Hiring the Right Product Manager
Separating the Contenders from the Pretenders
Product management positions are among the toughest to fill in the high technology industry due to the broad range of skills and real-world experiences that make for success in any given environment. A successful product manager in one organization doesn't necessarily translate to a successful product manager in your organization because the circumstances may be very different.
While there are no foolproof techniques that guarantee the right hire, there are interviewing tactics that can better separate those who can merely talk the talk from those who have walked the walk.
Whether you're interviewing for a VP,Director or Product Manager, try the "situational" approach on your next candidate.
The Situational Interview
The situational interview is centered on the principle that future job performance can be more accurately predicted by a candidate's past performance in situations that are indicative of the environment he or she will be walking into.
For example, you might ask a product management candidate how they would approach the following scenario. "Our products have historically been driven by the technology group, but we're now creatinga product management discipline to lead the charge. How would you approach your first 60 days on the job?"
For those who are good at talking the talk, one acceptable response would be, "I'd meet with several customers to understand where our strengths and weaknesses lie and perform a quick analysis of key market segments to begin formulating a short and long term product strategy. Then I would educate the technology team on the market factors that have the most influence on our product direction and ask them to join me in a product planning session."
Next, use the zinger question that will tell you if this candidate is just a well rehearsed interviewer or has the experience you're looking for. Pay close attention to body language!
You would follow with: "That sounds great. Can you give me a real world example where you had to address this same situation? Take me through each step, the major hurdles you encountered and how you got past each one."
A candidate who responds in a relaxed manner with a similar experience is off to a good start. In fact, a great candidate might respond with a real world experience before you ask.
Squirming, staring at the ceiling, fake coughs, throat clearing, "um...well...you know...," and general discomfort is not good. After two or three scenarios you'll easily know if a candidate is a good fit for your organization.
What scenarios best reflect your organization and how well do the real world experiences of each candidate align with your environment? This approach to interviewing for any position will drastically reduce your chances of hiring the wrong person for the job.
In the end, the success of your organization always boils down to the people you surround yourself with. And nothing makes it easier (for everyone) than having the right people in the right job.
If your product team could benefit from a realignment, email or call us at 866-797-3647 to find out how we can help put people in roles best suited to their skills and personality type.
