Google is indisputably a trend-setter in the technology space. The tech giant looks for the same attribute in its candidates during interviews. Google interviews are considered to be extremely difficult, but the right preparation strategy can help you land the job of your dreams. Show
Google is one of the most sought-after employers in the technology space, given the employee benefit programs they have adopted. In the financial year 2020, Google hired 20,000 people for different job roles. One of the most coveted roles at Google is that of a Product Manager (PM). The PM develops new products and features that impact millions of users daily. If you are planning to apply for the role of Product Manager at Google, you must first understand the interview process at Google. The Google PM hiring process can be classified into different stages. They are:
While steps 4 to 7 happen behind the scenes, what you do from steps 1 to 3 will determine the outcome. We have compiled this guide to help you crack Google Product Manager Interview. We’ll answer all your questions, including:
What Are the Qualifications Required for a PM Role at Google?Based on our research, the following are the qualifications required to apply for a product manager role at Google. Minimum qualifications:
Preferred qualifications:
What Are the Responsibilities of a PM at Google?Over the years, Google has introduced several revolutionary products. Every successful product is a result of a product manager driving it — from idea to execution. The product managers at Google define and manage tasks required to run products, improve products, and keep new ideas coming. Therefore, PM’s responsibilities include:
Making Your Resume and Cover Letter Stand OutAs the cliché goes, “first impression is the last impression.” This is especially true when it comes to job applications, and the cover letter and resume are your tools to make a great first impression. An employer, in all probabilities, does not know you, your experience, qualifications, etc. A well-drafted resume provides them a sneak peek into what your capabilities are. For a Product Manager role, the most important thing that an employer will look for in your resume is your skills. A product manager should possess the ability to prioritize and delegate tasks, lead a team, and apply both soft and hard skills to achieve success. To highlight these in your resume, you need to follow a step-wise approach: 1. Choose an appropriate template 2. Highlight your skills with quantifiable examples in the summary 3. Provide examples of your skills while listing experience 4. Mention references and their contact details A cover letter provides details on how your skill sets align with the role offered, what value addition you can bring to the team, and why you are applying for this position. It allows recruiters to understand your career goals and whether they align with the position. Here are a few tips for writing a good cover letter:
What Is the PM Interview Process at Google?It is important to understand the different stages of a product manager interview before you start preparing for it. Once your resume is shortlisted, it is followed by a phone screen interview with the recruiter (one interview). The next step is a phone screen with product managers (one to two interviews). If everything goes well, you will be called for an on-site interview, which typically consists of three to four rounds. (During Covid restrictions, the on-sites are being conducted over Google Hangouts) Phone screen:
On-site:
After the on-site, interviewers evaluate and file a detailed report to the hiring committee, who then pass on your profile to senior leaders for review. If deemed fit, the senior leader(s) documents it for the compensation committee recommendation. Finally, a senior executive reviews the application, and the offer is made. Topics to Prepare for a PM Interview at GoogleThe first and foremost thing to do while preparing for a PM interview is to prepare for industry-specific questions. You must also be ready for technical questions. You should be aware of:
Types of Questions to Expect at a Google PM InterviewGoogle interviews are challenging. The questions are primarily Google-specific and cover a wide range of topics. We have gathered information related to types of questions from different trustworthy resources and collated it here for you to understand and know the types of questions to expect in your Google PM interview. Here’s what you can expect: Design Questions (34%)As a product manager, you will be designing new products and product features and improve the existing ones. This is why questions related to design make up the majority of the PM interview questions. These questions are used to analyze your creativity and ability to use a structured approach to design new products. We have listed a few design-related questions asked at the Google PM interview: 1. How would you re-design a newsreader for Google? 2. A product that you love/hate and why? How would you improve it? 3. How would you improve Google products like Chrome/Maps/Android/etc.? 4. How would you design a certain product for people with specific needs? Strategy Questions (18%)A product manager is responsible for setting the product vision and the roadmap to deliver it. Interviewers expect deep discussions on such questions as they try to assess your decision-making ability related to the product. This may include questions on the competition, pricing, marketing, and time to market. Here are some strategy questions asked by Google at PM interviews: 1. How would you solve homelessness in downtown San Francisco? 2. Why does Starbucks sometimes have coffee shops on both sides of the road? 3. Google has invented a technology that makes air travel 4x cheaper and 4x faster. What do you do with it? 4. You are the CEO of company X. What new products would you launch and why? 5. Tell me about a competitive move by a company in the past six months, and what you think about it. Estimation Questions (15%)One of the primary job responsibilities of the PM are estimating market sizes, revenue potential, number of customers, etc. Estimation questions judge a candidate’s ability to work with numbers following the scope of work. Here are a few estimation-relates questions asked at Google PM interviews: 1. How much money is spent on gas in the US every year? 2. What is the market size for driverless cars in 2025? 