Google Product Manager Interview Questions

Review this list of 413 Google product manager interview questions and answers verified by hiring managers and candidates.
  • +42

    "A clarifying question: Is this question asking about when I met a tight deadline in a project or how did I manage a project that had a tight deadline? The answer uploaded to this question is good, I would also add 'creating a critical path from overall project schedule and then making sure that none of the deliverables in the critical path are sacrificed in order to meet the tight deadline' as an action taken."

    Ushita S. - "A clarifying question: Is this question asking about when I met a tight deadline in a project or how did I manage a project that had a tight deadline? The answer uploaded to this question is good, I would also add 'creating a critical path from overall project schedule and then making sure that none of the deliverables in the critical path are sacrificed in order to meet the tight deadline' as an action taken."See full answer

    Product Manager
    Behavioral
    +5 more
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    Video answer for 'Estimate the number of restaurants in San Francisco.'
    +57

    "Candidate: Before we go ahead I have a few clarifying questions, I’d like to ask. Interviewer: Sure. Candidate: What is the exact definition of a restaurant, are we counting coffee shops, bars, street food trolleys, homemade food shops that only has delivery to customers’ place and etc... kinds of a restaurant as well? Interviewer: let’s assume that we only mean restaurants that people can go inside, order some food and eat. Let’s not consider bars and coffee shops and so"

    Jasmin R. - "Candidate: Before we go ahead I have a few clarifying questions, I’d like to ask. Interviewer: Sure. Candidate: What is the exact definition of a restaurant, are we counting coffee shops, bars, street food trolleys, homemade food shops that only has delivery to customers’ place and etc... kinds of a restaurant as well? Interviewer: let’s assume that we only mean restaurants that people can go inside, order some food and eat. Let’s not consider bars and coffee shops and so"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Estimation
  • +11

    "I work at a startup that makes software for Law Enforcement and the FBI. Our product analyzes calls being made by prison inmates and "listens" for predictors of violence and criminal behavior. Our clients are some of the top state prisons in the country. Recently one of the largest states in the country decided to evaluate our product for their prison system. I demo'd the product to the officers and they seemed to like everything. During the presentation they asked us if the product was ADA com"

    Aabid S. - "I work at a startup that makes software for Law Enforcement and the FBI. Our product analyzes calls being made by prison inmates and "listens" for predictors of violence and criminal behavior. Our clients are some of the top state prisons in the country. Recently one of the largest states in the country decided to evaluate our product for their prison system. I demo'd the product to the officers and they seemed to like everything. During the presentation they asked us if the product was ADA com"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Behavioral
    +5 more
  • +27

    "Observation This is an interesting question. The solution has two heads, meaning that the user must feel less guilty AND the solution must also increase revenue towards the platform. Structure The way I would approach this involves splitting the question into sequential steps. Why are users feeling guilty about using Instagram? What are some ways to make them feel less guilty? How can we monetize this? Clarification How do we define guilt? Is there a relevant subsector of"

    Justin G. - "Observation This is an interesting question. The solution has two heads, meaning that the user must feel less guilty AND the solution must also increase revenue towards the platform. Structure The way I would approach this involves splitting the question into sequential steps. Why are users feeling guilty about using Instagram? What are some ways to make them feel less guilty? How can we monetize this? Clarification How do we define guilt? Is there a relevant subsector of"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Strategy
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    Video answer for 'Tell me about yourself.'
    +116

    "As you know, this is the most important question for any interview. Here is a structure I like to follow, Start with 'I'm currently a SDE/PM/TPM etc with XYZ company.... ' Mention how you got into PM/TPM/SDE field (explaining your journey) Mention 1 or 2 accomplishments Mention what you do outside work (blogging, volunteer etc) Share why are you looking for a new role Ask the interviewer if they have any questions or will like to dive deep into any of your experience"

