I created a follow up video last week that I truly believe is a strong compliment to this video. If you like this video, check out my follow up video -ua-cam.com/video/7EEsrVA81qo/v-deo.html. Thanks!
Just landed a PgM role at Google. Thank you so much Jeff for your content! Your videos helped me navigate how to think through the questions and how to frame my answers. Everyone - listen to this man!
I am a RN bsn looking to make a switch to project management specifically with google remote work. Just took the google project management course, was going to look into further programs.
Stephanie, it sounds like you have some good transferable skills, I strongly suggest upping your skills both through courses and any practical application of those skills in your current role.
Thank you so much Jeff. I have been watching this video daily to get into the philosophy. I hope it helps my next attempt to get to scale the HQ interview the next time
Thanks Tobi! Yes, this is exactly what you need to do, get in the mind set for the role and the company. Daily preparation and practice is one item that I think is so important for candidates to understand, especially those in active job search/actively interviewing. These daily exercises not only help us get prepared, but they build confidence, and most importantly allow us to flex and adapt when we get the tougher interview questions. Putting in the time and effort will pay off! Thanks!
@@jeffhsipepi Jefffff! I got in . You made magic dude! I honestly wish I paid for this content. haha! Cheers to navigating more ambiguity and helping the firm in customer retention and acquisition !!! You rock chief! Thank you so much
Great Video, provides a large amount of information regarding the topic of what happens on a Program manager interview, the rest is up to you I would assume!
I loved this! Truly is what I have done in past and hits all on the nose; question as my interview (2nd of 4 I think) what should I brush up on for the Technical Domain. I deal with so much tech that we 'do' so want to put in some context. do I share the build of a data center?
Linda, you should really talk with the Recruiter to determine what technical components will be covered and find out as much information as possible. Based on that info I would brush up on those areas. With tech typically you know it or you do not, but it never hurts to brush up on technical items you have not touched in awhile (if that is the case). Good luck!
Vinay, I would love to answer your question, can you be more specific for me? I want to make sure I am providing a specific answer and not keeping it too high level/theoretical. Thanks!
Thank you Jeff for posting insights on this. Please could you also share similar interview tips for Business Development manager and Sales Engineer role
After researching both these roles, I think it makes the most sense to answer any direct questions you have about interviewing for these types of positions and I will do my best to answer those specific questions. Please feel free to reply to this comment so I can answer the questions openly for others or email me directly with your questions at jeff@jeffhsipe.com. Thanks!
These concepts hold true across all roles at Google. If you can demonstrate strong problem solving and leadership skills, show how you drove results with data, how you navigated ambiguity, and your examples demonstrate a high level of flexibility, you will do great. Examples that demonstrate all five of these characteristics will be the most impactful! Thanks!
Wow that's a great series of videos, thank you Jeff. I wish I had seen your videos before my interview... would totally helped better organizing my thoughts. So since I failed on the PM role at Google Cloud, do you think I would get another shot if I gear myself up for like half a year?
I reference some of these topics in my videos, but I have not created a specific one for each topic. Is there a specific video that I can create that you think might be helpful? Thank you so much for your input!
Thanks Eric. For technical interviews try pramp.com, you practice with other people, it seems like a cool platform that people like, let me know what you think. The domain part is going to be very specific to your focus area, reply to this comment with your domain and I might be able to direct to you some good resources. Thanks!
Mohit, thanks! I want to continue to provide my audience with great content so if you have any suggestions for videos that might help, please let me know :)
Hi Jeff, thanks for making this video. I've learnt a lot. Is there a way to improve OOD and System Design skills? If you could share some material to learn, that could be great!
Sophie, sorry for the delay! I really like pramp.com, I am not very technical, but I have seen such great feedback on this site. Please let me and the audience know how this tool works for you. Also let me know if you have any additional questions. Thanks!
Thank you so much for all the great content! They really help me to get the concepts especially those regarding Google. One question I haven't figured out after went through this video and all other video titles, is that how are the technical questions different from a SWE interview? Does Google ask same algorithm/coding questions as in the SWE interviews?
Gao, great question, and the answer is, it depends! Some TPM technical interviews are super domain focused and while technical, will not involve coding/algorithms, but other TPM interviews will require these items depending on the role. During my time at Google, more often than not the TPM did not have a coding/algorithm interview. But let's say it's a TPM, SRE, in that type of interview you would definitely expect coding. The best piece of advice I can give anyone interviewing for a TPM role is to ask your Recruiter if there will be coding/algorithms. Please let me know if you have any additional questions, thank you!
What a great video - I ended up taking a ton of notes! This is my funny metric for how rich or sparse a video is on content ;) Question! - is it alright to ask the recruiter about the needs of the team prior to have a first-round phone interview with a hiring manager? I could imagine that if asked too early, a hiring manager might feel like that’s something that should be covered in the interview itself. Thanks!
Tammy, absolutely! A good Recruiter will provide you with a lot of information without providing anything confidential. And there are a number of ways to ask that question. You can specifically ask about the needs of the team, what has been missing from other candidates, what does this team tend to like in candidates, etc. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Thanks!
Hi Jeff, I am a rapper, writer, filmmaker. Content creator. Copy writer.. I manage my UA-cam channel & music. I do not have coding skills. I have directing skills... Producing skills. Conducting a symphony Steve Jobs lets do this instead of that type skills. Am I out of my league ?
