Hello learners!
Welcome to the 10th lesson of the series 30 Days of PM Interview by Crework! Till now, we have covered product design questions, guesstimates and have practiced a few of them too. Today, we will start talking about another type of questions that you will be asked in almost all the PM Interviews - Behavioral Questions.
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Behavioral Questions
The Behavioral Round focuses on assessing your past experiences, behavior, and decision-making in professional settings.
During the Behavioral Round, interviewers are looking to evaluate several key attributes:
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Abilities
Leadership and Teamwork
Decision-Making
Adaptability and Resilience
For example, you can be asked - “Tell me about the challenge you had with your co-worker and how you handled it?” Through this question, the interviewer wants to check your communication skills, your ability to take decisions and stakeholder management.
Here are a few sample behavioral questions you might encounter:
Describe a time when you had to navigate conflicting priorities on a project.
Can you share an example of a successful product launch you were involved in? What was your role, and how did you contribute to its success?
Tell me about a time when you had to influence stakeholders who were resistant to your ideas.
Why it matters
Seeing a list of skills is all well and good, but an interview also gives a company a chance to gauge how you behave in different situations. They want to know that you work well in high-pressure environments, that you’re able to influence without authority, and manage stakeholder expectations. Behavioral questions provide insights into your past behavior and experiences, offering valuable clues about your future performance as a Product Manager.
Let’s talk about the “How”
I know the question you have right now is - How can I prepare for this round then?
To excel in the Behavioral Round, follow these tips:
Prepare Stories: Identify key experiences from your past that demonstrate relevant skills and qualities. Structure these experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for clarity and coherence.
Be Specific: Provide concrete examples and details in your responses. Use specific anecdotes, metrics, and outcomes to illustrate your points and make your stories memorable.
Highlight Leadership: Emphasize instances where you've taken initiative, led teams, or influenced outcomes. Showcase your ability to inspire others, drive results, and navigate challenges effectively.
Stay Positive: Even when discussing challenging situations or failures, focus on the lessons learned and your growth from the experience. Frame setbacks as opportunities for development and improvement.
Practice Active Listening: Pay attention to the interviewer's questions and cues. Listen actively, ask clarifying questions if needed, and tailor your responses to address the interviewer's concerns.
During the interview, make sure that you understand the INTENT of the question. Do not try to force-fit any of the prepared answers, but rather take 1 or 2 seconds to understand what the interviewer is trying to know. Use your best judgment to think about what type of skill the interviewer is trying to evaluate here (leadership, problem-solving, etc.), gather your thoughts, and then speak.
That’s it for today people, for the next 2-3 days, we will be sending you some sample questions, some details about STAR method and you can try to solve those behavioral questions as per your work experience to prepare for your next interview.
Day 10 - Completed ✅
Congratulations on completing the 10th lesson of the series 30 Day of PM Interview. 🥳 Now, you know what to do. Share your learnings with the world and be accountable.
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