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Should PMs Expect Technical Questions?
It depends on the company and hiring manager, but increasingly hiring managers are realizing that the best PMs inform product decisions by:
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Comprehending technical details
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Identifying technical dependencies and bottlenecks
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Understanding technical tradeoffs
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Assessing technical estimates and timelines for accuracy
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Speaking the engineering team’s language
As a result, they’re including a technical component into the interview process.
What Kind of Technical Questions Should a PM Expect
There are four types of technical questions that PMs should expect:
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Technical trivia
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Data structures and algorithms
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System design
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SQL
Technical Trivia
What is it?
Technical trivia refers to questions that revolve around the definition of technical terms. Here are some examples:
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What is SQL?
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How is NoSQL different from SQL?
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Explain TCP/IP.
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Explain how the Internet works to a 5 year old.
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What is EC2 and S3?
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What is an array?
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What’s a hash table?
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What is a graph structure?
What’s the key to a good answer?
The key to answering algorithm questions is to not only demonstrate your’e familair with technical concepts but also able to adapt your explanations to a variety of audiences in a concise way.
Data Structures and Algorithms
What is it?
These questions revolve around designing an algorithm, usually involving the usage of a unique data structure such as hash tables, trees, and tries.
Here are some examples of algorithm questions:
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Write code to convert decimal numbers.
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Output nodes at distance k from the root.
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How many different Unlabeled Binary Trees can there be with n nodes?
What’s the key to a good answer?
The key to answering algorithm questions is to show not only that you are familiar with technical concepts, but also that you are able to adapt your explanations to a variety of audiences in a concise manner.
System Design
What is it?
System design is the most popular category of technical questions for product managers. Here are some examples of systems design questions:
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Design a unique ID generator.
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Design a messaging app like WhatsApp.
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Design a video system like YouTube.
What’s the key to a good answer?
The key to answering system design questions well is not only understanding the technical concepts, but also communicating your thoughts in a logical, easy to understand way.
Using a system design framework helps immensely.
SQL
What is it?
SQL interview questions test an applicant’s ability to write SQL queries. Here are some examples of SQL questions:
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Write a SQL query to find the 10th highest performing student from the Student table. Explain your answer.
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Write a query to to get the list of employees who took a business compliance lesson at least twice in the same day, grouped by employee and lesson, ordered from the most recent to oldest date.
What’s the key to a good answer?
The key to answering SQL questions well is familiarity with SQL, correct output, and communicating your thoughts and ideas.
Full List of Technical Topics
For a complete list of technical topics that will help you prepare for your PM interview, see my two-week PM interview prep plan.