Facebook Technical Program Manager Interview Questions & Answers
Discovery
1. At Facebook, we offer our employees the ability to enjoy flexibility in their work environment. Please describe your experience managing projects or programs in remote, hybrid, and flexible settings.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Facebook promotes a work environment where the employees define how and where they work best. This means that the work style of each individual within a team may be different and could change over time. Interviewers ask this question to ensure a technical program manager candidate is comfortable working to support this level of flexibility within the teams they serve.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include flex environment leadership experience from roles outside of project or program management. Interviewers value experience leading architectural, analytical, design, development, implementation, and support initiatives even if the work was not directly tied to a program manager role.
Additionally, be sure to let the interviewer know that you resonate with this aspect of the culture of Facebook if you value flexible work environments. High impact answers demonstrate alignment with a company's goals and values.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"I served as a technical lead for a cross-functional team prior to working as a program manager. Our team worked in a hybrid virtual environment, and I helped to facilitate various remote meetings including daily check-ins, design sessions, feature reviews, and retrospectives. One of the areas of focus for my work in that role was monitoring the efficiency of the team and ensuring that we were connecting properly to resolve issues as quickly as possible. I implemented operating procedures to ensure everyone felt connected and supported. Ultimately, we were able to be as effective away from the office as in person.
In my current role as a technical program manager, I manage a portfolio of solutions that are developed by four cross-functional teams that are all currently remote. My clients are remote as well. I am responsible for facilitating strategic planning sessions and high-level design and integration discussions. I also work directly with our project managers, product owners, and scrum masters to ensure our teams are properly aligned and following the methodology standards.
I really appreciate this aspect of the culture of Facebook. It sets the stage for happier employees and for team members to define a work style that adds the most value to their teams on a continual and situational basis. I have found that there is no one size fits all solution to defining the optimal work environment, and I am excited to be discussing a job opportunity with a company that understands this critical and personal aspect of work performance."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Discovery
2. What is your upward communication style?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers at Facebook are expected to provide regular updates to senior business leaders and partners. Interviewers may ask this question to determine how a candidate will approach these important conversations.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate a style that is clear and honest. Interviewers appreciate candidates that respect authority and show integrity in their approach. Also, be sure to demonstrate direct and succinct communication. Senior business leaders often have limited time for updates and appreciate headline-first communication that drives further conversation as needed.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"In general, my communication style is direct. I use a clear and easy-to-understand approach. I offer summary-level details and I am prepared to back my assertions up with data and examples as necessary. I try not to spend extra time communicating details for items I am able to handle on my own so that my time with seniors is reserved for the valuable insight they can provide in areas that need support.
I do not typically invest time in trying to avoid difficult conversations. I face them head-on and go in prepared with solution recommendations. I take any feedback that results from these meetings and works hard to incorporate it into my approach for future initiatives. I find the combination of integrity paired with quick and consistent action creates a strong partnership over time with the senior-level stakeholders, managers, partners, and customers I am accountable to."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Discovery
3. Please describe your experience managing complex integration projects or programs.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers at Facebook are responsible for managing a portfolio of integrated solutions. Integration initiatives require specific skill sets and interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate they select understands the work involved and how to manage it properly.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include examples of work you performed on integration projects or programs in lead roles such as tech lead, lead engineer, consultant, architect, or senior analyst. While these roles would not necessarily perform all of the tasks of a technical program manager, they speak to a candidate's ability to understand complex integration solutions and the work necessary to deliver them.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"As a senior business analyst, I developed the integration requirements and helped design a solution that integrated a series of HR onboarding solutions I was responsible for. The integration data layer helped to manage functions such as applicant tracking, approvals, security badge requests, application access, security, and termination rules. I was not the project manager for these projects, but I managed the work of our analysts, contributed to the roadmap, and served as a subject matter expert on behalf of our customers.
As a program manager, I led a team that developed a cloud-based data warehouse solution that bridged together sales systems across various lines of business. I oversaw multiple projects to integrate financial and analytic solutions with the data warehouse"
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Discovery
4. What excites you about working as a technical program manager at Facebook?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Employees at Facebook are not expected to be happy about all of the work that they do, but there should be aspects of the work that excite them. Interviewers ask this question to determine if the qualities of the technical program manager role that excite and motivate a candidate are in line with the work assigned to the open role at Facebook.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to review the job description prior to an interview to select the aspects of the role that you are most excited to perform. This question, or a variation of it, is common and likely to be included in an interview. High impact responses are in direct alignment with a specific duty or qualification from the job description.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"The technical program manager role excites me because it allows me to blend three professional domains I enjoy together in one role. I have always loved science, math, and all things technology. Throughout my career, I aligned myself with roles that allowed me to stay involved in the latest technology solutions. I worked as an engineer for seven years and I appreciated having the ability to transform ideas into working solutions that had a positive impact on my users.
I also enjoy business and working directly with stakeholders and customers to learn about their worlds and imagine ways to improve upon their current state. I enjoy developing strategy and breaking that down into tactical plans of action. I find purpose in assisting others in understanding technology and transforming requirements into intelligently designed solutions.
