How to Ace Your PM Interview: Analyzing and Improving Microsoft Teams

In the competitive world of product management, showcasing your analytical skills and ability to suggest impactful improvements is crucial. This blog post equips you with a framework to tackle interview questions that ask you to critique and enhance a Microsoft product, specifically focusing on Microsoft Teams.

Harnessing the CIRCLES Method™

The CIRCLES Method™, designed for product design questions, can be effectively adapted for product critique and improvement. Let’s break down its application:

**Comprehend:** Grasp the product’s scope and functionality.

**Identify:** Pinpoint the primary user and their needs.

**Report:** Discuss how the product meets or fails to meet user needs.

**Cut:** Prioritize a specific issue to address.

**List:** Generate potential solutions for the chosen issue.

**Evaluate:** Weigh the pros and cons of each solution.

**Summarize:** Recommend the optimal solution and justify your choice.

Applying CIRCLES to Microsoft Teams

Let’s imagine you’re analyzing Microsoft Teams. You admire its collaborative features but see potential for improvement in system performance and notification management.

**Identify:** Professionals who rely on efficient communication are the key users.

**Report:** Excessive or irrelevant notifications can disrupt focus and hinder productivity.

**Cut:** Prioritizing, you choose to enhance notification customization options.

**List:** Solutions could involve AI-powered notification management or granular control over notification types.

**Evaluate:** Tradeoffs might involve development time versus user satisfaction.

**Summarize:** You recommend the most feasible solution based on impact and effort, justifying your choice with data and industry benchmarks.

Communication Tips for Success

* Apply the CIRCLES Method™ thoroughly yet concisely.
* Quantify your arguments with data for added credibility.
* Present your analysis and recommendations with structure and confidence.

Conclusion

The CIRCLES Method™ empowers PM candidates to dissect and enhance products like Microsoft Teams. By demonstrating your ability to critically evaluate weaknesses and propose well-considered solutions, you’ll showcase your grasp of core product management responsibilities. Utilize this framework in your interview preparation to craft insightful and persuasive recommendations for any product you encounter.