CatSkillsRaps thanks for your comment. Do you want to be a Program Manager at Google or do you like what you are currently doing? Most PM's at Google do have a background in engineering and typically at least 3-5 working as a corporate Program Manager. But you do have one skill that I think sets you up for success in any job interview, and that is wearing multiple hats. So if you ever did want to make the switch to corporate, you take all those skills and maybe start in a production role for example. It is really important for anyone wanting to expand their career into a different field to identify transferable skills and take baby steps. You might not be a Program Manager now, but it doesn't mean you can't be one in the future. The only person who can tell you can or can't do something is you :). I hope this helps!
@@jeffhsipepi It would be great to get more insights into similar or management roles (not sure if you recruited managers as well) and I would be very interested to understand the recruiting process at Google better (as much as you could share with us). Thanks a lot!
@@mydocsoft Thank you so much for your question. I did hire recruit for a few leadership positions at Google and I found that Google interviews the same for leadership as any other company. One item to keep in mind is Google is so big now that your ability to manage across large/distributed teams is critical and sometimes leading without authority. I created a video on the basics of Google's interview process that may help - ua-cam.com/video/ZD3NXATM-2w/v-deo.html. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
@@jeffhsipepi Thanks, Jeff. Is it true that Google's hiring strategy is to hire only talented people from top tier universities (Stanford, Harvard, etc.)?
@@mydocsoft Great question, absolutely not! Google focuses on what you have done in your career not where you went to school. I hired candidates into high level roles with no degree. I hope this helps! And keep the questions coming!
Hi Jeff, Certainly a great video with loads of good information. QQ - Does the Technical Program Manager also takes care from Budget Perspective? If yes, whats the best metrics for Budget? and also to monitor the program?
Pankaj, I think the most important item is acknowledge that the budget is something you need to take into consideration. It is less about getting into the specifics because the way a company budget's a program will be different organization to organization. I hope this helps! Thanks!
Zahra, great question! Account Manager positions range so greatly company to company and even within Google, I really want to make sure I am getting your question answered for a larger audience, is there a more specific question? If not, I can try and tackle this for the group. Thanks!
Kranthi, all Program Manager roles at Google will include this analytical component. The best way to prepare is to create a plan/framework for the most common scenarios you might face in a PM role. And then practice utilizing these plans/frameworks to answer open ended questions. And this is really what the analytical part of the interviews cover, is an ability to take something vague and on the surface, simplistic and drill down on the layers of complexity. Does this help? Let me know if you want more to elaborate. Thanks for your question!
@@jeffhsipepi Thanks, appreciate your quick reply. My assessment of the role is it is a program manager job with heavy emphasis around data science and machine learning. I was curious about the level of detail around the domain related.
@@kranthigandrapu922 DS and ML will definitely be a part of the Program Manager interview if that is the core focus of the role. The level of technical depth will depend on whether it is a TPM or PM role. Anytime we talk about domain or RRK (role related knowledge), it is best to ask your Recruiter what will be covered in the interview. Obviously, these specific subject areas require strong knowledge in the space. I hope this helps! Thanks!
Thanks Jeff. This was great and super helpful. Any thoughts or suggestions for those of us from outside the tech world looking for non-technical program manager roles at the FAANG companies?
Tzachi, great question! Yes, non-technical Program Manager positions exist, but most are in a pretty specific niche. Supply Chain and HR would be a couple of examples of areas where a candidate might have a specific skill/s, but they have not grown up on the engineering side of things. When specifically targeting tech companies and the top tech companies, most Program Managers grew up in engineering and at some point in their career realized they liked wearing a lot of hats and were good at working/communicating across teams. This answer is a little generic. I looked at your LinkedIn profile and it looks like you have a strong background in healthcare. I know Apple for instance is hiring Program Managers for their growing health division, this might be a good type of opportunity for you. I hope this helps!
@@jeffhsipepi Thanks Jeff - this is definitely helpful although not really what I'm hoping for. = ) I have to imagine, since as you mentioned Program Mgr's usually have either a solid technical background OR are great Program Mgr's (which are the "soft" skills that are much harder to come by) that tech companies, especially those with explosive growth, are looking for great leaders, and for the right person (culture, fit, aptitude and of course experience) for which accommodations or exceptions may be made. What do you think?
@@tzachisakilitov7737 Yes, exceptions are made for great candidates, specifically I saw this show up in those that had learned it on their own, meaning they likely skipped college, but gained the skills on the job and by taking courses/creating things on the side. The hardest part for those that do not have the ideal background is getting in the door, once you are in the door, anyone has a shot if they prepare, practice, and have a positive attitude. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks!
Sunny, the execution phase will really show up in two different ways. In your behavioral answers you will really want to focus on the execution in your actions. On the open-ended side it will be about your ability to make assumptions and take risk. When preparing for execution on open-ended questions, think about what you have done in the past and how it would generically apply to that position. I hope this answers your question!
@@syama7865 Ok, remember if you do not hear back in a timely manner from your Recruiter it is always okay to follow up and get a status update. Keep us updated on the results!
Thank you so much Jeff, it is a really informative and useful video to help me understand the key requirements as a program managers. Still, I want to ask more details about data driven and technical parts: Is it necessary to learn sql or other data analysis skills? And if I do not have strong computer science background, am I still qualified to apply for program manager roles?
Sheng Ran, being data driven does not require technical skills, while many Program Managers have a technical background, it is not necessary for all Program Manager roels
Sera, can you be more specific please? I want to protect the confidentiality of my past candidates and current clients. What I can share is that the best stories combine all these concepts, and the answers are organized and well thought out. In addition, candidates provide passion and emotion behind their answer so I feel even more connected to their story. I really hope this answer helps! Please let me know if I can provide more detail. Thanks!