Finally, I enjoy working with teams, serving teams, inspiring teams, and removing roadblocks so that the teams I serve can be as successful as possible. I enjoy mentoring and helping others grow professionally. Based on the job description, the technical program manager role will allow me to leverage my strengths and grow my technological, business, and leadership skills."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Discovery
5. What is your preferred development methodology?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Facebook has a history of adopting flexible and fluid processes that are not aligned with named methodologies such as Scrum, SAFe, kanban, or waterfall. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates with the agility and open-mindedness necessary for success in the technical program manager role.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Be sure to indicate that you are open to exploring options that are the best fit for each team. Candidates that indicate a preference for stringent process, process-driven roles, or even enforcing standards across all of the teams that contribute to a program will likely be excluded from follow-up interviews.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"My preferred development methodology is one that fits the unique needs of the team working to develop the solution and the stakeholders involved. Understanding various methodologies at a conceptual level is helpful, but I find that things tend to break down in a team setting when the process is followed too stringently. The goal for me is to have a well-defined toolkit to pull from as needed and to be flexible enough to respond quickly to the need for change.
Generally speaking, I like to work with my teams to agree to a process that allows us to incrementally and continually deliver value to our users and stakeholders. I find it easier for teams to tackle smaller bodies of work than to take on multi-year projects that feel like they never end. I also like to ensure that the teams I work with reflect regularly and work to find new and exciting ways to add value. Other than that, I think the specific recipe for success varies team-to-team. I am good with and will offer my full support to whatever they decide is the best fit as long as they can prove it works and they are happy with it."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Discovery
6. Describe your experience managing global initiatives.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Facebook operates in a global setting with employees and partners located all over the world. Management of global initiatives requires advanced facilitation skills as well as knowledge of cultural and professional norms for each area. This question may be included in a Facebook interview to ensure the selected candidate has the skills necessary to lead projects that are executed by globally distributed teams.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to mention working with globally distributed customers or stakeholders if your management experience is limited in this area. Interviewers will often accept experience working with customers in various locations in lieu of experience managing globally distributed teams.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"I have managed several globally distributed teams. The customers for the products within my portfolio are located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. I coordinate steering committee meetings comprised of representatives from each area regularly. Additionally, the product development teams I manage all work remotely. We have team members in the US, Brazil, Argentina, England, Poland, and India."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Discovery
7. What level of engineering experience do you have?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some technical program manager positions at Facebook require in-depth knowledge of specific engineering practices or technologies. This question is asked to assess the depth of a candidate's engineering expertise.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe any relevant technical experience such as system design, user experience design, writing queries, data analysis, integration design, or managing deployments in the event you do not have direct development experience. Facebook will accept this level of experience in lieu of engineering expertise in some cases as it speaks to a candidate's ability to understand end-to-end technology solution development and support.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"My educational background is in management information systems. I understand the basics of information solution design and engineering, and I developed several solutions while I was in school. I found that I was more passionate about working with customers to learn about their businesses and transform their needs into intelligent solutions, so I began my professional career as a business systems analyst. I worked in cross-functional teams of project managers, analysts, developers, architects, and quality assurance analysts to develop custom web-based solutions for various operations groups within a large media company.
In my time as an analyst, I worked very closely with the architects and developers on our teams. I reviewed technical design documents, participated in code reviews, wrote queries to analyze large datasets, and performed research to help troubleshoot complex technical issues. I have experience as a delivery manager working to manage the customer-focused and technical aspects of large deployments. Finally, I have experience managing projects, resources, and budgets.
All of these experiences allow me to understand the end-to-end processes of technical solution discovery, planning, engineering, maintenance, and support from the various cross-functional perspectives that make up solution teams. This adds tremendous value to my work as a technical program manager because I am able to understand the detailed and important concerns of the various members of my teams and simultaneously assess them for business impact. Likewise, I am able to understand high-level business and customer scenarios and translate them into action plans that make sense in a technical setting."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Discovery
8. Describe your experience with managing system analysis and design initiatives.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers at Facebook are expected to have end-to-end experience in managing the technology solution development process. Interviewers ask this question to ensure candidates have the experience necessary to work with stakeholders to define scope, gather high-level requirements, and oversee the detailed analysis and design phases of product development and support.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe your experience partnering with analyst leads in the event you did not lead actual analysis efforts. For example, a lead engineer might partner with senior analysts and user experience experts to define the strategy for the front-end design of a system. Likewise, describe your experience partnering with engineering leads if you come from project management or analytical background and were not in charge of the technical design phases of product development.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"I began my career in technology as a business systems analyst. The teams I worked on built custom enterprise solutions, implemented 3rd party solutions, and developed customer-facing web-based solutions.
I initially partnered with senior analysts on projects, but quickly earned a role as the lead analyst on all of my projects. I led discovery initiatives to define goals and scope, gathered business requirements, authored functional requirements, and helped our engineers document the technical requirements for our systems. Additionally, I reviewed usage metrics, authored reports, and reviewed data to assist our support analysts as needed.
I partnered with architects, database designers, usability experts, and engineers in the design phases of our projects. We followed an agile methodology, so this was a continual and ongoing process.