    Bipin R. - "As you know, this is the most important question for any interview. Here is a structure I like to follow, Start with 'I'm currently a SDE/PM/TPM etc with XYZ company.... ' Mention how you got into PM/TPM/SDE field (explaining your journey) Mention 1 or 2 accomplishments Mention what you do outside work (blogging, volunteer etc) Share why are you looking for a new role Ask the interviewer if they have any questions or will like to dive deep into any of your experience"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Behavioral
    +12 more
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  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +15

    "Okay, so before we start discussing how to design this platform, I have a few questions I need details on. Clarification Questions: What do you mean by "Podcasting Platform"? Producing a platform and releasing it online takes several steps (Ideation, scripting, equipment selection, recording, editing, choosing a platform to release, etc.). Are we looking at any specific step here? - Free to Assume Am I PM at Google designing a Podcast Platform as a tool inside existing Google Pro"

    Pranay N. - "Okay, so before we start discussing how to design this platform, I have a few questions I need details on. Clarification Questions: What do you mean by "Podcasting Platform"? Producing a platform and releasing it online takes several steps (Ideation, scripting, equipment selection, recording, editing, choosing a platform to release, etc.). Are we looking at any specific step here? - Free to Assume Am I PM at Google designing a Podcast Platform as a tool inside existing Google Pro"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Design
    +1 more
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +21

    "Assumptions & Clarifications This is a platform based on YouTube, and it can use associated Google Products like Gmail, GDocs, GSheets etc along with Youtube as a base platform. Do you have any specific goals with the platform? For instance, should this be the de facto platform for Universities K12 schools etc? Assumption is that it can be used by anyone. Let us first discuss the target users, and then arrive at appropriate goals that we can use to measure the adoption of the produc"

    Karthik M. - "Assumptions & Clarifications This is a platform based on YouTube, and it can use associated Google Products like Gmail, GDocs, GSheets etc along with Youtube as a base platform. Do you have any specific goals with the platform? For instance, should this be the de facto platform for Universities K12 schools etc? Assumption is that it can be used by anyone. Let us first discuss the target users, and then arrive at appropriate goals that we can use to measure the adoption of the produc"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Design
  • +5

    "One of the most challenging situations was joining a new startup to realize that they did not figure out their core product and that customers were dissatisfied and leaving in droves. I worked together with the leaders to understand the core issue and the reasons that the customers were leaving. Then together with the team, we set out to map out those core issues and the gaps that we had in our product. We then worked towards designing a new solution to address those gaps and build an MVP. W"

    WaterBuffalo - "One of the most challenging situations was joining a new startup to realize that they did not figure out their core product and that customers were dissatisfied and leaving in droves. I worked together with the leaders to understand the core issue and the reasons that the customers were leaving. Then together with the team, we set out to map out those core issues and the gaps that we had in our product. We then worked towards designing a new solution to address those gaps and build an MVP. W"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Behavioral
    +5 more
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +15

    "Few clarifying questions here Is the competitor a service and does it have other offerings as well? Is it charging $5 for a service or only email? Is it for a specific platform here? Or does it include all platforms? Does the competitor have a huge market share/or is it a small company? Let's assume it's only for email's The structure I would want to layout for knowing what to do next for Gmail would be the following - Mission, Goals, Google's revenue model, Customer Profiles using Gm"

    Pratik M. - "Few clarifying questions here Is the competitor a service and does it have other offerings as well? Is it charging $5 for a service or only email? Is it for a specific platform here? Or does it include all platforms? Does the competitor have a huge market share/or is it a small company? Let's assume it's only for email's The structure I would want to layout for knowing what to do next for Gmail would be the following - Mission, Goals, Google's revenue model, Customer Profiles using Gm"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Behavioral
    +1 more
  • +15

    "Clarifying questions: Open metrics - Number of times users open the google document on a given day 10% decline - is it a gradual decline or steep decline? (since when) Do we witness decline from a specific geography? Decline for consumers or enterprise customers? Decline from web or mobile app? Review logs or bug reports to check if there are customer issues reports Internal Determine if a particular release is causing the issue Review other metrics to check if fewer do"