3. How much storage space is required for all the images in Google Street view? 4. How much does it cost to run YouTube for a day? What is its revenue in a day? 5. What Internet bandwidth is required for an average US college campus? Behavioral Questions (14%)Like most interviews, behavioral questions are also asked by interviewers at Google. The questions are mostly based on the candidate’s motivation to work at Google, experience in managing conflicts, and the dos and don’ts for a good PM. Following are examples of behavioral questions asked at Google: 1. What does it take to be an effective product manager? What are the skills? 2. How much technical knowledge should a product manager have about a product? 3. Tell me about the best product manager you’ve worked with. Technical Questions (13%)Google has a tradition of hiring technical candidates. This applies to product managers too. Consequently, you will be required to answer one or two technical questions. These questions will not be based on coding but simple technical concepts to know whether you understand and can explain them. The aim is to gauge whether you’re technical enough to lead and interact with technical engineering teams. Examples of technical questions include: 1. How does the Internet work? 2. Explain the concept of recursion. 3. How would you design a simple load balancer for the Google website, and what data structures would you use? 4. Explain an API to someone who has no coding background. 5. Write an algorithm to do X. Data Analysis Questions (8%)Google products employ secondary metrics, which PMs use to evaluate if their product is successful or not. This further helps them to decide what their team should work on next. The interviewer will ask one or two questions based on this. Here are some data analytics questions asked by Google: 1. What are the things Netflix should measure and analyze on a daily basis? 2. You are the PM for YouTube analytics. What are your three most important metrics? 3. You launch a newsfeed algorithm for Facebook and the average time per session goes down by 20%. What do you do? Tips for the Google PM InterviewThe preparation for the project manager interview has to be focused and consistent. We’ve compiled a few best practices that will help you come up with a comprehensive prep plan. Study Extensively About the Product/OrganizationIt’s a no-brainer — to be able to crack a PM interview at Google, you need to be aware of the company and its products. It is best advised to do a good amount of homework before you go for the interview. Here is an extensive guide to the common Google Interview Questions. You may also like to read How hard is it to get a job at Google? You may also register yourself on various forums like Glassdoor and Quora to connect and interact with people having similar career goals. This will help you in finding the right answers to your questions. Work on Product FundamentalsEntry-level candidates are advised to spend some time brushing up on the basics of product management concepts. Product management is not just about managing teams. Concepts such as customer experience, user segmentation, Net Promoter Score (NPS), feature adoption, feedback, road mapping, and product operations are key to product management. Consistency Is the KeyPractice makes perfect. Through your practice, you must come up with a clear, well-chalked-out plan for the interview. You must prepare yourself for different categories of questions. This will help you to build strong interview habits. These habits would ultimately reduce stress on the day of the interview for a great impression. Practice With Peers or Experienced PM InterviewersPracticing with peers or experienced PM interviewers will give you an extra edge. You will find yourself more confident and focused, and it will help you correct your early mistakes. Practicing with experienced PM interviewers will give you a real insight into what goes on with a PM interview. You will have the most accurate bunch of information from them. Programs at Interview Kickstart include mock interviews with industry experts and hiring managers at Google. Sign up for our free webinar to learn more. Ready to Nail the Google Product Manager Interview?The Ultimate Guide to Google Product Manager Interview has covered all important aspects of nailing the Google PM interview. Are you still confused about how to practically apply this? Don’t worry; we are here to help! Interview Kickstart offers interview preparation courses taught by FAANG tech leads and seasoned hiring managers. We have trained thousands of software engineers to crack the toughest interviews at Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and other top tech companies. Register for our FREE webinar to know more! Is Google product manager interview hard?The product manager interview is extremely challenging, especially when it comes to large organizations, such as Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, or LinkedIn. The hardest among them is considered to be Google, and to prepare for it; you need to practice with various Google product manager interview questions.
How do I prepare for Google product manager?How to Prepare. Product design. Practice leading design discussions using a framework. ... . Technical. Coding questions are unlikely during the phone interviews. ... . Analytical. Prepare for estimation questions such as How many queries per second does Gmail get? ... . Strategy. ... . Cultural fit.. How do I crack Google product manager interview?Interview Prep for Google PM Job. Tailor Your Resume to the Specific PM Job Listing as Much as Possible: ... . Be Data-Focused and Data-Centric: ... . Reflect on Your Previous Product Management Roles: ... . Prepare Questions For Your Interviewer Beforehand: ... . Our Favorite Google Product Manager Interview Prep Resources:. What is a product manager interview like at Google?Each interview will last 30 to 45 minutes. Most of the interviewers you meet will be product managers, but occasionally you might also interview with an engineer who will assess your technical skills and ability to communicate with developers.
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