I was then promoted to project manager and program manager. I stayed involved in the analysis and design activities with my teams. I offered guidance, served as a subject matter expert, and made strategic decisions. I was responsible for the overall success of these two phases of each project within my program."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Discovery
9. Describe your experience managing technology programs and leading cross-functional teams.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This question is asked to assess the level of responsibility a technical program manager has had in previous roles. Some organizations use the terms project management and program management interchangeably, while others utilize program managers as senior leaders that bridge multiple projects together. Interviewers use a candidate's answer to determine if they are a fit for the scale of programs they will be required to lead at Facebook.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include examples of the various types of projects you have led including SaaS, web, mobile, cloud, integration, data warehousing, etc. Also, be sure to describe your experience leading both custom development and vendor implementation initiatives. Finally, it is helpful to offer the interviewer a sense of the scale of the programs or projects you had responsibility for. This includes the budgets you were responsible for, the cross-functional resources you led, and the user communities you served.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"I worked as an engineer developing financial solutions prior to transitioning into project management. I led our team's development efforts, and I was responsible for developer assignments and quality control. I partnered with a program manager regularly to develop strategy and better understand the needs of our clients.
I currently work for an insurance company and I was hired initially as a scrum master who worked with teams that developed mobile solutions for our customers. I led various projects, including introducing the ability to submit and monitor claims online.
I was promoted to program manager 6 months ago and I manage the mobile solution portfolio that serves a population of over one million customers. There are three scrum teams that I work with regularly and they each consist of 5-7 resources including project managers, scrum masters, engineers, and product owners. I manage a capital budget of $4 million annually and I also manage the budgets for our vendor contracts for the various cloud services we rely on."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Discovery
10. High-performance teams that respect and take care of each other are part of the culture of Facebook. What skills and/or personality attributes would you leverage to foster this type of team environment?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Team culture has historically been a driving factor of success at Facebook. Interviewers ask this question to assess how a candidate would contribute to this important aspect of their shared culture that fosters dynamic and high-performance team environments.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe a customized method that allows teams to collaboratively define their own path for developing respect within a team environment. All teams are unique and operate at a variety of performance levels. The approach you describe should accommodate these differences.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"The development of a respectful and nurturing culture is of the utmost importance to me in the workplace. I feel it makes the work my teams do more fulfilling and generates value for our customers. Some teams naturally resonate with these values. They work together as a family and push each other to perform while supporting each other during difficult times. In situations like these, I like to draw attention to the value they are creating and ask them what I can do for them to further support what they have already started. Every team is different, so I am flexible and willing to work with whatever they feel is the best fit.
In the event a team is new to working together, or already has disfunction, I like to start by discussing why respect, support, and healthy connection between teammates add value. I demonstrate how fostering connection on a mental, emotional, and physical level through shared experiences serves to speed up communication and translates to higher performance. Once we all understand the why, I move to the how. I work with the group to determine the low-hanging fruit opportunities and I hold one-on-one conversations to understand the history of the more complex issues. Eventually, we develop working agreements and hold each other accountable for supporting one another.
Over time, respect and care for each other grow and teammates become comfortable being vulnerable together. We reflect regularly and discuss the value they have created by trusting one another and mutually contributing to the development of a high-performing team."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Dscovery
11. What do you think it means to 'bring your full self to work'?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
'Bring your full self to work' is a set of cultural ideals that have been adopted in various ways at Facebook. Technical program managers serve in a leadership capacity and interviewers who ask this question are curious to know how a candidate interprets this statement.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to read the blog posts that discuss the 'bring your full self to work' concept prior to your interview. They provide a sense of the spirit of the leaders at Facebook working to bring this set of ideas to life within their teams.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"To me, bringing your full self to work is about embracing authenticity. As humans, we are holistic and integrated into nature. Things that happen to us physically affect us mentally. Emotional ups and downs affect our ability to focus and work. Bringing your full self to work includes being comfortable sharing the challenges you face in addition to your successes. Of course, there is a level of professionalism that should be maintained, but the spirit of this is to make a safe space for teammates to open up and share as appropriate. This helps everyone to learn more about what makes us unique and what we all value. It helps to develop empathy.
I recently read several articles about leaders at Facebook paving the way for their teams to establish more holistic environments at work. I resonate with that leadership style, and I would love to be a part of a professional community in alignment with my personal beliefs about the type of environment I would like to work in."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
General
12. What is the concept of scalability in a technical setting?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers at Facebook are expected to understand the basic technology concepts that drive complex global and enterprise-level solutions. This question is intended to test a candidate's knowledge of a basic architecture concept.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include a simple example within your response. Technical program managers at Facebook serve as a bridge between technology experts and business experts. This question serves as an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to explain technical concepts in a relatable and easy-to-understand way.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"Scalability represents the degree to which a system or a series of systems can handle increases in demand, users, or workload through the addition of resources. For example, if a company offers services online and their customer base grows such that the performance of their products becomes a concern, they might scale up their physical resources to add an additional data center to manage the increase in load."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
General
13. What is Facebook Marketplace and how is it used?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers at Facebook may work on a wide variety of Facebook App products. The marketplace is an example of one of these products. Interviewers ask questions like these to test a candidate's general knowledge of Facebook and the products they offer its users.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to explain that marketplace allows individuals and businesses with Facebook accounts to buy and sell goods. Providing this information demonstrates your understanding of the reach of the marketplace product from a user community perspective.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"Facebook Marketplace is an e-commerce platform that allows Facebook users to buy and sell goods. Users can buy and sell locally, or nationally. Additionally, businesses with Facebook accounts can buy and sell through the marketplace. Commerce through the marketplace can be much safer than buying and selling through sites like Craigslist. You can use the Messenger app to communicate and agree on payment and shipping options.
