Then, I engage the appropriate members of my team and share the information that I have gathered. Discussing one sub-problem at a time, the team and I break down the overall complex issue and develop a set of manageable solutions. Of course, I understand it's important to react quickly. With my approach, I find that issues are addressed promptly, and the team can consider additional potential problems. I find this method of problem-solving to be very proactive, team-based, and actionable."
User-Submitted Answer
"When I face a complex problem, I first look at the overall problem and the situation. I follow a simple method called SBAR; Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation, which brings the situation and the solutions or resources needed to address it. I then engage appropriate team members and discuss further with takeaways of how the problem could be resolved with existing solutions or leveraging input to put something in place."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Great! It sounds like you have a strong process in place to break down complex problems into manageable pieces. It's great that you start by looking at the big picture. Don't forget to talk about how you will examine the parts of the problem and then break them down into smaller ones, in addition to how you will order their completion. You might also mention creating a timeline and an action plan so you stay on track.
Scenario Based
27. Talk about a time you discovered a way to save on development costs.
How to Answer
There are numerous ways that Product Managers can save on development costs. As a PM for Facebook, you are expected to be efficient and work cost-effectively. Talk to the interviewer about a time when you used creative thinking to drive down development costs or generate other savings on a project.
When you answer this 'Talk about a time...' question, it's important to remember that the interviewer is looking for a specific story-based example that highlights your behavior in challenging situations. Using the STAR interview method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), you can form a story-based response that the interviewer can follow with ease.
- Situation: Set the stage with the background information the interviewer needs to make sense of your story.
- Task: Continuing to set the stage, give the interviewer an idea of your role and responsibilities in this story.
- Action: Next, offer a detailed description of the steps you took to express your point of view with your manager.
- Result: Last, talk about the specific outcomes that resulted from your actions.
1st Answer Example
"In some instances, driving costs down by 10% or so can be a straightforward task accomplished by repurposing small design features or streamlining team tasks. However, when costs need to be driven down immediately and significantly, it requires well-thought strategic moves. I have been a Product Manager with Company XYZ for 5 years. Over this time, I have seen development costs increase up to 4X, with the cost of labor, materials, and production climbing at a steady rate. This year I decided it was time to make some significant changes and help the company generate stronger profits. After analyzing data from the previous years' projects, I saw that my biggest opportunity was in automating engineering changes. Engineering change requests were stacking up, and I knew there had to be a better way to approach these requests. After calculated research, I landed on introducing Cloud PLM software. Cloud PLM allows every team member and all of our projects' stakeholders to access product data and insights in a single view. It keeps our data up to date and ensures that everyone is on the same page with changes. Since implementing Cloud PLM, our projects are completed 35% faster and with far fewer mistakes. Because of this change, we are on track to lower product development costs by 27% over the next 12 months. Company XYZ has benefitted greatly from the keen eye I keep on development costs and project budgets, and I am eager to bring similar results to the Facebook team."
Scenario Based
28. Please walk us through a time when you nearly missed a deadline. How did you pivot your approach to ensure success?
How to Answer
Deadlines are often critical in product management; however, so is product quality. The interviewer wants to hear evidence that you can turn a project around when a deadline is looming. They also want to know that you can maintain product credibility during these times. Show the interviewer that you can cope well with the external pressures of a looming deadline.
When asked a 'Walk us through a time when...' question, it's important to remember that the interviewer is looking for a specific story-based example that highlights your behavior in challenging situations. Using the STAR interview method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), you can form a story-based response that the interviewer can follow with ease.
- Situation: Set the stage with the background information the interviewer needs to make sense of your story.
- Task: Continuing to set the stage, give the interviewer an idea of your role and responsibilities in this story.
- Action: Next, offer a detailed description of the steps you took to express your point of view with your manager.
- Result: Last, talk about the specific outcomes that resulted from your actions.
1st Answer Example
"I fully believe that as a Product Manager my job is to assess and manage risks rather than take them. This mindset also applies to projects where we are close to missing a deadline. (Situation) Last quarter the team was working on a global roll-out for a significant product feature update. We were on track until we reached some bugs that presented significant threats to the project timeline. My team and I thought we had tested the product thoroughly enough, and we were not expecting any new issues, at least not major ones, to pop up. (Task) The time came where we were to present the product to the stakeholders. We realized that some of the code quality was poor, which was a situation that would be time-consuming to fix, but we could not ignore the issue. We knew that our stakeholders would consider the issue a deal-breaker, but I had to be honest with them. (Action) I held a discussion explaining the trouble that we ran into. One option was to scratch one of the product features to focus on the MVP and ensure it was perfect by the deadline. The other option was to extend the deadline by one week and move forward with all features as originally planned. The stakeholders agreed that we would roll out the product with a perfect MVP and add the scrapped feature to the next version. (Result) In the end, the product was a great success, and we received excellent feedback from our customers. Now, we are working diligently to introduce a product update with the originally missing feature."
Teamwork
29. Facebook Product Managers work with cross-functional teams of engineers, designers, data scientists, and researchers to build products. Talk about your cross-functional work experience and how it will benefit our world-class team.
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to know that you have experience succeeding in a cross-functional environment. For example, Facebook expresses in its Product Manager job postings that the successful candidate will work cross-functionally with teams of engineers, designers, data scientists, and researchers. In addition, if you have experience working for a larger company, you have likely collaborated on projects with teams from varying departments.