Thanks so much, Jeff, for sharing truly useful content for interview prep esp. ones with Google. Your videos truly help me prepare well for my interviews. Just curious if you also could cover interview prep for Solutions Consultant as well. What do you think? Once again, thanks so much!
Gil, great question! In regards to Solutions Consultants, the first step is technical. These roles require you to have a wide breadth of knowledge on a host of technical items from coding (mostly reviewing code), Web Tech, Linux/Unix, SQL, Networking, Data Structures, Algorithms, etc. Some of the questions around these subjects may be concepts candidates have not studied or reviewed in a long time, but they are all on the table in these interviews. Doing the technical practice is step one. The second step is all about collaboration and working with teams, be prepared to answer scenario/situational questions, open-ended questions, and likely a couple of behavioral interview questions. Lastly, these roles are very customer focused (internal and or external) so be ready for questions in that space as well. I hope this helps, let me know if you have additional questions. Thanks!
Jeff H Sipe , wow! Thanks so much for the detailed, kind quality answer! Truly appreciate it. Will put into great use for my upcoming interview. Once again, thanks so much!
Gosh, are you good!! Extremely well done video in terms of your presentation and interviewing advice. I'll let you know the outcome of my interview and whether or not your advice was applicable to my experience. Thank you, Jeff
@@jeffhsipepi On the videos of yours that I watched, I took notes on all and prepped for my interviews accordingly and those very questions were asked of me. All I had to do was follow my notes, ask those thoughtful questions that you had recommended & confirm with the interviewer that I had sufficiently provided the information they were looking for. The feedback was positive throughout both interviews and compliments were given all around! I'm moving on to your video on Salary Negotiation. Heartfelt thanks!
Hi Jeff! I am about to have an interview for program manager in Supply Chain with Google, does these questions applies as well? What kind of questions should I expect in the first interview with the hiring manager? Thanks!!
Ana, yes, all Program Manager interviews will cover questions related to time, budget, collaboration, risk mitigation, etc. The hiring manager interview is a bit of a wildcard, be ready for anything, but think role specific and definitely be ready for both behavioral and hypothetical questions, good luck!
@@jeffhsipepi Hi Jeff! I passed the interview! But I was told that I fit better in another position, so I will be interviewed again by another hiring manager, quick question, I cant use the same examples, right? Or can I get there at least 1? The same day I will be having the Googliness and behavioral interviews! Long day! Thanks a lot for your videos, they are helping me a lot!!!
@@agh779 You can repeat examples, just remember to focus on the pivot point - ua-cam.com/video/FOeQicmfsNw/v-deo.html, because when you use this focus, you can present the same examples, but the interviewer will be hearing the story from a different starting point with potentially different focus actions, etc., good luck!!
Great video, thank you for the insight. What would you recommend for a 53 year old who has never been a project manager but have tons of experience in all the points you talked about. I am lucky to have a job interview coming up. Even though my resume does not have any project manager history on it, somehow the hiring managers called me for the interview. I have been prepping with Agile and Scrum teams (that is the platform they use) so I have an idea what I am talking about but other than that, I really have no experience.
Jorge, great question! A lot of candidates that interview for PM roles not only don't have the titles, but also have not been classically trained in PM methodologies like Agile and Scrum. Your goal is to call to their attention how you have done hands on PM work without having the title. Talk about the doing and worry less about methodologies. Also just remember with every question to put on your PM hat, try using GHBTRRSSS when answering PM questions. Goals/Objectives, Historical Data, Budget, Timeline, Resources (Tools & People), Risk, Scope/Scale, Stakeholders, and Shared Vision. These are the concepts that continually repeat with my clients, I hope they help you. Good luck! Thanks.
Mayur Rathi, there are definitely some similarities, but when you think about the Customer Success Manager position, you want to be focusing on the external needs of clients. Really understanding the User and how you advocate for them and their needs. Strong product knowledge will also be necessary for these roles. I hope that helps!
@@bhagwandeore6965 it is a great question. Program Managers have all sorts of different backgrounds and while many start on the technical side that does not have to be your path. Two critical items are building up domain expertise in a particular area and secondly having a passion for working with people to solve big challenges. I hope this helps!
Thanks for the great insight Jeff! It really helps. Could you also share similar tips for Technical Program Manager role if possible? Would the program management part be heavily focused on like for regular Program Manager roles? Thanks in advance!
Great question. The only difference would be potentially one very technical interview including Coding, Algorithms, etc. The domain questions might also be more Technical as well. I hope this helps, thanks!
Dee Dee, I do not consider myself a subject matter expert in this area, I have never recruited for this role in my career. I watched a few other videos on this subject to find good content for you, and I found this one useful - ua-cam.com/video/c6LwqcaTdB4/v-deo.html. I hope this helps!
Thanks Jeff you are really awesome. I have an interview with Google next week with a recruiter. What questions am I going to be expecting from that interview ?
@@johnereyimwen1246 the Recruiter will be focused on role fit, watch this video it should help - ua-cam.com/video/WJTOrhdciH4/v-deo.html. In addition, watch this video with questions you should be asking the Recruiter - ua-cam.com/video/5sjcuHD-hXc/v-deo.html. I hope this helps! Good luck!