Marketplace allows users to leverage the power of Facebook to expand their reach. Sellers can tag their products and the Facebook search tools exposes them to a much wider network than they could access otherwise."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
General
14. How would you define the relationship between a vision, goals, and strategy?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers at Facebook are responsible for taking programs through all of the phases of inception and execution. This question is asked to ensure a candidate understands these important conceptual artifacts that help to drive alignment and success within large programs of work.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide easy-to-understand and clear definitions for each area. Technical program managers often facilitate the discussion and creation of vision statements, goals, and strategic plans. It is expected that they can quickly and easily describe this work. For example, technical program manager job positions specifically state that they require candidates to have the ability to speak with conviction and demonstrate strategic influence.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"Vision, goals, and strategy are high-level features of a program or project that define the target and how it will be met. The vision communicates the 'what' of the initiative. It is a clear and short statement that outlines the purpose and the ultimate goal. It helps to create excitement and alignment within the teams that work toward bringing the vision to life.
Goals define the extent to which the vision will come to life at a given point in time. For example, if the vision of a program at Facebook is to develop the world's most trusted and used app for social media, a goal for a particular year that aligns with that vision might be to increase usage by 15% within a specific target audience.
Strategic plans define how goals will be met to transform the vision into a reality. If we stick with the example goal of the 15% user increase, a strategy for that goal would include a multi-faceted plan that integrates work between various teams and groups such as product management, marketing, engineering, support, legal, finance, etc."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
General
15. What are some of the characteristics of maturity within a technology engineering team?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers play a role in ensuring the processes engineering teams follow are streamlined and effective. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate understands the characteristics they will be expected to cultivate within the teams they work with.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include a mix of teamwork, leadership, and technical expertise within your response. Mature teams display expertise within their specific field, but they also demonstrate high-performance team dynamics. Also, do not describe strict adherence to any one development methodology as a sign of maturity. Facebook has a history of adopting flexible and fluid processes that are not aligned with named methodologies such as Scrum or SAFe.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"Maturity within engineering teams occurs across a number of key conceptual areas. These include teamwork, leadership, technical expertise, customer service, and agility.
Mature teams are able to demonstrate advanced team-focused operations. They know how to partner properly. They mentor and educate each other well. They are able to work through conflicts comfortably and support each other professionally and personally.
Mature teams have strong leaders, and all of the team members show leadership in their individual roles. They know how to facilitate discussions properly and allow everyone on the team to add value. They hold each other accountable and inspire the best in each other.
From a technical perspective, mature engineering teams have a wide variety of skill sets to lean upon. They are seasoned in the technologies that are most important to their products and they continually learn new concepts that add value. They are focused on the continual improvement of their automation and deployment practices. They have well-architected frameworks that support extensibility. Additionally, they are strategic and simultaneously able to execute tactical operations.
Mature engineering teams understand their customers. They are familiar with the personas they develop solutions for and they understand the value chain. They demonstrate user empathy and take pride in delivering solutions that achieve their customers' goals and improve their lives.
Finally, mature engineering teams demonstrate agility. They are able to roll with the constant rate of change within technology. They take advantage of new opportunities and handle the stress of unforeseen challenges with ease. They develop their solutions in a manner that aligns directly with the most important and valuable features. They deliver the right solutions in the right way at the right time."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
General
16. Describe a method for performing an impact assessment.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Determining the impact of potential changes is a primary responsibility of technical program managers. This question may be asked in an interview to gain insight into a candidate's process for analyzing this type of information.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include the aspects of your impact assessment process that rely on intuition and experience in addition to data-driven processes. The experience and feelings of a technical program manager can be an important factor when developing a strategy from the results of an impact analysis effort.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"The first thing I would do is brainstorm a list of impact areas to be assessed. For example, I might consider financial impact, customer satisfaction, resource time, the frequency in which something occurs, the number of affected clients or users, etc. I would assign a weight to each of these impact areas depending on the relative importance of the area to the client and business I am working with.
Next, I would develop an easy-to-use scale to rate each assessment item in terms of impact. A typical scale would be a high-low scale in which I use the numbers 1-10. I would rate the items myself or facilitate a stakeholder session to rate the items. Using a simple formula, I would then calculate the overall impact of each item.
I would consider adjustments to the scores based on my previous experience and intuition as well as the experience and feelings of the other subject matter experts involved. I would then develop a recommendation with strategic and tactical guidance supported by the impact analysis."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
General
17. Compare the functions of product management and program management.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers at Facebook help to integrate workstreams across complex projects. They partner regularly with product managers during specific projects to ensure products are developed in the right way. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate understands the scope of each and how to partner properly with this integral role.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe responsibilities that have the potential for overlap between these two roles. These areas represent the scenarios that have the most collaboration opportunities and potential for conflict.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"A product manager is in charge of the strategy and the success of the development of a specific product they are responsible for. They have end-to-end ownership of all of the activities that affect the development and support of their product throughout its entire lifecycle, and they help to define the customer experience. A product manager may partner with multiple project teams at a time on the development of their product. For example, the product manager of software that has a web and app version may work with multiple development and support teams to ensure its features are developed and supported properly. They may also work with marketing, legal, and other business teams as needed.
