Product Management Interview Prep: Redesigning Google’s On-Campus Bikes
Landing a product management role at a top tech company like FAANG requires demonstrating your ability to solve real-world problems with innovative solutions. One common interview question type focuses on product improvement or redesign, such as: How would you redesign Google’s on-campus bikes?
This guide will equip you with the skills to tackle such questions using the CIRCLES Method™, a structured framework from the book ‘Decode and Conquer: Answers to Product Management Interviews’ by Lewis C. Lin.
Applying the CIRCLES Method™
- Comprehend the Situation: Clarify the problem. Are the bikes purely for utility or also a statement about Google’s culture and innovation?
- Identify the Customer: Who uses these bikes? Google employees, visitors, or both? Understanding user demographics is crucial.
- Report the Customer’s Needs: Gather information about the needs and pain points of the bike users. This might include speed, comfort, tech integration, or safety.
- Cut through the Prioritization: Decide which needs are the most critical and why. For example, if the bikes are often stolen, enhancing security may be a priority.
- List Solutions: Brainstorm potential features or improvements such as GPS tracking, better ergonomics, or electric-assist technology.
- Evaluate Tradeoffs: Consider the impact of each solution on cost, implementation time, and user experience.
- Summarize Recommendations: Conclude with a structured recommendation based on the analysis above.
Example: Redesigning Google’s On-Campus Bikes
Assume the primary users are Google employees who value efficiency and eco-friendliness. A pain point might be the difficulty in finding available bikes. A potential solution could be an app-integrated bike availability system, which allows users to locate and reserve nearby bikes.
For factual checks, consider the average number of bike trips made in a tech campus per day, perhaps 100-200. This estimate will help gauge the scale of the needed solution.
Communication Tips for Interviews
Be articulate, maintain a confident tone, and justify your choices with user-centric reasoning. Invite the interviewer to share insights or pose challenges to your recommendations.
Conclusion
Mastering product design questions like redesigning Google’s campus bikes requires applying a structured framework like the CIRCLES Method™. Remember to empathize with the user, prioritize their needs, and recommend feasible solutions. Practice this method to approach your product management interviews with confidence and creativity.