    Sahil A. - "Clarifying questions: Open metrics - Number of times users open the google document on a given day 10% decline - is it a gradual decline or steep decline? (since when) Do we witness decline from a specific geography? Decline for consumers or enterprise customers? Decline from web or mobile app? Review logs or bug reports to check if there are customer issues reports Internal Determine if a particular release is causing the issue Review other metrics to check if fewer do"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Analytical
    +1 more
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +16

    "Here is the sample answer from the Assistant at https://chat.openai.com/g/g-Z8yp2xrzt-fang-pm-interview-assistant As a Product Manager at Google, designing a product for air travelers involves leveraging Google's technological prowess and vast data resources. Here's a comprehensive approach: 1. \\Understanding Goals and Objectives\\ \\Primary Goal:\\ Enhance the travel experience for air travelers through seamless information access, personalized s"

    Manish M. - "Here is the sample answer from the Assistant at https://chat.openai.com/g/g-Z8yp2xrzt-fang-pm-interview-assistant As a Product Manager at Google, designing a product for air travelers involves leveraging Google's technological prowess and vast data resources. Here's a comprehensive approach: 1. \\Understanding Goals and Objectives\\ \\Primary Goal:\\ Enhance the travel experience for air travelers through seamless information access, personalized s"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Design
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +5

    "To build a product using Generative AI (Gen AI), the process would involve multiple steps, from conceptualization to deployment. Here's a structured approach : 1. Identify the Problem or Opportunity Start with the need or opportunity: What problem do you want to solve? Is it to automate tasks, generate content, enhance creativity, or improve user experience? Example products:A content creation tool that generates blog posts or articles. A personalized customer support chatbot"

    Maulik S. - "To build a product using Generative AI (Gen AI), the process would involve multiple steps, from conceptualization to deployment. Here's a structured approach : 1. Identify the Problem or Opportunity Start with the need or opportunity: What problem do you want to solve? Is it to automate tasks, generate content, enhance creativity, or improve user experience? Example products:A content creation tool that generates blog posts or articles. A personalized customer support chatbot"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Design
    +1 more
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    Product Manager
    Technical
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +10

    " Honestly, the first question should be can you please explain the question in detail. Below is my breakdown of this question What kind of furniture market? Online or store-based? Will Google produce the furniture or will it be an aggregator? Once understood let us ask more clarifying questions Why does Google wanna get into this space? Is it to increase revenue or engagement? Is there a region that Google is thinking of starting in? I**s there a problem to be solved? What is the motivation"

    Ekta M. - " Honestly, the first question should be can you please explain the question in detail. Below is my breakdown of this question What kind of furniture market? Online or store-based? Will Google produce the furniture or will it be an aggregator? Once understood let us ask more clarifying questions Why does Google wanna get into this space? Is it to increase revenue or engagement? Is there a region that Google is thinking of starting in? I**s there a problem to be solved? What is the motivation"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Strategy
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +55

    "Approach Clarify the question Define deaf --> unable to hear, but can communicate via sign language, lip read and use all other senses Define fire alarm --> for residential use, it notifies occupants of smoke and potential fires and alerts fire department to check in and/or come over Define constraints --> budgetary constraint, design should be user-friendly and convenient Define goals --> get folks out of harm's way quickly and notify fire department to c"

    Bella R. - "Approach Clarify the question Define deaf --> unable to hear, but can communicate via sign language, lip read and use all other senses Define fire alarm --> for residential use, it notifies occupants of smoke and potential fires and alerts fire department to check in and/or come over Define constraints --> budgetary constraint, design should be user-friendly and convenient Define goals --> get folks out of harm's way quickly and notify fire department to c"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Design
    +1 more
  • +12

    "100 people per floor x 100 floors = 10,000 people. Uses of the elevator per day per person: 4, so 40,000 rides per day. Average length of a ride = 50 floors, assuming each ride is to the lobby. Target time per ride: 1 minute. Assuming 80% of traffic occurs during four rush hours, then 32,000 rides must happen in that time, so 133 per minute. Assuming six people per ride then you get 22 elevators required to operate during peak times. I reality you have to treat this as a Poisson arrival process"

