How to Run Interviews During Product Discoveries: A Practical Guide for Product Builders

This practical guide will help you conduct the best interviews as a product builder.

You will learn what types of questions to ask, how to phrase your questions and how to prepare your interviews in the framework of product management discoveries, user research and customer interviews. In addition, you will benefit from Timoté Geimer’s ten years of experience in leading product teams in fast-scaling companies.

The discovery phase is one of the most important in a product manager’s job. It’s vital to understand your target’s needs and frame your problem statement. To successfully go through your discovery phase, it’s essential to manage your interviews in the best way possible. This book focuses on semi-structured interviews as they are one of the most effective techniques for conducting interviews.

This book isn’t just practical and full of insightful advice. It’s also effortless to read and understand and contains numerous tips that you can apply to your interviews right away. Any product manager from any level can benefit from this book. By the end of this practical guide, you will have tackled all aspects of a semi-structured interview and be ready to conduct your following interviews effectively.

If you are a product manager and were wondering how to get better at interviewing, this book is made for you. Timoté covers every single aspect of a successful interview with tips and recommendations. A practical guide that every product builder should own.

This practical guide explores:

1. Guidelines & best practices

You will get many tips and recommendations on building the best interview kit.

• Choose the right type of interview: Identifying the best approach for your interview is the first step.
• Ask the right questions: Behind every question, you must have a specific thing you want to uncover. What is the item you want to have an answer to? Why do you ask this question?

2. Prepare for interviews

After defining your research approach and building your questionnaire, it’s time to get ready for the interview. Timoté gives you tips and recommendations on how to prepare for your interview.

3. Running your interview

It’s time to run your interview! How can you manage to get the most out of it?

• Sequence of questions: How can you get your interviewee involved right away?
• Wording of questions: How should you phrase your questions? They are as important as the questions themselves. Timoté Geimer gives you five tips on how to avoid bias in your interviews.

4. Practicalities

The interview is not just the questions themselves. A lack of attention to a small detail can ruin your interview. What else should you pay attention to?

5. Interview boilerplate

You will find a handy interview kit at the end of the book. You can utilise it and get your interviews started right away.