Product ManagerJob Description

Product Managers own the product strategy and "what" needs to be built, while Project Managers focus on "how" to execute the delivery. Product Managers make decisions about features and priorities, whereas Project Managers ensure efficient execution of those decisions.

Present candidates with real product challenges and ask them to walk through their decision-making process. Focus on how they balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints rather than just the final solution.

Watch for candidates who focus solely on features without considering business impact, those who can't explain their decision-making process, or those who lack experience with data-driven decisions. Poor communication skills or inability to explain technical concepts simply are also warning signs.

For most product manager roles, strong business acumen and user empathy are more crucial than deep technical expertise. Technical knowledge can be learned, but the ability to understand market needs and translate them into successful products is fundamental.

Ask for specific examples of technical trade-off decisions they've made and how they communicated them to engineering teams. Look for candidates who can demonstrate understanding of technical constraints while maintaining focus on user value.