@@johnereyimwen1246 The answer to this question should be VERY specific to your personal reasons why because it will translate well in the interview if it comes from you. The biggest item with this question is to think about the reasons why, write them down, and practice your answer. This answer should be one minute or less.
Hello Jeff, awesome video! I just booked a phone call with recruiter for a program manager position. Do you have any tips or the first round of call with a recruiter? I am looking forward to study your video in depth if I make it to the next round.
This first round will be to identify your match and should be pretty high level. Still take it seriously, have a few strong examples prepared for why you are a strong match, be kind, ask good questions, and have a great answer for why you want to work at that company. Please let me know if you have any additional questions!
@@jeffhsipepi Thank you!! I just got past the recruiter and hiring manager hangout interview and proceeding to next rounds of interview. Due to the nature of this position out of country, I am to hold 3 additional hangout interviews instead of onsite all day panels. According to the hiring process document I am to be interviewed for General Cognitive Ability, Leadership and Googleyness addition to Role Related Knowledge, do you have any specific tip or guide to prepare for this?
@@hodorlodordoor I emailed you :). But just so everyone sees the feedback, General Cognitive Ability (referred to as GCA internally at Google) will test your analytical capabilities. What does this mean? Open ended questions. Watch the video I posted this week, it will be critical for your success in this interview. Leadership, don't think about leading people, think about leadership capabilities, for instance, taking the lead on a project, leading team members, etc., have a few good examples of times you have demonstrated leadership. Googleyness is just your overall culture fit, say positive things/be a positive person/smile. For role related knowledge take the time to look through the job description and understand how the role impacts the organization. This is where a little bit of research can also be helpful. Ideally, you have most of these skills, but the one way to practice is brush up on some of the fundamentals, Google is big on fundamentals. I hope this helps! Thanks!
If you can master open ended questions you will be able to tackle any GCA question. And GCA questions for a TPM are not going to be that much different than any other position. As you will see online on sites like glassdoor and quora, many GCA questions at Google focus on an enhancement or building something up. Let's take Google Home for instance, how would you enhance Google Home or how would you install a Google Home in every Google Office around the world. These questions will require a number of follow up/clarifying questions and an ability to ultimately solve. Does this help? Can I provide more clarity? Thanks!
I created a follow up video last week that I truly believe is a strong compliment to this video. If you like this video, check out my follow up video -ua-cam.com/video/7EEsrVA81qo/v-deo.html. Thanks!
Just landed a PgM role at Google. Thank you so much Jeff for your content! Your videos helped me navigate how to think through the questions and how to frame my answers.
Everyone - listen to this man!
Pat on Points, CONGRATS!!! And thanks for the shout out!
Congrats Pat…I am planning to prepare for it …fingers crossed..
Hi Pat, I have an upcoming interview for a PgM role with Google. Would you be willing to chat with me about your experience? TYIA!
I believe, this is the best video on Program Management with clarity. Thank you sir!
I sincerely appreciate your feedback, any other content you would like me to create? Thanks!
Thanks Jeff-- You got my sub for 1) clarity 2) Brevity.....consice!! Keep 'em coming!! 👍🏼
Royal, thank you so much for your feedback! I will be releasing Part 2 of this video today, stay tuned!
Jeff your video with help many people who want to be managers
Isaac, thanks, an oldie, but goodie! 😎
Excellent info. I just accepted a role of Program Strategist BA so it is very helpful!
GIRLZ on BIKEZ, amazing! Congrats!!!
Great video. Well articulated. Crisp, Concise and soo helpful! Thank you!
Pooja, so happy to help, thanks for the positive feedback!
This was super useful. Watching part 2 of this next.
Lanre, awesome!
I am a RN bsn looking to make a switch to project management specifically with google remote work. Just took the google project management course, was going to look into further programs.
Stephanie, it sounds like you have some good transferable skills, I strongly suggest upping your skills both through courses and any practical application of those skills in your current role.
I’m a teacher looking to switch career and this sounds interesting almost similar to tasks at my current
Xenia, it definitely is, the Program Manager wears a lot of hats and manages a lot of different items at one time. It sounds exactly like a Teacher!
Thank you! Very informative!
harirao12345, thank you so much for watching and the positive feedback!
Thank you so much Jeff. I have been watching this video daily to get into the philosophy. I hope it helps my next attempt to get to scale the HQ interview the next time
Thanks Tobi! Yes, this is exactly what you need to do, get in the mind set for the role and the company. Daily preparation and practice is one item that I think is so important for candidates to understand, especially those in active job search/actively interviewing. These daily exercises not only help us get prepared, but they build confidence, and most importantly allow us to flex and adapt when we get the tougher interview questions. Putting in the time and effort will pay off! Thanks!
@@jeffhsipepi Jefffff! I got in . You made magic dude! I honestly wish I paid for this content. haha! Cheers to navigating more ambiguity and helping the firm in customer retention and acquisition !!!
You rock chief! Thank you so much
@@itstobystic This makes my day! Absolutely amazing, so happy for you. Connect with me on LinkedIn. Yessssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Super precise and all the points put forth. Really great video
Kunal, thanks for the positive feedback!
Appreciate the info! Great video
Justin, thanks, I am glad you found the info helpful!
Great Video, provides a large amount of information regarding the topic of what happens on a Program manager interview, the rest is up to you I would assume!
Jeff, thank you for this video. Super helpful
Niro, thanks for the positive feedback, I am glad you found this info helpful!
Great stuff. Thanks for this.
