One of the more common interview questions product managers face is their strengths and weaknesses. The candidate can get just one or the other of these questions or both as one question. This is a question all candidates should be ready to answer. It is just too common not to prepare. If the candidate gets caught off guard on this one, it shows a lack of preparation.

Let’s start by going through the do’s and don’ts of this prompt. A candidate should

Do the following:

1. Be honest, self-aware, and humble

2. Focus on the learnings

3. Think about weaknesses as the flip sides of a coin

4. Be level appropriate

5. For weaknesses, be actively working to improve it

Don’t do the following

1. Pick softballs

2. Grab something too old

3. Select something so recent there are no learnings from it

As a mock partner or interview volunteer, for this type of question, what you are looking for is someone being self-aware, as well as what you can learn from how someone talks about their weaknesses. Some key things to grade the candidate on:

1. Is it level appropriate?

2. Is it too recent?

3. Is it too old?

4. Is it too insignificant?

5. What is your impression of them after hearing the story?

6. Ask them what they wished you had taken away. Did you get that?

If you have found the strengths and weaknesses shared fall flat, try providing the candidate the following advice:

Weaknesses

I advise people to follow three different approaches to getting at their weaknesses.

1. What are three things you’re actively working to fix right now? This works really well for self-aware people who are actively either working with a coach or their manager to fix something. 

2. What are your strengths? Well, weaknesses are often the flip side of your strengths. That’s your weakness. For example, one of my strengths is getting very passionate about the products I work on. The flip side of that is I can be so passionate as to intimidate to some.

3. Still stumped? Consider asking your boss, your coworkers, your best friends, and your enemies what are your weaknesses are or what things that you can work on?

Strengths

If the candidate has a strong brand statement, strengths should come quickly. But many don’t have a brand statement that focuses on their strengths. If they need help, try suggesting:

1. In Real Life: (see 3 above) What do they get compliments on from co-workers or their boss? Or tell them to ask their colleagues.

2. How do they win? Looking back at their successes, can they identify patterns that repeat when they are successful?

3. What are the most essential traits of a PM? How do they rank on those traits.

Related Articles:

• Basics on Mock Interview Feedback

• Complete list of Grading Advice Articles

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