Whereas dwelling assignments are quite a bit to soak up, in addition they give you a chance to shine and ensure the job is best for you. Right here’s how.
Most candidates hate dwelling assignments. They view them as a chore, an unfair or pointless request from the potential employer. Nevertheless it doesn’t should be this manner.
I’ll always remember my first product administration dwelling project. The joy I felt after a profitable interview shortly become nervousness when the project directions arrived. It felt nearly like an insult — don’t they already know who I’m? Why do I must show it by doing additional work from home?
As well as, the directions had been obscure, leaving me clueless about what they really wished to see. I hate being at midnight, particularly when my profession is on the road.
Not an ideal feeling.
Should you’ve been there, you recognize precisely what I’m speaking about. Residence assignments have change into a normal apply in product administration interviews, and candidates usually see them as a vital evil — particularly when juggling a number of purposes concurrently, not to mention a full-time job and household.
I used to see it that approach, too.
Through the years, although, my perspective has modified. These assignments — notably for senior roles — are literally an opportunity to indicate off expertise that don’t all the time shine in a typical interview. They’re additionally a possibility to evaluate additional whether or not the corporate you’re interviewing for is the correct match.
Tackling these assignments, nevertheless, will be difficult. Many candidates fail as a result of they method them the improper approach.
My suggestion is to shift your mindset and discover the chance to shine.
However because it’s simpler stated than accomplished, let me allow you to. Here’s a sneak peek right into a hiring supervisor’s thoughts, what they’re actually searching for, and how one can flip this dwelling project hustle into a possibility to indicate them who you actually are.
Earlier than diving into easy methods to excel in dwelling assignments, right here is a fast notice to hiring firms: in case you count on candidates to embrace them, deal with these assignments with respect and integrity. Sadly, some firms misuse dwelling assignments, and that’s a crimson flag. In case you have a selection, contemplate it a sign.
That stated, even among the many firms which might be doing all of it improper, I’ve by no means encountered an organization utilizing them to steal concepts or get free labor. Corporations reside and breathe their product; they don’t want candidates’ concepts to maneuver ahead.
Even when your thought seems later, it’s not as a result of they waited for you. A very long time in the past, in an interview with Google, I steered that they develop a voice interface. Do you assume they wanted me to give you Google Assistant? After all not.
The hot button is to clear any doubts and method the project willingly. Should you’re skeptical, you’ll battle to provide your finest effort and received’t stand out. Should you determined to go for it, deal with the chance to showcase your expertise.
It’s not about discovering the “proper” reply — that just about by no means exists in product administration. What hiring managers need is to grasp your thought course of. How do you method issues, prioritize, and make selections? A easy resolution with detailed reasoning and trade-offs is much extra spectacular than shiny options or concepts.
As hiring managers, we additionally assess how effectively you’re employed inside constraints, making selections with restricted time and knowledge — identical to real-world product administration. Clear communication is essential too. Are you able to clarify your concepts in a approach that resonates with completely different stakeholders?
In the end, it’s much less concerning the resolution and extra about the way you remedy, talk, and align with enterprise objectives.
One widespread mistake candidates make in dwelling assignments is treating them like a guidelines of duties. However product managers aren’t order takers, and your method ought to replicate that.
I as soon as acquired two responses for a similar senior PM project. The primary candidate meticulously accomplished each activity we requested for — thorough however felt empty and shallow nonetheless. The second candidate addressed the duties but in addition challenged our assumptions, added context, and steered another framing of the issue. Guess who bought the job?
As a product supervisor, your function is to assume strategically. Transcend the specific directions and ask your self: What’s the true enterprise drawback right here? What consumer wants are we addressing? Are there market traits that influence this choice? Questioning the premise of the project and offering new views reveals vital considering.
That stated, don’t simply add complexity for its personal sake. Keep targeted on related insights. As soon as, a candidate rambled about blockchain for an project that had nothing to do with it — it confirmed a scarcity of focus.