Succeeding in a highly collaborative work environment takes excellent interpersonal skills, clear communication, superb organization, and strong task prioritization skills. Your ability to work with cross-functional teams will be a significant asset to Facebook, especially in a Product Manager role. In addition, your ability to work well with multiple job functions, departments, and stakeholders is a significant factor in your success. Think of a time when you had to collaborate with the members of other teams and functions. Share any challenges that came up for you, how you handled these, and what you learned from the experience.
1st Answer Example
"I have worked in cross-functional agile teams most of my career. Immediately after graduation, I joined Company X as a Junior Product Manager. We had teams across the globe, giving me my first taste of working with teams across numerous time zones. It was a challenge at first; however, I quickly caught onto the team dynamics, learned who was available during what time of day. I learned to arrange my tasks around other people's availability, ensuring that our time differences did not result in project delays. For example, there were many times that I would jump on a video call at 10 PM so that I could reach some of our engineers located in Dubai. I found the collaboration to be exciting because we accomplished so much as a team. In my previous PM position with Company Y, most of our team members were local, which presented different cross-functional team challenges since we all worked in tandem on the same 9-hour schedule. I found that projects often saw more delays since our workday was more compact. In my current position with Company Z, we have a global team. Many of our engineers and researchers are located in Noida, Melbourne, and Singapore. I much prefer a global team, and these positive experiences will ensure that I will bring a strong enthusiasm for collaboration to Facebook's world-class team. Specifically, I have learned to build a team based on trust, communication, respect, and empathy. Despite distance or scheduling, I concentrate efforts on getting to know everyone on the team personally. I treat each person as a unique individual and value one-on-one relationships. As a PM, I am also a team motivator, so I put effort into ensuring that everyone on the team knows how their special contribution makes a difference in the project. Regardless of my team being 6 people or 60, I will ensure that the team chemistry remains strong."
User-Submitted Answer
"I have worked in cross-functional agile teams most of my career. Currently, I work with every area of Wells Fargo areas from Lines of Business to functional areas all over the world. I am successful because I am adaptive, and can be able to be open to different approaches and viewpoints. Working with a wide experience level, it is important to show value and how you will bring value to their area and help them. An example of this is showing IS storefront metrics dashboard if they can capture specific metrics even if not automated? Our report gets shared with the BoD quarterly and if you need some traction on items such as automation or tool resources we can help. Another example working with multiple teams to Exeutivion of IS Policies or IS Risk Management Activities and obtaining measurable metrics aligned to controls and policies to establish effectiveness. They need to show sustainable results to pass findings for MRA and I need to be able to show repeatable effective Risk Management processes which protect ____ data. I like the challenge of working with multiple levels of leadership and a wide variety of SMEs. Being able to clearly articulate the objective and finding a common shared impact is a key factor of success." Some teams are about solutions for risk remediation and others are concerned about how the issue occurred and others want to know how to report and mitigate for the future."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Excellent! Your response clearly and thoroughly shows your cross-functional work experience. It definitely sounds like you have a lot of experience working with different teams. You've also done a great job including some examples so the interviewer specifically understands the many ways in which you collaborate with other teams in your current position. Great job!
Teamwork
30. Facebook Product Managers lead and motivate while maintaining team health. If hired, how will you develop rapport and earn the trust of your new team?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to see that you have a plan to earn the trust of your new team members, motivate them properly and ensure a healthy team environment for the long term. Think about the best ways to win over your new co-workers once you are offered this Product Manager position.
Here are some ways that you can build trust with your new team and develop strong, lasting connections:
- Avoid being a distraction or holding unnecessary meetings. Respect each team members' time.
- Treat everyone on your team the same, regardless of their job title.
- Do not complain about projects with the team members; rather, be an enthusiastic troubleshooter.
- If you make a mistake, own it and work hard to fix the situation.
- Be timely with your communication around project expectations and changes.
Walk the interviewer through your process for developing rapport and trust with others in the workplace. Give examples of your approach so that the interviewer can gauge if you will settle in well with Facebook's workplace culture.
1st Answer Example
"Since joining Company XYZ, I have been promoted three times, allowing me to join a new team every time. I will take a mindful people-focused approach to build trust and nurture the health of the team. My favorite approach is getting to know people personally by asking them questions about themselves, listening intently to their responses, and remembering the information they share, such as their spouse's name or hobbies outside of the workplace. In the work setting, I keep a happy team by holding only important and structured meetings so that everyone feels their time is being valued. I ask questions when I need clarity rather than pretending to know the answer. Also, I am highly focused on supporting diversity and inclusion efforts, an approach that Facebook leaders actively embrace."
User-Submitted Answer
"I take a mindful people-focused approach to build trust and nurture the health of the team. My favorite approach is getting to know people personally by asking them questions about themselves, listening intently to their responses, and remembering the information they share, such as their spouse's name or hobbies outside of the workplace. In the work setting, I maintain a happy team by holding only important and structured meetings so that everyone feels their time is valued. I ask questions when I need clarity rather than pretending to know the answer. Also, I am highly focused on supporting diversity and inclusion efforts and showing everyone respect and fairness, an approach that Facebook leaders actively embrace. Two of my direct reports at my former company said I was the best manager they have ever had. I am very transparent, open, and honest, and many colleagues come to me for advice or just to share at every company I have ever worked for."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Marcie Wilmot Reviewed the Above Answer
Wow! You sound like an excellent manager. :) All of the qualities and methods you mention support the idea that you are an effective manager who builds trust and a cohesive team. You also sound very thoughtful, open, and full of integrity. Great response!