Robert, happy to help!
Thanks Jeff! This was a great first video to look at for Program Management :)
Thanks Parulminu, when you have the time check out my follow up video to this one. I am thinking about maybe doing another, so many items to cover!
@@jeffhsipepi :) I saw a few of yours. The best thing is, you keep them short. Highly appreciate it!
Thank you Jeff, really wonderful video with a wealth of information.
Thanks Vinesh! I am working on Part II and I hope to have that video released in the next two to three weeks :)
Awesome video!
Brown, thank you!
I loved this! Truly is what I have done in past and hits all on the nose; question as my interview (2nd of 4 I think) what should I brush up on for the Technical Domain. I deal with so much tech that we 'do' so want to put in some context. do I share the build of a data center?
Linda, you should really talk with the Recruiter to determine what technical components will be covered and find out as much information as possible. Based on that info I would brush up on those areas. With tech typically you know it or you do not, but it never hurts to brush up on technical items you have not touched in awhile (if that is the case). Good luck!
Thanks for this, can you please tell how many rounds are there ?
Teena, typically for a Program Manager, four formal interviews.
Thanks
Please give examples of critical thinking and problem solving.
Vinay, I would love to answer your question, can you be more specific for me? I want to make sure I am providing a specific answer and not keeping it too high level/theoretical. Thanks!
Thank you Jeff for posting insights on this. Please could you also share similar interview tips for Business Development manager and Sales Engineer role
After researching both these roles, I think it makes the most sense to answer any direct questions you have about interviewing for these types of positions and I will do my best to answer those specific questions. Please feel free to reply to this comment so I can answer the questions openly for others or email me directly with your questions at jeff@jeffhsipe.com. Thanks!
Another great video Jeff👍 . Does Google fiber apply the same Interview methods.
These concepts hold true across all roles at Google. If you can demonstrate strong problem solving and leadership skills, show how you drove results with data, how you navigated ambiguity, and your examples demonstrate a high level of flexibility, you will do great. Examples that demonstrate all five of these characteristics will be the most impactful! Thanks!
Wow that's a great series of videos, thank you Jeff. I wish I had seen your videos before my interview... would totally helped better organizing my thoughts. So since I failed on the PM role at Google Cloud, do you think I would get another shot if I gear myself up for like half a year?
Ring Yu, yes, the likelihood of another chance is very high, keep preparing and practicing!
Hi Jeff..really good concise content ..do you have videos explaning each like examples of scheduling, decision making, tools to use etc
I reference some of these topics in my videos, but I have not created a specific one for each topic. Is there a specific video that I can create that you think might be helpful? Thank you so much for your input!
Great video, super informative and helpful, thanks a lot!
Do you have any good source to recommend for the domain/technical part of the interview?
Thanks Eric. For technical interviews try pramp.com, you practice with other people, it seems like a cool platform that people like, let me know what you think. The domain part is going to be very specific to your focus area, reply to this comment with your domain and I might be able to direct to you some good resources. Thanks!
awesome...excellent pointers
Mohit, thanks! I want to continue to provide my audience with great content so if you have any suggestions for videos that might help, please let me know :)
Great video
Madhvi, thank you!!
Very cool video indeeed.
If I may, Why did you leave Google? Sounds like a great place to work at :)
Andrei, I actually did a video on it - ua-cam.com/video/bmn_Otijg8w/v-deo.html
Hi Jeff, thanks for making this video. I've learnt a lot. Is there a way to improve OOD and System Design skills? If you could share some material to learn, that could be great!
Sophie, sorry for the delay! I really like pramp.com, I am not very technical, but I have seen such great feedback on this site. Please let me and the audience know how this tool works for you. Also let me know if you have any additional questions. Thanks!
Thank you so much for all the great content! They really help me to get the concepts especially those regarding Google. One question I haven't figured out after went through this video and all other video titles, is that how are the technical questions different from a SWE interview? Does Google ask same algorithm/coding questions as in the SWE interviews?
Gao, great question, and the answer is, it depends! Some TPM technical interviews are super domain focused and while technical, will not involve coding/algorithms, but other TPM interviews will require these items depending on the role. During my time at Google, more often than not the TPM did not have a coding/algorithm interview. But let's say it's a TPM, SRE, in that type of interview you would definitely expect coding. The best piece of advice I can give anyone interviewing for a TPM role is to ask your Recruiter if there will be coding/algorithms. Please let me know if you have any additional questions, thank you!
@@jeffhsipepi That's a thorough answer covers everything I need to know. Thank you so much!
this is very helpful!
Linda, so happy this video helped!
What a great video - I ended up taking a ton of notes! This is my funny metric for how rich or sparse a video is on content ;) Question! - is it alright to ask the recruiter about the needs of the team prior to have a first-round phone interview with a hiring manager? I could imagine that if asked too early, a hiring manager might feel like that’s something that should be covered in the interview itself. Thanks!
Tammy, absolutely! A good Recruiter will provide you with a lot of information without providing anything confidential. And there are a number of ways to ask that question. You can specifically ask about the needs of the team, what has been missing from other candidates, what does this team tend to like in candidates, etc. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Thanks!
Hi Jeff, I am a rapper, writer, filmmaker. Content creator. Copy writer.. I manage my UA-cam channel & music.
I do not have coding skills. I have directing skills... Producing skills. Conducting a symphony Steve Jobs lets do this instead of that type skills.
Am I out of my league ?