Approaching the project strategically demonstrates your capacity to form the product and enterprise, not simply execute duties.
Do not forget that feeling of being overwhelmed by a obscure, high-stakes activity? It appears like there’s an excessive amount of to deal with and no clear start line. On the one hand, you don’t should determine all of it out alone, however on the opposite — you sort of do.
Should you’re uncertain about one thing within the project, don’t hesitate to ask. It doesn’t make you look incompetent — it reveals you’re targeted on fixing the correct drawback. However be aware of what you ask since that’s additionally a part of the impression you make. Earlier than reaching out, attempt to discover solutions your self or make an knowledgeable assumption. Clarify what you already did and why you’re reaching out. What are you going to do with their solutions?
After I give dwelling assignments, I usually go away them deliberately obscure. I need to see how candidates deal with uncertainty — a necessary talent in product administration. One of many methods to navigate this uncertainty is to make assumptions. That’s how one can transfer ahead on one hand and hold your reply tight and logical on the opposite.
Once you make assumptions, state them clearly and clarify how they influenced your method. This can give the hiring staff perception into your considering and present that you could confidently navigate ambiguity.
In product administration, focus is extraordinarily essential. Separating the wheat from the chaff and delivering worth (versus output) is essential to your capacity to make the influence you need — in dwelling assignments in addition to within the job itself.
The time stress in dwelling assignments isn’t only a problem — it’s a possibility. It forces you to assume critically about what really issues, to prioritize ruthlessly, and to deal with delivering probably the most worth throughout the given constraints.
Settle for that you could’t ship an ideal resolution. Nonetheless, you need to deal with the issues that make a distinction. Add an inventory of what you’d do in another way had you had extra time, and clarify why you selected to deal with what you chose.
By managing your time successfully and specializing in what really issues, you show a key high quality of profitable product leaders: the power to navigate constraints and ship outcomes. This method not solely produces higher work but in addition offers hiring managers confidence in your capacity to deal with the real-world pressures of the function.
As a product chief, your ardour for the craft needs to be evident in all the pieces you do — together with dwelling assignments. When candidates inform me they loved engaged on the project I gave them, it’s all the time a very good signal. This enthusiasm sometimes shines via of their work and follow-up communication, setting them other than different candidates.
Nonetheless, if you end up dreading the project or struggling to muster any enthusiasm for it, take note of that feeling. It could be an indication that this specific function or firm isn’t the correct match for you. Residence assignments could be a two-way avenue — they’re not only for the corporate to guage you but in addition so that you can assess whether or not the work excites you.
Product administration is not only a job. We’re all deeply invested in our work. Let your ardour for product administration shine via in your project. Strategy it not as a chore, however as a possibility to dive into an fascinating drawback, showcase your expertise, and maybe study one thing new within the course of.
Utilizing AI instruments like ChatGPT will be priceless, however use them as you’d in your precise job — as a helper perform, to not do the be just right for you. Should you use AI to generate concepts or content material, be sure you critically consider and refine the output. Your distinctive insights and decision-making course of are what hiring managers need to see.
Equally, consulting with pals or consultants will be useful, however provided that that’s a instrument you’d use in the true world too. Should you do search exterior enter, be upfront about it. Clarify the way you integrated this suggestions into your considering. This demonstrates your capacity to collaborate and synthesize numerous views — an important talent for product leaders.
Keep in mind, the objective of the project is to evaluate your expertise and considering course of. By being clear concerning the sources you employ, you present integrity and provides hiring managers a transparent image of your capabilities. It additionally gives a possibility to show the way you leverage instruments and collaborate successfully — key attributes in at this time’s product administration panorama.
Residence assignments are an opportunity to showcase your problem-solving, strategic considering, and keenness for product administration. As an alternative of seeing them as a burden, method them with curiosity and focus. By clearly speaking your selections, navigating ambiguity, and prioritizing successfully, you may stand out. Deal with the project as each a possibility to show your expertise and to evaluate if the function really excites you.
