Product Management: Product Sense Interviews Deepdive

The Product Sense interview is one of four main interview types for PMs—alongside Execution, Analytical, and Product Strategy. These are usually either “Design a X for Y” system or “How would you improve your favorite product?”.

Product Sense interviews are broadly about two main things:

• Understanding the Problem – can you figure out what the real issue is here?
• Identifying Solutions – can you come up with smart ways to tackle it?
• Can you empathize with users and their pain points?

Basically, they want to know: can you scope out the problem in a meaningful way, and then zero in on the best path forward? For the actual building and execution of your solution, that’s what the Execution interview is for.

You'll face Product Sense questions in the initial interview (phone or video) and also during onsite rounds. The goal is to see if you can take something big and vague, then break it down into smaller, logical parts. For product sense questions, it’s most important to have a framework to structure your thinking. Also, you’re expected to lead the conversation here, so come prepared to sketch things out (virtually or on a whiteboard) to keep things clear.

There are three types of questions here:

1. Product Design Questions: This is a big “are you a problem solver or not?” type of question. This tests your creativity and if you can balance user needs with business goals. 

Example: “Design an app for people who want to connect with neighbors in their local community.”

1. Product Improvement Questions: This one’s about showing that you can spot what’s missing, what could be better, and why that matters. 

Example: “How would you improve LinkedIn’s messaging feature?”

1. Product Strategy Questions: They want to see if you get the big picture—how features align with broader business goals and where to prioritize based on market needs, competition, etc. Essentially: can you think about growth, business positioning, and revenue impact, not just about what’s “cool” to build?

Example: “If you were building a subscription-based feature for a fitness app, how would you prioritize features and determine pricing?”

Here’s a lowdown on how you can prep for product sense interviews to stand out:

1. Take Charge Right Out of the Gate

Product Managers often operate in uncertain environments with incomplete information. So, right off the bat, show that you’re ready to steer the convo without asking for permission every few minutes. Don’t start with a bunch of vague clarifying questions or ask, “Should I focus on X or Y?”—just dive in. 

How to do it:

• Frame the problem independently. Don’t get bogged down asking basic clarifying questions or waiting for approval. Keep in mind, they’re watching for your confidence in handling a broad, undefined problem, not necessarily for one “right” solution.
• Try and reframe the challenge based on the company’s core mission or values, aligning with what they might care about. For example, if it’s Meta, think about community building. If it’s Microsoft, maybe it’s accessibility or productivity. 

2. Think Like the Company

Your solution shouldn’t just exist in a vacuum—it has to fit within the company's goals and competitive landscape. Tie everything you’re suggesting back to the company’s mission, broader business objectives, and why they’d even consider building this product.

What to do:

• Keep the company’s goals in mind. Say you’re interviewing with Atlassian; think about collaboration and workflow solutions. Or if you’re at Stripe, consider frictionless payments.
• Focus on high-level motivations. You’re not just thinking about the product, but also why it makes sense for the company’s big picture. Talk about competitors and market trends if it fits. Mention how a solution might help them stand out or solve an issue better than the rest.

Example: "This feature could help Meta foster stronger group connections, which aligns with their mission to build community.”

3. Define Your Users, and Be Smart About It

Here’s where things start to get interesting. Don’t just choose an obvious user segment based on age, income, or general demographics. Think about behavioral traits (like usage frequency) or situational factors (like location) that might impact their needs. A good PM digs deeper, finding an audience with unique needs or pain points that lead to creative solutions.

What to do:

• Define an “interesting” user group that goes beyond standard demographics. Maybe it's a group with a niche use case or specific pain points that the company could solve in an innovative way. For example, go for “freelancers working in design who have tight project deadlines” rather than a broad demographic like “millennials” or “small business owners.”
• Be ready to defend why you chose these users. If you just throw out “18–34-year-olds” without any logic, it’ll show. Most interviewers actually don’t care if your segment is perfect—they care that you can justify it logically. Explain why you’re focusing on this group—whether due to strategic value (e.g., early adopters), size of the pain point, or relevance to the company’s goals—explain why they’re underserved or why their pain points are worth solving.