CatSkillsRaps thanks for your comment. Do you want to be a Program Manager at Google or do you like what you are currently doing? Most PM's at Google do have a background in engineering and typically at least 3-5 working as a corporate Program Manager. But you do have one skill that I think sets you up for success in any job interview, and that is wearing multiple hats. So if you ever did want to make the switch to corporate, you take all those skills and maybe start in a production role for example. It is really important for anyone wanting to expand their career into a different field to identify transferable skills and take baby steps. You might not be a Program Manager now, but it doesn't mean you can't be one in the future. The only person who can tell you can or can't do something is you :). I hope this helps!
great stuff
Thanks Nicolas!
Excellent - very helpful input, Jeff. Liked and subscribed. Please share more insider info (from the recruiter perspective) with us. Thanks a lot!
Is there an specific info that would help you and the audience? Thank you so much for your comment!
@@jeffhsipepi It would be great to get more insights into similar or management roles (not sure if you recruited managers as well) and I would be very interested to understand the recruiting process at Google better (as much as you could share with us). Thanks a lot!
@@mydocsoft Thank you so much for your question. I did hire recruit for a few leadership positions at Google and I found that Google interviews the same for leadership as any other company. One item to keep in mind is Google is so big now that your ability to manage across large/distributed teams is critical and sometimes leading without authority. I created a video on the basics of Google's interview process that may help - ua-cam.com/video/ZD3NXATM-2w/v-deo.html. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
@@jeffhsipepi Thanks, Jeff. Is it true that Google's hiring strategy is to hire only talented people from top tier universities (Stanford, Harvard, etc.)?
@@mydocsoft Great question, absolutely not! Google focuses on what you have done in your career not where you went to school. I hired candidates into high level roles with no degree. I hope this helps! And keep the questions coming!
Hi Jeff, Certainly a great video with loads of good information. QQ - Does the Technical Program Manager also takes care from Budget Perspective? If yes, whats the best metrics for Budget? and also to monitor the program?
Pankaj, I think the most important item is acknowledge that the budget is something you need to take into consideration. It is less about getting into the specifics because the way a company budget's a program will be different organization to organization. I hope this helps! Thanks!
Hi Jeff,
Could you please help me how mobilization program manager works and what are the responsibilities.
Raghu, do you have a job description you can share with me? Mobilization responsibilities will vary greatly depending on position. Thanks!
You are the best! Super helpful content! ❤️❤️❤️
Sangeeth, so glad my content is helpful, thanks or the positive feedback!
Hi Jeff,
Can you expand on Account Manager interviews as well please? :)
Zahra, great question! Account Manager positions range so greatly company to company and even within Google, I really want to make sure I am getting your question answered for a larger audience, is there a more specific question? If not, I can try and tackle this for the group. Thanks!
Hi Jeff, do you mind sharing resources to prepare for analytical program manager role at google?
Kranthi, all Program Manager roles at Google will include this analytical component. The best way to prepare is to create a plan/framework for the most common scenarios you might face in a PM role. And then practice utilizing these plans/frameworks to answer open ended questions. And this is really what the analytical part of the interviews cover, is an ability to take something vague and on the surface, simplistic and drill down on the layers of complexity. Does this help? Let me know if you want more to elaborate. Thanks for your question!
@@jeffhsipepi Thanks, appreciate your quick reply. My assessment of the role is it is a program manager job with heavy emphasis around data science and machine learning. I was curious about the level of detail around the domain related.
@@kranthigandrapu922 DS and ML will definitely be a part of the Program Manager interview if that is the core focus of the role. The level of technical depth will depend on whether it is a TPM or PM role. Anytime we talk about domain or RRK (role related knowledge), it is best to ask your Recruiter what will be covered in the interview. Obviously, these specific subject areas require strong knowledge in the space. I hope this helps! Thanks!
Thanks Jeff. This was great and super helpful. Any thoughts or suggestions for those of us from outside the tech world looking for non-technical program manager roles at the FAANG companies?
Tzachi, great question! Yes, non-technical Program Manager positions exist, but most are in a pretty specific niche. Supply Chain and HR would be a couple of examples of areas where a candidate might have a specific skill/s, but they have not grown up on the engineering side of things. When specifically targeting tech companies and the top tech companies, most Program Managers grew up in engineering and at some point in their career realized they liked wearing a lot of hats and were good at working/communicating across teams. This answer is a little generic. I looked at your LinkedIn profile and it looks like you have a strong background in healthcare. I know Apple for instance is hiring Program Managers for their growing health division, this might be a good type of opportunity for you. I hope this helps!
@@jeffhsipepi Thanks Jeff - this is definitely helpful although not really what I'm hoping for. = ) I have to imagine, since as you mentioned Program Mgr's usually have either a solid technical background OR are great Program Mgr's (which are the "soft" skills that are much harder to come by) that tech companies, especially those with explosive growth, are looking for great leaders, and for the right person (culture, fit, aptitude and of course experience) for which accommodations or exceptions may be made. What do you think?
@@tzachisakilitov7737 Yes, exceptions are made for great candidates, specifically I saw this show up in those that had learned it on their own, meaning they likely skipped college, but gained the skills on the job and by taking courses/creating things on the side. The hardest part for those that do not have the ideal background is getting in the door, once you are in the door, anyone has a shot if they prepare, practice, and have a positive attitude. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks!
@@jeffhsipepi Thanks Jeff, much appreciated. Great content, both here and on your site! Thanks for what you're doing.
