500,000 Professionals Have Used His Book To Crack Interviews at Big Companies
Mar 28, 2025
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Lewis Lin, a multi-time bestselling author known for 'Decode and Conquer,' shares his expertise in acing product management interviews. He discusses the evolution of interview strategies, emphasizing the rise of interview assignments and the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT. Lin offers insights into preparing for metrics questions and the significance of mock interviews. He also introduces the GRR method for uncovering real pain points and navigates common behavioral questions candidates face. His advice helps aspiring PMs navigate a competitive job market.
Success metrics are essential in product management interviews, guiding candidates to demonstrate their impact and understanding of product goals.
Trade-off questions test decision-making in contexts like feature prioritization versus monetization strategies, emphasizing reasoning aligned with company objectives.
AI tools, such as ChatGPT, impact preparation and evaluation in product management interviews, requiring candidates to adapt to modern technological advancements.
Deep dives
Understanding Success Metrics
Success metrics play a crucial role in product management, particularly in evaluating performance and guiding decisions. For example, as a product manager for a platform like Facebook's News Feed, one must identify and track relevant success metrics to determine if the product is meeting its goals. Success metrics could include user engagement levels, such as total time spent on the platform, which directly correlates to the product's value in fostering relationships. By being adept at defining and measuring these metrics, a product manager can effectively demonstrate the impact of their initiatives and strategies.
Navigating Trade-Off Decisions
Trade-off questions are a common interview topic, showcasing a candidate's decision-making ability when faced with limited resources or conflicting objectives. A classic scenario involves choosing between adding a new feature, such as a 'people you may know' widget, versus a monetization strategy involving advertising placements. Candidates must demonstrate not just their choice but the reasoning behind it, showcasing their understanding of the broader company strategy and objectives. An effective way to approach these scenarios is to use the 'GER method,' which encourages candidates to passionately advocate for their choices, ensuring clarity and justification in their decision-making.
The Impact of AI on Interview Preparation
The rise of AI tools like ChatGPT has significantly altered the landscape of job preparation, particularly in product management interviews. Job seekers can leverage AI to practice case questions and receive immediate feedback, enhancing their understanding of complex concepts. On the recruiter side, hiring managers can also utilize these tools to craft meaningful interview questions rapidly, making the recruitment process more demanding for candidates. This increased utilization of AI in both preparation and evaluation means candidates must not only be familiar with traditional interview techniques but also adept at engaging with modern technological advancements.
The Value and Challenges of Interview Assignments
Interview assignments have become increasingly common as a tool for evaluating candidates’ capabilities and commitment. These tasks often require candidates to deliver work that showcases their analytical and strategic thinking, yet they can disadvantage employed individuals balancing family and work commitments. While some hiring managers view these assignments as a method of weeding out uncommitted applicants, they may inadvertently favor those with more free time, leading to imbalances in the hiring process. Candidates are advised to leverage AI tools to enhance their preparation for these assignments while maintaining their unique voice to ensure authenticity in their submissions.
Combating Misinformation in PM Interview Prep
The prevalence of misinformation in product management interview preparation presents significant challenges for candidates. With various online platforms providing potentially conflicting advice, candidates often find it difficult to discern reliable information from the noise. Tools like ChatGPT can contribute to this confusion if candidates blindly trust its outputs without context or experience to judge their accuracy. To mitigate this, aspiring product managers should engage critically with sources, seek knowledgeable mentors, and rely on structured frameworks in their studies to ensure they're adequately prepared for the nuances of the interview process.
When it comes to product management interviews, there’s no more authoritative voice than Lewis Lin (author of the legendary Decode and Conquer).
His books (over 500,000+ copies sold) have helped hundreds of thousands of PMs land jobs at top tech companies.Today, he shares everything he knows about nailing PM interviews:
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In this episode:
00:01:38 - "Decode and Conquer" helped Aakash land a $40K raise00:02:40 - Why Lewis is rewriting "Decode and Conquer" from scratch00:04:18 - AD: Amplitude Digital Experience Assessment00:04:52 - The rise of interview assignments00:10:04 - How to excel at interview assignments while juggling a full-time job00:15:04 - AD: Maven Courses00:16:14 - The 6 critical types of metrics questions you'll face00:19:57 - Lewis's advice on the best way to prepare for metrics questions00:26:51 - Why mock interviews matter most00:31:30 - AD: Maven AI PM Certification00:32:14 - How to discover real pain points using the GRR method00:35:15 - Coming up with thoughtful product solutions that stand out00:42:21 - How to approach system design interviews00:46:15 - The most common behavioral questions PMs get asked00:50:29 - Mistakes candidates make when answering behavioral questions00:54:51 - Misconceptions candidates still have after reading his book00:57:37 - What it takes to get a PM interview in 202501:02:26 - What Lewis is focused on now