Back to Your Feed

Do you ask candidates to do case studies / homework as part of the application process? What are you looking for and what tips would you share with candidates?

1 Answer
Sahil Sethi
Sahil Sethi
BetterUp Former Senior Vice President, Product MarketingNovember 22

For tenured PMM roles (e.g. team leads/directors or senior/principal PMMs who may not be team leads), I do ask for an assignment

We usually give an open question that mimics a real business situation (often a challenge we are facing). It could be around marketing to a new audience, or launching a new product, or some change in positioning and messaging we’d like to effect. The final presentation is usually a 30-60 min 1:many presentation where you (the candidate) has the freedom to decide how they want to use the time

I am looking for both functional PMM skills (e.g. messaging, building a GTM plan) and leadership skills (influence and persuasion, communication skills) suitable for their tenure.

Tips - Really important to ask a ton of questions and deconstruct the problem, espeically if it is ambiguous and open ended. Don’t jump to conclusions , especially if you have seen a similar situation in your previous experience. Every company has its unique challenges. Ask the right questions, and share your assumptions

Bring examples of customer centricity. The response to every GTM challenge (doesn’t matter if it is about messaging, enablement, packaging or new launches) starts with understanding the customer challenge and pain points. If that is not given, it should be the first question you ask

The presentation format also demonstrates your ability to run a meeting - a key skill for PMMs who are often orchestrators of key projects. Be prepared to engage a broader group. Emphasize strong storytelling over process. Be clear and confident in your communication

1165 Views
Developing Better Messaging
Thursday, April 18 • 12PM PT
Developing Better Messaging
Virtual Event
Laurence Mecksavanh
Mark Van Laeke
Karen LaRocca
+8
attendees
Top Product Marketing Mentors
Christy Roach
Christy Roach
AssemblyAI VP of Marketing
Tanya Khakbaz
Tanya Khakbaz
Stripe Head of Product Marketing
Sarah Din
Sarah Din
Quickbase VP of Product Marketing
Sherry Wu
Sherry Wu
Gong Director of Product Marketing
Mary Sheehan
Mary Sheehan
Adobe Head of Lightroom Product Marketing
Jeffrey Vocell
Jeffrey Vocell
Panorama Education Head of Product Marketing
Alex Lobert
Alex Lobert
Meta Product Marketing Lead, Facebook for Business & Commerce
Amanda Groves
Amanda Groves
Crossbeam Senior Director Product Marketing
Abdul Rastagar
Abdul Rastagar
GTM Leader | Marketing Author | Career Coach
Amanda Groves
Amanda Groves
Crossbeam Senior Director Product Marketing