A program manager has oversight over the strategy for the success of project execution within a defined portfolio. They help to apply standards and foster coordination between various development teams. They typically oversee the work of individual project managers and assist with resource allocation issues, budget requests, etc.
There is an overlap between these two roles. In the example of the software product manager I gave, they may work alongside a program manager to coordinate interdependencies across teams. However, the product manager maintains a product-specific focus to ensure the right things are developed at the right time. The program manager is more concerned with the efficiency of the operations within the teams they are responsible for and ensures products are developed in the right way."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
General
18. What are the main components of a program-level technology roadmap?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers at Facebook are often responsible for the creation, maintenance, and communication of technology roadmaps. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate understands the types of information they will be responsible for communicating through these important deliverables.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate your understanding that a strategic roadmap for a program of work is different than a roadmap for a product or a project. Program roadmaps synthesize the work of multiple teams and projects together to communicate from a big picture point of view.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"I have worked with a number of formats for developing strategic roadmaps. They have all been a little different and fully customized to show the information that was the most valuable to the audience. However, in each case, I consider the same bodies of work and milestones for display.
First, I break down my roadmap by workstream. I typically have a mix of technology-driven streams such as infrastructure, cloud, mobile, app, and support. When relevant, I include lanes that represent product activities such as marketing campaigns, launches, live events, or partner events. I visually demonstrate the major bodies of work, the time frame, and the progress for each. I also show when major releases are scheduled. This helps to communicate interdependencies between teams.
Finally, I list major milestones. These may be company, competitor, product, or team-related. The goal is to list any significant dates that the various leaders I work with need insight into. It is important for each group to know when major events happen and how their work feeds into the process."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Leadership
19. What is your leadership style?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers at Facebook are called upon to lead in a variety of capacities over the course of their time managing project portfolios. They are collaborators who foster cohesion between groups. They are expected to continually align teams with strategic goals and initiatives. Interviewers ask this question to gain insight into a candidate's approach to leadership and whether it is a fit for the open role at Facebook.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include more than one leadership style within your response. Technical program managers often work with more than one team at a time as well as resources that represent a variety of seniority levels within Facebook. Similar to their views on process, Facebook does not believe in a one size fits all approach to leadership. Interviewers value candidates that are prepared to customize their methods to meet the needs of the situation and the individuals involved.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"My leadership style is a dynamic blend of several styles. I believe in taking the time to get to know the individuals I work with so that I can craft a custom approach that is the best fit for their needs and the specifics of the situation.
I have had the good fortune to work with many extremely talented people over the years, and I find myself using democratic leadership methods most often in these instances. I see it as my role to encourage collaboration and transformation. I serve them as best I can by removing roadblocks and inspiring creativity and innovation. I work to help them feel trusted and supported so that they can develop a team environment of vulnerability and accountability. Once that is established, I typically step back, let them perform, and ensure that their work is rewarded properly.
When I am working with individuals or teams that need more guidance, I take a more hands-on approach. I use mentoring and coaching techniques and lead by example. I have no problem getting in the weeds of a project and doing whatever is needed to fill the gaps. I have rarely had to lean on autocratic methods, but I assert authority if the situation calls for it and other approaches fail."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Situational
20. Describe a time when Facebook negatively affected you personally.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Negative user experiences are a reality for products with global reach such as the Facebook app. Stories of less-than-optimal experiences represent possible opportunities for improvement. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's authenticity and ability to frame a negative situation in a professional manner.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe what you learned from the experience you describe. Also, select an experience that would not be considered offensive by the interviewer.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"I went through a period of my life when I relied too much on Facebook to manage my personal connection to others. After a while, I realized that some of the depth of the relationships that I had worked hard to foster in my life was missing.
Facebook is an excellent tool for staying up-to-date and connecting with others who live far away. It is also a powerful tool for learning about other cultures and promoting small businesses. However, I have to keep an eye on my usage and ensure that I create in-person opportunities to connect as much as possible. Social media has a place in nurturing connections, but a well-rounded and balanced approach works best for me."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Situational
21. How would you measure the success of the programs you are responsible for at Facebook?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers are directly responsible for ensuring the success of the initiatives within their assigned program. They may also provide leadership to others who monitor the success of the individual projects within the program. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate can clearly articulate how they know when their programs are successful.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe a method for tracking success at a team level. This may include activities such as holding reflection meetings, or one-on-ones to gauge morale. Successful product launches and delivery of business goals are important, but it can be equally as important to maintain a programming environment where team members feel supported and satisfied.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"There are four main aspects to measuring success for the programs I am responsible for. First, I measure how the work of the teams within my program performs against the defined goals of the initiative. I have used the objectives and key results model for measuring this aspect of the work in the past, but I am open to whatever model is a fit for the team and situation. I appreciate working with a distinct list of expected results that are directly measurable. There should be little room for ambiguity and the results should be written in a way that teams can easily align their work with the results they need to deliver. These objectives usually include measurements of delivery time, budget performance, revenue generation, operational efficiencies, and customer satisfaction.
Secondly, I work with the project managers, product managers, and technical leads within my program to develop a clear strategy to achieve our objectives. These activities include release planning, reviewing product launch activities, defining milestones, and reviewing budgets. During these sessions, we discuss the team success metrics that we can use on a regular basis to contribute to the measurement of our progress. We end with the creation of team-based objectives that align with the strategic plan.
