Whereas dwelling assignments are so much to absorb, 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 must be this manner.
I’ll always remember my first product administration dwelling task. The thrill I felt after a profitable interview shortly was anxiousness when the task directions arrived. It felt nearly like an insult — don’t they already know who I’m? Why do I must show it by doing further work from home?
As well as, the directions have been imprecise, leaving me clueless about what they really wished to see. I hate being at the hours of darkness, particularly when my profession is on the road.
Not a fantastic feeling.
Should you’ve been there, precisely what I’m speaking about. Residence assignments have turn into an ordinary apply in product administration interviews, and candidates usually see them as a obligatory evil — particularly when juggling a number of purposes concurrently, not to mention a full-time job and household.
I used to see it that means, too.
Through the years, although, my perspective has modified. These assignments — notably for senior roles — are literally an opportunity to point out off expertise that don’t at all times shine in a typical interview. They’re additionally a possibility to evaluate additional whether or not the corporate you’re interviewing for is the proper match.
Tackling these assignments, nevertheless, may be difficult. Many candidates fail as a result of they method them the improper means.
My suggestion is to shift your mindset and discover the chance to shine.
However because it’s simpler stated than carried out, let me aid you. Here’s a sneak peek right into a hiring supervisor’s thoughts, what they’re actually on the lookout for, and how one can flip this dwelling task hustle into a possibility to point out them who you actually are.
Earlier than diving into easy methods to excel in dwelling assignments, right here is a fast word to hiring corporations: if you happen to count on candidates to embrace them, deal with these assignments with respect and integrity. Sadly, some corporations misuse dwelling assignments, and that’s a purple flag. When you have a selection, contemplate it a sign.
That stated, even among the many corporations 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 stay 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 prompt that they develop a voice interface. Do you suppose they wanted me to give you Google Assistant? After all not.
The hot button is to clear any doubts and method the task willingly. Should you’re skeptical, you’ll wrestle to offer your greatest effort and received’t stand out. Should you determined to go for it, give attention to the chance to showcase your expertise.
It’s not about discovering the “proper” reply — that nearly 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 choices? 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 nicely you’re employed inside constraints, making choices 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 means that resonates with completely different stakeholders?
In the end, it’s much less in regards to 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 mirror that.
I as soon as obtained two responses for a similar senior PM task. 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 prompt another framing of the issue. Guess who received the job?
As a product supervisor, your function is to suppose strategically. Transcend the express directions and ask your self: What’s the true enterprise drawback right here? What person wants are we addressing? Are there market traits that influence this determination? Questioning the premise of the task and offering new views reveals important considering.
That stated, don’t simply add complexity for its personal sake. Keep centered on related insights. As soon as, a candidate rambled about blockchain for an task that had nothing to do with it — it confirmed an absence of focus.
Approaching the task strategically demonstrates your skill to form the product and enterprise, not simply execute duties.
Do not forget that feeling of being overwhelmed by a imprecise, high-stakes activity? It seems like there’s an excessive amount of to deal with and no clear place to begin. On the one hand, you don’t must determine all of it out alone, however on the opposite — you type of do.
Should you’re uncertain about one thing within the task, don’t hesitate to ask. It doesn’t make you look incompetent — it reveals you’re centered on fixing the proper 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 imprecise. I wish 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 crew perception into your considering and present you can 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 skill to make the influence you need — in dwelling assignments in addition to within the job itself.
The time strain in dwelling assignments isn’t only a problem — it’s a possibility. It forces you to suppose critically about what actually issues, to prioritize ruthlessly, and to give attention to delivering essentially the most worth inside the given constraints.
Settle for you can’t ship an ideal resolution. Nonetheless, you wish to give attention to the issues that make a distinction. Add an inventory of what you’ll do in another way had you had extra time, and clarify why you selected to give attention to what you chose.
By managing your time successfully and specializing in what actually issues, you display a key high quality of profitable product leaders: the flexibility to navigate constraints and ship outcomes. This method not solely produces higher work but in addition provides hiring managers confidence in your skill to deal with the real-world pressures of the function.
As a product chief, your ardour for the craft ought to be evident in every little thing you do — together with dwelling assignments. When candidates inform me they loved engaged on the task I gave them, it’s at all times a great 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 task or struggling to muster any enthusiasm for it, take note of that feeling. It is perhaps an indication that this specific function or firm isn’t the proper match for you. Residence assignments generally is a two-way road — 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 task. Strategy it not as a chore, however as a possibility to dive into an fascinating drawback, showcase your expertise, and maybe be taught one thing new within the course of.
Utilizing AI instruments like ChatGPT may be helpful, however use them as you’ll in your precise job — as a helper operate, to not do the be just right for you. Should you use AI to generate concepts or content material, be sure to critically consider and refine the output. Your distinctive insights and decision-making course of are what hiring managers wish to see.
Equally, consulting with buddies or specialists may be useful, however provided that that’s a instrument you’d use in the true world too. Should you do search outdoors enter, be upfront about it. Clarify the way you integrated this suggestions into your considering. This demonstrates your skill to collaborate and synthesize various views — a vital talent for product leaders.
Bear in mind, the aim of the task is to evaluate your expertise and considering course of. By being clear in regards to the assets you utilize, you present integrity and provides hiring managers a transparent image of your capabilities. It additionally supplies a possibility to display 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 choices, navigating ambiguity, and prioritizing successfully, you may stand out. Deal with the task as each a possibility to display your expertise and to evaluate if the function actually excites you.