4. Focus on Pain Points (Not Just Needs)

A common mistake in Product Sense interviews is confusing “needs” with “pain points.” It’s easy to say, “Our users want X feature,” but the real challenge is identifying the barriers stopping them from achieving that. Good PMs zero in on the obstacles.

What to do:

• Go deeper into the friction points. Why can’t they get what they want? Maybe they want faster service, but their pain point is that current options are unreliable, which throws off their schedule.
• Map out the user journey. Think about where the annoyances happen—before, during, or after they use a product. This helps you pinpoint where you can actually make an impact.

Example: Instead of saying “Users want faster delivery,” try “Users are frustrated by inconsistent delivery times, which impacts their ability to plan.” You’re showing you can dig beyond the obvious stuff.

5. Brainstorm a Few Solutions and Commit to One

At this point, you should have a clear pain point and user. Now, toss out a few ideas and then go deep on one. They’re not looking for wild creativity—they’re looking to see if you can be practical and detailed, and also a little outside-the-box.

What to do:

• Pitch two or three ideas—something realistic, something ambitious, maybe something outside the box for fun. Show you’re thinking broadly.
• Pick one solution to go deep on, explaining how it works, where the “aha” moment is, and how it directly addresses the pain point you outlined. A good tip is to think of products you admire that solve similar problems, even in different industries.

Example: If your user’s pain point is about tracking project deadlines, maybe you pitch a tool that automatically sets reminders and integrates with their current workflow. Then go deep—explain the user flow, how they’d start using it, and why it solves their problem.

6. Wrap It Up with Metrics and a Vision

No solution is complete without a way to measure success. What’s success look like? Most people forget this part, but it’s big. The best PM candidates explain how they’d measure the product’s impact—and they don’t overlook potential risks or counter metrics.

What to do:

• Pick one or two metrics to define success. For example, maybe it’s an increase in user engagement or a reduction in time spent on specific tasks. Then, pick your strongest solution and think about what the product will look like in five or ten years. This shows that you’re not only thinking of a short-term fix but also of the product’s long-term value and potential impact.
• Think about counter metrics too—e.g., if engagement goes up, does that lead to a drop in other important metrics? End with a vision for how this product could evolve in the future, tying it back to the company’s long-term goals.

Example: "Success here would be if users report saving 20% more time on average in their project management. We’d also want to keep an eye on user retention to make sure this feature keeps them coming back." Then, talk about where the product could go long-term if it works.

Pro Tip: Come up with a tagline or “soundbite” for your vision that encapsulates the solution’s core value—this will make your answer memorable.

7. Stay Cool and Adapt to Feedback

Expect the interviewer to throw in probing questions or subtle nudges. This isn’t them critiquing you—it’s them testing how you adapt. Don’t get defensive if they push you to consider a different angle.

What to do:

• If they ask you to clarify, don’t backtrack. Stick to your guns if you can defend your choice, but don’t be afraid to adapt if you get good feedback.
• Pause and check in with them periodically to make sure you’re on track. It shows you’re thinking about the conversation as a two-way exchange and are open to improve based on input.

• How would you improve [a popular app or product]?
• Design a product to help people find a doctor.
• What would you do if your flagship product began losing market share?
• How would you increase engagement for a social feature in an existing product?
• Design a product for people to plan group activities.
• How would you improve the onboarding experience for new users on [an app or platform]?
• What new feature would you add to [a well-known app], and why?
• How would you approach building a product for remote team collaboration?
• Pick a product you like. How would you improve it?
• Design the ideal kitchen for a retirement community.
• How could you make Google Calendar better?
• How would you design a map-based product for the SF Museum of Modern Art?

Product Sense interviews are a bit of a pressure test, but it’s also a chance to show you’ve got the mindset of a PM who can think big, keep cool under pressure, and drive forward without needing a roadmap. The strongest candidates focus less on “nailing the right answer” and more on demonstrating a structured approach, a good understanding of users, and how well you handle curveballs.