During execution, I check in regularly with all of my teams to see how well we are performing. We review their progress against the team objectives and map their success back to the program objectives. We discuss any performance issues and develop strategies to get back on track. We also celebrate successes and discuss strategies to fully leverage things that are working better than expected.
Thirdly, I feel it is important to measure the success of a program by the satisfaction of the employees who contribute to it. The measurement methods for this can be a bit ambiguous, but I have used a mix of reflection meetings, one-on-ones, surveys, teambuilding events, and impromptu check-ins in the past. I like to make sure that everyone feels supported and challenged and that team-level conflicts are resolved appropriately. I work with the project managers and engineering leads to make sure they focus on this as well because it is a critical success factor in many cases.
Finally, I gather whatever metrics make sense to gauge customer satisfaction. In a Facebook setting, I would lean on usage statistics, support requests, issue resolution times, revenue generated, and whatever information I could gather within discussion boards online."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Situational
22. We move fast at Facebook. How would you support that aspect of our culture as a program manager?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The customers of Facebook expect a continual stream of new features. Additionally, the world that social media supports evolves quickly. Facebook believes in preparing its employees to respond quickly and intelligently to the needs of their business and the needs of the world. Interviewers ask this question to gain insight into a technical program manager's ability to support this important aspect of the Facebook culture.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include developing a strong communication network with your stakeholders and teams. This is an important aspect of collaboration and supports the dissemination of new information in a flexible and fast manner. Also, review the communication available on the Meta website regarding the company culture. Offering details in alignment with their specific stance on a value increases the potential for your answer to resonate with the interviewer.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"As a technical program manager, I feel that I could contribute to the 'move fast' aspect of the Facebook culture in a number of ways. First, I would partner closely with product managers, my teams, and stakeholders to learn about new opportunities and any potential performance or support issues as soon as possible. Open and continual communication is one of the keys to agility and the ability to act quickly. The better I am able to communicate with these key individuals, the sooner I can develop plans of action to meet their needs.
Additionally, I would ensure that the engineering teams I work with are prepared to capitalize on new opportunities quickly. This means managing resource capacity in a way that allows for flex time to work on new initiatives as they arise. For example, in the event a new technology became available, and it had the potential to add value to our customers, I would work with my team leads to identify an architect or engineer with the right skill set to quickly stand up a proof of concept, identify a technical implementation strategy, and mentor their teammates.
Finally, as a technical program manager, I feel that dedicating time to learning as much as I can about the business and products of Facebook would be key to my ability to move fast. This knowledge would help me know who to contact when I need support for decisions that need to be made quickly. It would help me make quick and accurate impact assessments. It would help me align resources that are necessary for the implementation of changes in direction."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Situational
23. Describe a time when you had a direct and difficult conversation at work.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Direct communication is a part of the culture of Facebook. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's ability to handle delicate and difficult situations with a balance of authority and grace.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate empathy for the individual you communicated with in the scenario you describe. Interviewers do not expect you to ultimately adopt the feelings of others, but they appreciate candidates who can understand how others feel and incorporate consideration of those feelings into their approach. Consider reviewing Meta's blog posts from leaders at Facebook and other groups at Meta. They discuss leading with empathy often.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"I work with several engineering teams in my current role as a program manager. One of the senior engineers I work with is a leader on his team and someone I highly respect. He was going through a rough time at home and his behavior shifted. He became erratic and acted out of character over the course of several weeks. He made a number of comments that were out of line for the workplace, and the situation spiraled to a point where it was affecting his team negatively.
I took him out to lunch to let him know that I was concerned for him professionally and personally. I communicated that I had a responsibility to our team to address situations like these and that his poor behavior could not continue. I asked if there was anything I could do to support him and let him know that he was well-liked, and everyone was concerned for his wellbeing.
It turned out that his family situation had triggered an underlying mental health issue. He had noticed how extreme his behavior was and confided in me he was afraid he would lose his job. I assured him that he would be shown understanding and grace and we partnered to brainstorm some ways in which I could help him out. We were able to shift some assignments around and let him work on less critical tasks he could do alone while he sorted things out medically. He was ultimately able to return to his regular work and leadership role and thanked me for my understanding and support during such a rough time in his life."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Situational
24. How do you handle dependencies across the teams you manage within your program?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Dependencies within technology programs are common and represent areas of program risk. Interviewers at Facebook ask this question to ensure the candidate they select has an appropriate strategy for planning for dependencies and managing them during the various projects they affect.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include all of the phases of dependency management. This includes dependency identification, planning, communication, execution, and reflection.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"The first thing I do to ensure that dependencies are managed properly is work with the lead analysts, project managers, and technical leads to brainstorming all of the potential dependencies. I hold these meetings regularly and discuss the details of each dependency such as the groups involved, the expected timing, whether or not we need special approval, etcetera.
From there, I like to document the major dependencies on our program roadmap. I also note any major activities associated with the dependencies such as proof of concept releases, architecture decisions, marketing campaign releases, etcetera. This ensures all of the teams understand the dependencies, but it also ensures awareness of them by our management and business partners who provide support and shared services.