    Marcos P. - "100 people per floor x 100 floors = 10,000 people. Uses of the elevator per day per person: 4, so 40,000 rides per day. Average length of a ride = 50 floors, assuming each ride is to the lobby. Target time per ride: 1 minute. Assuming 80% of traffic occurs during four rush hours, then 32,000 rides must happen in that time, so 133 per minute. Assuming six people per ride then you get 22 elevators required to operate during peak times. I reality you have to treat this as a Poisson arrival process"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Analytical
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +8

    "Clarification Questions What does it mean by Next Gen Elevator? → Next Gen Elevator means Elevator using new technologies. Where is this Elevator situated? → Skyscrapers, Commercial Buildings, Residential Buildings or Elevators to Space? Assuming it’s Commercial Buildings. What is the Goal of Making Next Gen Elevators? Is it improving Safety? User Experience? Assuming it’s User Experience _Goal: To design an elevator using emerging technologies to improve user experience in a C"

    Anonymous Muskox - "Clarification Questions What does it mean by Next Gen Elevator? → Next Gen Elevator means Elevator using new technologies. Where is this Elevator situated? → Skyscrapers, Commercial Buildings, Residential Buildings or Elevators to Space? Assuming it’s Commercial Buildings. What is the Goal of Making Next Gen Elevators? Is it improving Safety? User Experience? Assuming it’s User Experience _Goal: To design an elevator using emerging technologies to improve user experience in a C"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Design
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +7

    "This question can be answered in two different ways: a. Strategic b. Product Sense Since , the question is which product you would work upon , it is likely a product strategy question , where interviewer is trying to find about how would you go about selecting the product to solve for. Another approach would be to clarify on the two approaches from the Interviewer. Can ask your hierarchy in PM role [ APM/PM/ Sr. PM / GPM ] and then approach this. Candidate : Do you have any specific goal"

    Vivek S. - "This question can be answered in two different ways: a. Strategic b. Product Sense Since , the question is which product you would work upon , it is likely a product strategy question , where interviewer is trying to find about how would you go about selecting the product to solve for. Another approach would be to clarify on the two approaches from the Interviewer. Can ask your hierarchy in PM role [ APM/PM/ Sr. PM / GPM ] and then approach this. Candidate : Do you have any specific goal"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Strategy
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    Video answer for 'How would you improve Google Maps?'
    +17

    "Start by explaining your understanding of Google Maps. It is a free web/mobile-based feature that allows users to navigate from Point A to B, trip planning locate restaurants, hair salons, other points of interest around a point on the map Businesses use to sponsor advertisements based on Map search string. Clarify what does improvement means, "Improve" is a loaded term - what do we mean by improvement: increased ad revenue, improve the quality of the results, increase downloads, imp"

    Rachita D. - "Start by explaining your understanding of Google Maps. It is a free web/mobile-based feature that allows users to navigate from Point A to B, trip planning locate restaurants, hair salons, other points of interest around a point on the map Businesses use to sponsor advertisements based on Map search string. Clarify what does improvement means, "Improve" is a loaded term - what do we mean by improvement: increased ad revenue, improve the quality of the results, increase downloads, imp"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Design
  • Google logoAsked at Google 
    +12

    "Clarifying question: why would Google consider sunsetting Gmail? Is there an opportunity to make a case against sunsetting or has the executive decision already been made and we're truly looking for a flawless sunset? If decision has already been made - why? Is this a global decision or country-specific? If the answer from interviewer is that the decision is open to debate, pivot case toward identifying the problem that causes leadership to even consider sunset. Then analyze and propose ways to"

    Anonymous Sparrow - "Clarifying question: why would Google consider sunsetting Gmail? Is there an opportunity to make a case against sunsetting or has the executive decision already been made and we're truly looking for a flawless sunset? If decision has already been made - why? Is this a global decision or country-specific? If the answer from interviewer is that the decision is open to debate, pivot case toward identifying the problem that causes leadership to even consider sunset. Then analyze and propose ways to"See full answer

    Product Manager
    Product Strategy
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