Get Calibrated for Product Mocks

Why another mock interview group?

The biggest complaint about mock interview groups is finding someone at your level. For people who subscribe to my free or paid version of my newsletter, I am offering a steeply discounted calibration ($50).

Once calibrated, I will certify you are ready to mock at a particular level.

Can I use the spreadsheet to find partners if I am not calibrated?

You don't need to be calibrated to use this sheet to find partners, but if you use this sheet to find mock partners. You at least know people on this sheet are engaged enough in the mock process to be seeking out help.

If you join and are not subscribed to my Interview Prep Substack newsletter, I will request that you join at least the free version to be calibrated. That is the best way to get any updates on the program and other offerings.

Do I have to share my calibration info?

No. For V1, you don't have to share your calibration information if you don't want. It is up to you. This is an experiment.

But, if I find only those who shared calibration are effective partners, I may change the rule for non-newbies

How long will you be offering the calibrations?

I will experiment as long as there is sufficient interest. If, like any good product manager, the data shows a lack of interest or effectiveness, I will cancel with a warning.

What does calibration feedback look like?

Again, I will test, but the initial calibrations will be very simple and straightforward:

• Mock Level

• Hire Level

• Three Areas of Improvement

• Links to resources for areas of improvement

• If you confirm your willingness to have your score listed, I will go into the spreadsheet and remove your self-assessment and note my assessment, with date of assessment

Does that mean I only need to work on three things?

No. Most of the time, people will need to work on more than 3 things. If you want a deeper assessment, you can pay for a full assessment here.

How many question types will you calibrate for in 1 30 minute recording?

I will only calibrate one prompt type per 30-minute recording

Which prompt types will you calibrate on?

I can calibrate you on any type of product interviewer type. This includes:

• Product Design/Product Sense/Product Insights

• Product Execution/Product Analytics

• Product Prioritization (Case and/or Behavioral)

• Leadership & Drive/Googleyness & Leadership

• Craft & Execution

• Strategy*

• Behavioral*

• Others upon request (except technical - see next FAQ)

* For prompt types marked with an asterisk, you can answer multiple questions in a single 30 minute recording and I will give you feedback.

Do you calibrate for technical prompts?

No. My expertise is not deeply technical prompts like “Design the system for a competitor to Ticketmaster.” I can give you general feedback if you are desperate, but highly technical prompts are not my strength. I am sorry, I don’t have a referral for those prompts.

Where do I find a list of prompts?

You can find multiple lists of prompts here.

What if I can’t afford a prompt calibration?

You can use these free tools to self-calibrate. You can use them to rank yourself in the spreadsheet but they will not count as a coach’s interview calibration.

What recording format do you prefer?

I like Reverb.chat best. You only have to pay $5 for per month for it (no crazy. complex pricing tiers, cancel when you need/want). You have unlimited recordings. But you are limited to 30 min. per recording, which is a healthy forcing function. And it reduces the complexity and dangers associated with uploading and downloading Google Drive files. And it is less intimidating than being on screen with Loom (also cheaper).