I ask the individual project leads to discuss the dependencies with their team regularly and track their progress against them. I reach out on a regular basis informally as well. This ensures that we can capitalize on opportunities if teams work faster than expected and that we can collaborate and develop strategies to handle any issues that arise.
Finally, I facilitate reflection discussions around the execution of major dependencies as necessary. Dependencies often represent opportunities for more effective collaboration or knowledge-sharing activities. I like to ensure the cross-functional teams I manage continually look for improvement opportunities in this high-impact area."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Situational
25. How do you know when an individual team member is successful?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Fostering the success of teams and individuals is a major aspect of a technical program manager's role. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates with the right mix of management and soft skills necessary to assess the success of the members of a team.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include a variety of assessment methods in your response. Success for an individual includes a mix of project performance, team contribution, professional growth, and personal happiness factors.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"There are four main areas I look at when assessing individual success for a member of one of my teams. Project performance is the first area I consider. It is important for individuals to properly handle the work they are assigned. I know someone is successful if they are meeting their commitments and willing to grow to take on more complex assignments in the future.
Secondly, I look to see if an individual is growing their skills properly. This includes determining if they need training or mentoring and seeking out those opportunities on their own. They are successful if they demonstrate growth and openness to new opportunities over time.
Thirdly, I consider whether or not a team member is contributing properly to the growth of the team itself. Success in this area may include acting as a leader or being supportive and respectful of others. It may include offering operational suggestions that make things easier for their teammates.
Finally, I consider a team member to be successful when they indicate they are happy in their role, and it supports their life needs appropriately. For example, if a member of the team values having the time to coach their child's sports team, I know they are successful when they negotiate a schedule that allows them to be fulfilled in areas outside of the workplace."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Situational
26. Describe a time when Facebook had a positive influence on your life.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Facebook employees are passionate about creating opportunities for individuals to influence each other's lives in a positive way. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about the value a candidate has received from using Facebook products.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to offer an example that is interview appropriate. For example, do not describe a scenario that is politically divisive. While these types of scenarios may have ultimately led to a positive outcome for you, they may upset your interviewer.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"My brother and I are close in age, and we are best friends. We essentially did everything together as kids and he even followed me to college. He took an internship in Colorado and expected to be gone for a year. He ended up moving there permanently. I lived on the east coast, and it was incredibly hard to deal with the distance. We leaned on Facebook to help us stay close.
Over the years we have used various Facebook products to communicate and hang out together virtually. We play games, we post updates, and we chat through messenger. We post pictures on Instagram as a way to watch our kids grow up together. I cannot imagine having as rich of an experience if Facebook didn't exist, and I know the same is true for countless families all over the world."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Situational
27. Imagine you are responsible for the development of a retail website. Please provide an example of a business requirement, a functional requirement, and a technical requirement.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Requirements drive how solutions are scoped, developed, implemented, and supported. Interviewers ask this question to ensure a candidate has a solid grasp on the three main types of requirements they are often expected to help gather and ensure the successful delivery of.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
This question serves as an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to explain technical and project-related concepts with ease. Remember to include an easy-to-understand example of each requirement type. Offer a simple scenario and break it down through all three levels.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"Business requirements describe business objectives. They outline the details of what a business must be able to do. Functional requirements define the functions that a solution should be able to perform. Technical requirements define how a solution will be developed.
The retail company you mentioned would have a business objective to allow customers to purchase products easily. They desire to allow customers to purchase goods through their website. Those are business requirements. There would then be a resulting set of functional requirements for a web page that allows customers to enter their credit card information. Additionally, there would be technical requirements describing the process for processing payments, updating inventory, and updating the various integrated financial systems accordingly."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Situational
28. Describe a time when you identified and implemented an internal process improvement.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers are in a position to identify patterns of inefficiency and opportunities for improvement. Interviewers at Facebook ask this question to learn more about a candidate's process for identifying and implementing valuable operational improvements.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to clearly describe the factors that led to the process improvement you identified. Additionally, include any relevant metrics for budget or time savings that were realized as a result of the change you implemented.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"The teams I work with currently were suddenly required to shift to a remote work setting. We had experience working remotely, but we were typically in the office together at least three days a week. We work iteratively, but we do not follow any specific agile methodology. Each team follows a slightly different process that works best for their needs.
I met with the project managers and technical leads from each of my teams two months after the shift to holding a reflection meeting. I had noticed that there was a change in the rate of output for some of the teams, and I wanted to make sure we addressed any issues as quickly as possible.
It turned out that relying on team members to organically collaborate through Slack and conference calls was not enough. The leads on each team all agreed that time was wasted because people were unsure of exactly what other people were working on and when items with dependencies would be available.
I asked each team to take on a daily stand-up meeting similar to the one that is used in Scrum. The goal of the meeting would be to provide transparency and establish collaboration agreements. The teams met quickly each morning to discuss what each person was working on and what needs they had from their teammates. We set a target of ten minutes or less for each meeting.