Hi Jeff - Thanks for this. How would you prepare differently for 'program mgmt execution' vs program mgmt in general? Thanks
Sunny, the execution phase will really show up in two different ways. In your behavioral answers you will really want to focus on the execution in your actions. On the open-ended side it will be about your ability to make assumptions and take risk. When preparing for execution on open-ended questions, think about what you have done in the past and how it would generically apply to that position. I hope this answers your question!
@@jeffhsipepi Thank you! I believe I did well in the interview (thank you for your videos), hopefully looking forward to the good news!
@@SunnyGoklani9 keep us updated!
Very informative video. Subscribed. Have an interview today. Hope this helps. Thanks and wish me good luck.
How did your interview go? Anything I have not covered that would have made you more successful in that video? Thanks!
Yes Jeff, the interview went on more depth into the cost management and vendor management. I answered my best, waiting for the result.
@@syama7865 Ok, remember if you do not hear back in a timely manner from your Recruiter it is always okay to follow up and get a status update. Keep us updated on the results!
@@jeffhsipepi Sure Jeff. Will keep you posted.
@Syamala Devi
Did you appear for Technical Program Manager role?
Thank you so much Jeff, it is a really informative and useful video to help me understand the key requirements as a program managers. Still, I want to ask more details about data driven and technical parts: Is it necessary to learn sql or other data analysis skills? And if I do not have strong computer science background, am I still qualified to apply for program manager roles?
Sheng Ran, being data driven does not require technical skills, while many Program Managers have a technical background, it is not necessary for all Program Manager roels
@@jeffhsipepi Thank you so much Jeff. I am currently at Accenture as a Business Analyst and really look forward to joining google one day😊
Can you share some of the best stories when asked these questions in interviews?
Sera, can you be more specific please? I want to protect the confidentiality of my past candidates and current clients. What I can share is that the best stories combine all these concepts, and the answers are organized and well thought out. In addition, candidates provide passion and emotion behind their answer so I feel even more connected to their story. I really hope this answer helps! Please let me know if I can provide more detail. Thanks!
Does "platform success manager" is similar to that of program manager or customer success manager?
Mayur Rathi Cloud, from what I see from the job descriptions they look similar!
@@jeffhsipepi thanks from what I believe it is between program manager and customer success manager role, a mix of both.
Thanks so much, Jeff, for sharing truly useful content for interview prep esp. ones with Google. Your videos truly help me prepare well for my interviews. Just curious if you also could cover interview prep for Solutions Consultant as well. What do you think? Once again, thanks so much!
Gil, great question! In regards to Solutions Consultants, the first step is technical. These roles require you to have a wide breadth of knowledge on a host of technical items from coding (mostly reviewing code), Web Tech, Linux/Unix, SQL, Networking, Data Structures, Algorithms, etc. Some of the questions around these subjects may be concepts candidates have not studied or reviewed in a long time, but they are all on the table in these interviews. Doing the technical practice is step one. The second step is all about collaboration and working with teams, be prepared to answer scenario/situational questions, open-ended questions, and likely a couple of behavioral interview questions. Lastly, these roles are very customer focused (internal and or external) so be ready for questions in that space as well. I hope this helps, let me know if you have additional questions. Thanks!
Jeff H Sipe , wow! Thanks so much for the detailed, kind quality answer! Truly appreciate it. Will put into great use for my upcoming interview. Once again, thanks so much!
Gosh, are you good!! Extremely well done video in terms of your presentation and interviewing advice. I'll let you know the outcome of my interview and whether or not your advice was applicable to my experience. Thank you, Jeff
Andrea, let us all know!
@@jeffhsipepi On the videos of yours that I watched, I took notes on all and prepped for my interviews accordingly and those very questions were asked of me. All I had to do was follow my notes, ask those thoughtful questions that you had recommended & confirm with the interviewer that I had sufficiently provided the information they were looking for. The feedback was positive throughout both interviews and compliments were given all around! I'm moving on to your video on Salary Negotiation. Heartfelt thanks!
@@andreacolley8664 Amazing!
Hi Jeff! I am about to have an interview for program manager in Supply Chain with Google, does these questions applies as well? What kind of questions should I expect in the first interview with the hiring manager?
Thanks!!
Ana, yes, all Program Manager interviews will cover questions related to time, budget, collaboration, risk mitigation, etc. The hiring manager interview is a bit of a wildcard, be ready for anything, but think role specific and definitely be ready for both behavioral and hypothetical questions, good luck!
@@jeffhsipepi Hi Jeff! I passed the interview! But I was told that I fit better in another position, so I will be interviewed again by another hiring manager, quick question, I cant use the same examples, right? Or can I get there at least 1? The same day I will be having the Googliness and behavioral interviews! Long day! Thanks a lot for your videos, they are helping me a lot!!!
@@agh779 You can repeat examples, just remember to focus on the pivot point - ua-cam.com/video/FOeQicmfsNw/v-deo.html, because when you use this focus, you can present the same examples, but the interviewer will be hearing the story from a different starting point with potentially different focus actions, etc., good luck!!
Great video, thank you for the insight. What would you recommend for a 53 year old who has never been a project manager but have tons of experience in all the points you talked about. I am lucky to have a job interview coming up. Even though my resume does not have any project manager history on it, somehow the hiring managers called me for the interview. I have been prepping with Agile and Scrum teams (that is the platform they use) so I have an idea what I am talking about but other than that, I really have no experience.
