Imagine being in FLOW in your next Product Sense interview as a L6+ candidate, without being held back by traditional approaches and frameworks πββοΈ
The Traditional Frameworks Is A Starting Pointβ
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The traditional approach often involves relying heavily on frameworks: segment users, identify pain points, choose a focus, prioritize a solution.
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This is a great starting point, especially for L5 and below.
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βBut this traditional approach doesn't truly demonstrate the depth of your thinking and your ability to go beyond common answers,
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and it can often lead to predictable answers that your interviewers hear from almost every candidate.
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βThat's why I encourage my clients to embrace a shift in mindset that goes beyond frameworks to demonstrate deep strategic thinking that sets them apart~β
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We can do this by identifying the core essence of the problem, beyond surface-level symptoms.
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Let's go through some examples.
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β1) Design an app for Disneyland:β
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π΅ The traditional approach leads to segmenting visitors by categories like "with friends", "with family", or "business".
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-- This would lead to a solution that is focused on logistics and planning which is not particularly differentiating.
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π§ The new approach leads to segmenting visitors by behavior and goals, ie "easy goers" vs "optimizers"
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-- This would result in a storytelling-focused experience that entertains people waiting in lines, such that the waiting time now feels like an illusion.
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β2) Build a movie product for FBβ
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π΅ The traditional approach leads to segmenting by frequency of movie waters: casual viewers vs film buffs.
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-- This would lead to a solution that involves standard browsing and filtering feature.
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π§ The new approach focuses on the essence of how people use FB today (low-intent, scrolling behavior) and the desire to "relive the magic" of movies.
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-- This would lead to a solution of a hub of movie extras and discussions that gets recommended based on intent.
Key Takeaways: Go Deeperβ
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To summarize, deeper understanding of user motivations would lead to a more nuanced segmentation.
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Your solution would not only be more creative, but more aligned with the platform's unique characteristics (ie FB's low-intent nature vs Youtube's high-intent nature).
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Your focus will shift from generic features to addressing the core essence of the problem.
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βAs a result, you will engage a different part of the brain that the traditional approach does not normally leverage, and come up with more creative and differentiated solutions.β
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And that is how you stand out in interviews at L6+ where you demonstrate deeper product and strategic thinking.
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My clients say that they now have to UNLEARN what they learned before, because they've realized that some of their habits are hindering their interview success, but this is where new neuro pathways get formed, which helps you adopt a different mindset that helps you stand out and ace L6 interviews. β€οΈ
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