This small change in procedure led to a sizable improvement in accountability and productivity. It originally looked like we would miss the date for the major milestone we were working toward, and we ended up delivering two weeks early. I met with several team members on each of my teams informally after the change to get their opinion on the shift and they all indicated it was helpful."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Situational
29. How would you ensure collaboration across the various engineering teams within your program of work?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Facebook helps to foster collaboration on a global scale through the use of the products they offer. Likewise, they lean on collaborative environments to drive success within their organization. Interviewers ask this question to gain insight into a candidate's ability to nurture a collaborative environment within their program of responsibility.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include examples of how you would collaborate in your own role within your response. Interviewers at Facebook appreciate candidates who are willing to embrace and embody the culture they have worked hard to create.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"I ensure collaboration across the teams within my program in three main ways. First, I set the stage that collaboration is valuable and expected across the groups within the program. I find that setting a clear expectation is sometimes all that is needed. I typically work with talented individuals who fully understand the need for collaborative behaviors. They often develop their own lines of communication and ensure that they are aligned properly.
Second, I set up opportunities for collaboration. These are typically informal, and I try to make them fun in some way. I have facilitated lunch and learns and show and tell sessions. I also facilitated off-site sessions when we all worked in the office together. I find that these types of gatherings nurture the lines of communication necessary for a strong and collaborative team dynamic at the program level.
Finally, I work to lead by example in this area. I regularly check in with my team leads and make them aware of collaboration opportunities as they arise. Likewise, I collaborate with my own peers and senior stakeholders and then bring what I learn back to my team to improve our work."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Situational
30. At Facebook, part of our mission is to help others nurture connections. How would you develop healthy connections with your stakeholders?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers at Facebook are expected to develop strong relationships with their teams and their stakeholders. Interviewers ask this question to ensure a candidate has the soft skills necessary to create and maintain these critical connections.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include personal strategies alongside professional techniques for developing relationships. It is natural to approach this aspect of a technical program manager's work in a way that cultivates a friendly environment in addition to one of professional trust and respect.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"First and foremost, I use performance as a method of forming strong relationships. I make commitments and work hard to develop strategies to ensure they are met regularly. I am accountable for the work of my teams, and I take ownership for the resolution of any issues that arise. I work to inspire the members of my teams to learn about their stakeholders and approach their problems and opportunities as if they were their own. I believe in working to develop a consistent level of excellency from a customer service perspective and I strive to set the tone through my own actions. I get involved personally any time I can be of service to my team and my customers throughout all of the phases of the projects I am responsible for.
On a personal level, I take the time to get to know my stakeholders. I enjoy taking them to lunch, coffee, or whatever is appropriate to learn more about them personally and more about their challenges and successes. I feel this type of regular outreach goes a long way towards nurturing connections and fostering trust in the event unforeseen challenges arise."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Situational
31. At Facebook, part of our mission is to uplift the world through safe and inclusive communities. How would you contribute to the development of a safe and inclusive community within the teams you work with?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Safety and inclusion are an important part of the mission and culture of Facebook. Interviewers ask this question to gain insight into how a candidate would contribute to these values in a team setting.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate your ability to lead by example within your response. Many senior leaders at Facebook discuss the embodiment of the culture they promote in blog posts and on various social media platforms. Interviewers appreciate leaders who are able to provide a similar level of leadership to their teams.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"As a strategist, I like to ensure the teams I work with have a solid understanding of the value that is created by any cultural, business, or operational behavior we adopt. I feel that the why is equally as important as the how. I would begin by researching team dynamic case studies and identifying examples of the rates of performance and happiness for teams that adopted similar values as well as those that lacked them. I would present the results to my teams as a starting point for a discussion.
From there, I would lead a brainstorming session in which we identify behaviors that make my teammates feel safe and included as well as those that do not. From there, I would let everyone vote anonymously about the items they feel are most important to focus on culturally as well as those we should ensure the avoidance of. That would set the stage for an understanding of how we expect to operate as a group. I would leave it there as I trust the members of my teams to honor the wishes of others without specific guidelines or operating procedure lists.
I would then use the results of our discussions to lead by example. I would embody the behaviors we collectively felt would lead to a culture of safety and inclusion and I would avoid the behaviors that we decided would not. I would discuss issues in holding these values with individuals as necessary and use them as a basis for conflict resolution. I would encourage the team to reflect on a regular basis to test our assumptions about the value our culture has and make adjustments to our course as necessary."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Situational
32. Describe a time when you identified a new product, project, or program.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The identification of new business and customer needs is a primary responsibility of the technical program manager role at Facebook. Interviewers ask this question to learn about a candidate's ability to perform this important function of the role.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to clearly state the business or customer need that was filled through the solution you identified. Also, be sure to include any relevant metrics that describe the impact your solution had.
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022
Answer Example
"I worked as a senior analyst within a company that had employees in the field internationally. Our company supplied the employees in remote locations with satellite phones so that they could check in regularly on the projects they were assigned to. The operations team responsible for the phones was one of the customer groups I worked with regularly. I was shadowing them and noticed they were struggling to monitor their phone assignment and usage. They kept the information they had in spreadsheets and it was never updated properly. They were constantly reaching out to the people in the field to ask usage questions which cost them time and money at a time when satellite phones were very expensive.
I identified an opportunity to build an online resource tracking system. I worked with a senior engineer to quickly stand up a system that tracked the phone assignments and pulled usage data from the various carriers we used. The solution helped the operations team keep track of their inventory and it helped our accounting and finance teams report and forecast more efficiently. Our solution costs roughly thirty thousand dollars to build and it saved double that in resource time and reduced phone usage in the first year alone."
Written by Karrie Day on June 13th, 2022