Jorge, great question! A lot of candidates that interview for PM roles not only don't have the titles, but also have not been classically trained in PM methodologies like Agile and Scrum. Your goal is to call to their attention how you have done hands on PM work without having the title. Talk about the doing and worry less about methodologies. Also just remember with every question to put on your PM hat, try using GHBTRRSSS when answering PM questions. Goals/Objectives, Historical Data, Budget, Timeline, Resources (Tools & People), Risk, Scope/Scale, Stakeholders, and Shared Vision. These are the concepts that continually repeat with my clients, I hope they help you. Good luck! Thanks.
@@jeffhsipepi thank you!!
Hey Jeff
Does the requirement from a success manager are similar to those of program manager?
Mayur Rathi, there are definitely some similarities, but when you think about the Customer Success Manager position, you want to be focusing on the external needs of clients. Really understanding the User and how you advocate for them and their needs. Strong product knowledge will also be necessary for these roles. I hope that helps!
What is eligibility
Bhagwan, I am not sure when I cover the item of eligibility? Can you reply with the exact time in the video when I mention this item? Thanks!
@@jeffhsipepi you did not mention it Iam in 10standard what will be the perfect path shall I do11and12 or any diploma to become program manager
@@bhagwandeore6965 it is a great question. Program Managers have all sorts of different backgrounds and while many start on the technical side that does not have to be your path. Two critical items are building up domain expertise in a particular area and secondly having a passion for working with people to solve big challenges. I hope this helps!
@@jeffhsipepi thanx
Thanks for the great insight Jeff! It really helps. Could you also share similar tips for Technical Program Manager role if possible? Would the program management part be heavily focused on like for regular Program Manager roles?
Thanks in advance!
Great question. The only difference would be potentially one very technical interview including Coding, Algorithms, etc. The domain questions might also be more Technical as well. I hope this helps, thanks!
Make a video on Business System Analyst interview
Dee Dee, I do not consider myself a subject matter expert in this area, I have never recruited for this role in my career. I watched a few other videos on this subject to find good content for you, and I found this one useful - ua-cam.com/video/c6LwqcaTdB4/v-deo.html. I hope this helps!
Thanks Jeff you are really awesome. I have an interview with Google next week with a recruiter. What questions am I going to be expecting from that interview ?
Please in our own words how would you answer a question like this ? Why do you want to work for Google?
@@johnereyimwen1246 the Recruiter will be focused on role fit, watch this video it should help - ua-cam.com/video/WJTOrhdciH4/v-deo.html. In addition, watch this video with questions you should be asking the Recruiter - ua-cam.com/video/5sjcuHD-hXc/v-deo.html. I hope this helps! Good luck!
@@johnereyimwen1246 The answer to this question should be VERY specific to your personal reasons why because it will translate well in the interview if it comes from you. The biggest item with this question is to think about the reasons why, write them down, and practice your answer. This answer should be one minute or less.
Hello Jeff, awesome video! I just booked a phone call with recruiter for a program manager position. Do you have any tips or the first round of call with a recruiter? I am looking forward to study your video in depth if I make it to the next round.
This first round will be to identify your match and should be pretty high level. Still take it seriously, have a few strong examples prepared for why you are a strong match, be kind, ask good questions, and have a great answer for why you want to work at that company. Please let me know if you have any additional questions!
@@jeffhsipepi Thank you!! I just got past the recruiter and hiring manager hangout interview and proceeding to next rounds of interview. Due to the nature of this position out of country, I am to hold 3 additional hangout interviews instead of onsite all day panels. According to the hiring process document I am to be interviewed for General Cognitive Ability, Leadership and Googleyness addition to Role Related Knowledge, do you have any specific tip or guide to prepare for this?
@@hodorlodordoor I emailed you :). But just so everyone sees the feedback, General Cognitive Ability (referred to as GCA internally at Google) will test your analytical capabilities. What does this mean? Open ended questions. Watch the video I posted this week, it will be critical for your success in this interview. Leadership, don't think about leading people, think about leadership capabilities, for instance, taking the lead on a project, leading team members, etc., have a few good examples of times you have demonstrated leadership. Googleyness is just your overall culture fit, say positive things/be a positive person/smile. For role related knowledge take the time to look through the job description and understand how the role impacts the organization. This is where a little bit of research can also be helpful. Ideally, you have most of these skills, but the one way to practice is brush up on some of the fundamentals, Google is big on fundamentals. I hope this helps! Thanks!
@@hodorlodordoor How did your interview go? I have one coming up. Can you tell me what kind of questions are asked for GCA
It was kind of difficult to focus with the bright multicolored text flying across the screen haha
I really hope the titles help, is there anything else you would like to see visually that might help you and others?
@@jeffhsipepi The text is super helpful but just having those points without the moving animation would be nice! (At least for the longer points)
@@wendyli6238 Totally agree, I went a little overboard in this video! Thank you!
Very informative video. Can you provide some example about questions related to General Cognitive aptitude for TPM roles at google?
If you can master open ended questions you will be able to tackle any GCA question. And GCA questions for a TPM are not going to be that much different than any other position. As you will see online on sites like glassdoor and quora, many GCA questions at Google focus on an enhancement or building something up. Let's take Google Home for instance, how would you enhance Google Home or how would you install a Google Home in every Google Office around the world. These questions will require a number of follow up/clarifying questions and an ability to ultimately solve. Does this help? Can I provide more clarity? Thanks!
👍👍👍
nice :)
Isha, thank you so much, I love waking up to nice comments :)