What is your method for gathering domain knowledge in areas where you are not a subject matter expert, but that expertise is necessary for your project?

Remember to include activities you can do on your own or with limited support. Snapchat product manager job descriptions state they seek candidates that can thrive in ambiguous situations with limited information. Interviewers value individuals willing to dig in and self-manage their own learning process.

"I use several methods to gather domain expertise. I typically start with meeting anyone within the company who is a current subject matter expert. I ask for a high-level overview and then set the stage for follow-ups as needed. I review any available documentation and gain access to any relevant systems to review them.

From there, I usually try to shadow end-users in the roles the product I am responsible for will serve. If that is not an option, I analyze the available market and demographic information. That helps me understand the user perspective so that I can design solutions that will best fit their needs and working style.

Finally, I would use whatever external information sources are available about the product we want to build or the technology we want to use. That might include testing competitor products, taking a class, reading journals, etcetera."