Technical Program Manager Interview Guide

The recruiter screen is a preliminary call with the company's recruiter that typically lasts around 30-45 minutes. The recruiter's primary objective is to get to know you better—your background, technical skills, past experiences, etc. 

In addition to this, the recruiter will provide valuable information about the position you're being considered for. They might shed light on the interview process, the expected timeline for the hiring process—and possibly offer some preparatory materials for the upcoming interviews.

A helpful tip for this stage is to prepare an elevator pitch to make a great first impression and set the stage for a successful interview process. Also, since questions typically revolve around specific situations, tasks, actions, and results from your past experiences, make sure you think ahead and decide specific projects or anecdotes you'll incorporate into your answers that portray you in a favourable light. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) or CAR (Context, Action, Result) method to address behavioural questions.

There are typically 1-2 phone rounds, each lasting around 45 minutes. The exact format will vary depending on the company you've applied to, but in general, you can expect to speak with a hiring manager or a current TPM from the company.

Be ready to address a mix of technical, program management-related, and behavioral questions. These include questions like:

• Can you explain a complex technical project you've managed in the past?
• How do you approach technical problem-solving and decision-making?
• Describe a situation where you had to work closely with engineers to resolve a technical issue.
• How do you prioritize tasks and manage a project with multiple stakeholders?
• Can you provide an example of a project you've successfully delivered on time and within budget?
• What tools or methodologies do you use for project planning and tracking?

Your goal should be to demonstrate a strong grasp of technical and program management fundamentals. Provide specific, detailed examples from your experience that you believe can increase your chances of success. Also, make sure you have a solid understanding of the role you're applying for, and the company's top-performing products and services.

The onsite interviews typically involve one-on-one interviews and panel discussions, giving the interviewers a comprehensive view of your technical and soft skills. There are typically up to 6 interviews in all, each lasting about an hour.

1. Technical Hard Skills Rounds

You'll typically face 2 to 3 of these which focus on evaluating your program management abilities. Here, the ability to think on your feet and adapt your approach to hypothetical scenarios is highly valued. 

You can expect questions related to program metrics, hypothetical and situational process design, program sense, project planning and execution, and risk management. So, be ready to discuss real-world examples of program management, for instance, where you've effectively used metrics to drive decision-making or navigate complex situations in project execution. 

Program and product sense questions are also common. Which is why you need to familiarise yourself with frameworks like CIRCLES or Jobs-to-be-done to structure your responses effectively.

Finally, ensure you're well-versed in data structures and algorithms. Practice solving problems related to these topics on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank.

System Design and Technical Round

In this round, you'll be tested on your technical acumen and your ability to architect complex solutions. They will want to assess your understanding of system architecture, databases, API design, and overall system performance—as well as touch upon technical knowledge-based questions. You need to be able to think critically about system architecture, scalability, and the trade-offs involved in making design decisions—as well as delve into discussions about common structures used in Agile projects, such as epics, stories, and themes. 

• Be ready to discuss the technical architecture of projects you've worked on. Knowing the nitty-gritty details can help you answer technical inquiries with confidence.
• Invest time in researching the company and its products or programs. Understand their challenges and how your skills align with their goals. Show that you're committed to contributing to their success.
• Some common questions candidates often get asked include "what are the differences between Kanban and Scrum" or "explain what happens when a request is made via an API?" Here, beyond just explaining the concepts, it's important to illustrate how you've applied them in previous roles. For instance, if you have experience with Agile methodologies or you are familiar with the software domain, make sure you use them in your answers. This will set you apart.

Here are some questions to practise:

• Explain the distinction between heap and stack memory structures in an operating system.
• Compare and contrast UDP and TCP. When would you opt for TCP over UDP, and vice versa?
• Elaborate on the computational complexity of hash tables.
• What are the primary tools used for enhancing process activities?
• In the event of a fire in a data centre, what steps would you take?
• Define RAID in Project Management.
• Differentiate between a router and a switch.
• How would you determine and enhance a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) when designing a system?
• What actions would you take if your project exceeds the fixed budget?
• What actions would you take if your project exceeds the fixed budget?
• How would you handle a situation where a resource indicates they don't have time to work on an important project?
• Outline the steps to implement a GDPR program for Google Services.
• What would be your approach to opening a restaurant on a business campus?
• Develop a technical design for an automated parking solution.
• Construct a service capable of processing hundreds of transactions to be executed at specified times throughout the day.
• Devise an automation system for retrieving messages from a cloud repository, assessing them, and categorising them into appropriate containers.
• Create a system for Google Drive.
• Architect a code deployment software.
• Outline the design of WhatsApp.
• Reverse a string without relying on built-in functions.
• Develop the architecture for an anti-virus application.
• Design a stock trading application.
• Create a database structure for URL shortening.
• Design a Cache Controller.

Behavioural Rounds

These soft skill rounds are often the most challenging to prepare for—interviewers will delve into your ability to lead, communicate, and collaborate effectively. So, sharing anecdotes from your career that highlight successful key TPM traits like cross-functional team leadership, effective conflict resolution, or delivering tangible results can make a significant impact.

Showcasing how you've successfully tackled real challenges and grown as a professional is key. One valuable tip is practising with mock interviewers or TPMs at your target company (you can find several on Prepfully). This will help you replicate the pressure and dynamics of an actual interview, so you can practise responding confidently and demonstrating your skills effectively. You will also get detailed feedback after each practice session to identify areas for improvement and refine your performance. Book a one-on-one session with a TPM on Prepfully now.

Here are some questions to prepare for:

• Explain your approach to prioritising tasks within a program.
• Describe an instance when you solved a conflict at work.
• If stakeholders want one thing done one way, but you don't think that is the right way to do it, how do you move forward?
• Why are you opting for the technical wing of program management?
• How would you handle dependencies in cross-functional teams?
• Can you describe the most complex project you've been involved in?
• How would you prioritise tasks in a program?
• Describe a conflict you encountered with a manager or team member.
• Tell me about a time when you had to manage competing priorities.
• Which of our company's principles do you believe aligns with your greatest strength?
• Why are you interested in our company and this specific role?
• How can a Technical Program Manager establish trust with their team?
• How would you approach a situation where a team member is not performing at their full potential?

Throughout the virtual interviews, make sure you demonstrate strong communication skills, as it's a whole lot more challenging to conduct an interview through a screen. So, make sure your virtual setup is reliable, your camera and microphone work well, and you're comfortable with the technology to avoid distractions.