Interviews

In many ways, interviewing for a product design position is not that different from any other role. In a few ways, it is widely different. Preparation goes a long way and will make you more confident.

General Information

Most product design interviews will ask you a few of the following questions, which are typical across industries.

Tell us about yourself.
What interests you about this role?
Where do you see yourself in five years?

It is essential to answer these questions in the context of the role for which you've applied. It is fantastic that you are a Capricorn and have three dogs, but how did you end up in this industry? Explain your journey with UX design. Everybody knows you've applied to more than one job, but what is interesting about this role at this company? Do you know people there? Have you used the product before? Is it an industry you've researched? It is OK if you don't want to work at the same company for five years, but under what circumstances would it be a consideration? Do you want to move into management or help build out a team?

Fitness for Role

In the same interview or a follow-up, questions will get more specific about product design and your fitness for the role. Some example questions include:

How do you define UX?
What does good UX mean to you?
What is the difference between UX design and UI design?
What are your favorite examples of good UX?
What does it mean to be a good UX designer?
What kind of research methods do you use?
Have you conducted user research in the past?
How do you decide which research method to use?
How do you respond to negative feedback?
What is your ideal work environment?
How do you hand over your designs to developers?
How do you collaborate with product managers?

Portfolio Review

The most crucial aspect of your interview process is the portfolio review, and it is the best indication to your future employer of how you work and what you produce. Choose a case study you are proud of, and be sure to have these questions in mind:

What is your design process?
What problem did you address?
With whom did you collaborate?
What kind of research methods do you use?
How did you validate your design decisions?
Where did the project go wrong?
What challenges did you face?
How did you overcome these challenges?
What was the impact of your design solution?

Whiteboard Challenge

Many interviews require a designer to participate in a whiteboard challenge. The challenge can take many forms.

Sometimes you are given a time-limited assignment to take home, and you deliver your solution to the team in person or over Zoom.

Sometimes you collaborate with another designer, engineer, or product manager on the spot, tackling a real problem with little to no preparation.

The whiteboard challenge can be intimidating, but your solution is less crucial than your process. Ask questions to clarify what the challenge entails. Explore opportunities for user research. Seek precedents for potential solutions, ask for feedback regularly, admit to your solution's shortcomings, and detail what iterations you would prioritize next.

Questions

Finally, every interview ends with an opportunity for you to ask questions. It would be best if you had questions for your interviewer to get the job. Research the company and role. Who are the company's main competitors, how many people work there, how quickly is the company growing, and how large is the design team? You could ask any of the following questions in this context:

What strategic advantage does Company X have over Company Y?
How does Company X plan to grow the design team over the next year?
On which specific aspects of this product will I work?
With whom will I work daily - product management, engineering, or other designers?
Will I get to talk directly to customers?
What is the ratio of engineers to designers?