Dover Interviewer or Recruiter Screen

Exceptional: The exceptional product manager candidate has a deep knowledge of product management principles and industry best practices. They have a passion for effective product design and in-depth understanding of the latest technologies and trends. They are able to apply their knowledge in order to provide strategic and insightful guidance on product development.

Good: The good product manager candidate has a basic understanding of product management principles and industry best practices. They demonstrate consistency by learning testing and iterating to optimize product design. They have a working knowledge of relevant technologies, and can apply this knowledge to aid in the development of the product.

Average: The average product manager candidate is able to apply some of their knowledge surrounding product management principles and industry best practices, but may lack expertise in specific areas. They may be able to provide basic direction on product development, but are not able to provide real strategies to optimize the product design.

Below Average: The below average product manager candidate has difficulty demonstrating their knowledge of product management principles and relevant industry best practices. They lack any real understanding of technology trends and their application in product design. They are unable to provide any insightful guidance to aid in product development.

Exceptional: The Exceptional Product Manager candidate actively crafts and evaluates hypotheses to solve complex problems. The Exceptional candidate also demonstrates creativity and innovativeness to come up with unexpected solutions and has the ability to make tough decisions quickly and confidently. They can also provide examples of successful decisions or problem resolutions which they initiated and how it affected the project.

Good: The Good Product Manager candidate is able to think through complex problems and create hypotheses to test solutions, but they might be more conservative in their approach than an Exceptional candidate. They are comfortable making decisions but might not necessarily be able to demonstrate any unique problem-solving skills.

Average: The Average Product Manager candidate is capable of understanding problem-solving situations, but they may be less inclided to come up with creative solutions or make tough decisions. They are capable of understanding and executing tasks but lack advanced problem-solving skills.

Below Average: The Below Average Product Manager candidate is not able to identify and address problems or craft and test hypotheses. They may be reticent to make decisions or lack the problem-solving skills necessary to be successful.

Exceptional: The exceptional Product Manager candidate is able to lead a team of diverse stakeholders with clarity and strong communication skills. They can effectively identify the needs of the stakeholders, present solutions, and motivate the team through each product venture. They are proactive with their stakeholder relationships and have a proven history of successful product launches.

Good: The good Product Manager candidate is capable of leading a team and maintaining effective communication with stakeholders. They understand the needs of stakeholders and are able to develop and execute reasonable solutions. They are capable of problem solving and managing complexity.

Average: The average Product Manager candidate has basic knowledge of product management and a basic understanding of team dynamics. They are able to lead a team and maintain basic communication with stakeholders but may struggle with complex problem solving. They are able to come up with solutions, but the solutions may not be the most effective ones.

Below Average: The below average Product Manager candidate may lack the skills needed to effectively lead a team and communicate to stakeholders. They lack an in-depth understanding of product management and have little experience managing complex product projects. They may struggle to develop feasible solutions and communicate lack of clarity with stakeholders.

Exceptional: Exceptional product manager candidates have the ability to quickly become an expert in all areas related to the product. They understand the complexities and limitations of each team’s environment, tackling cross-functional challenges and finding creative ways to work through them. They are able to anticipate and resolve issues between teams, leveraging their relationships with other departments, stakeholders and the company to get results.

Good: Good product manager candidates have a basic understanding of various teams and functions that make up the product life cycle. They are able to recognize the importance of collaboration and can effectively communicate with members of other teams to ensure success. They have strong communication skills and are able to gain consensus across multiple disciplines.

Average: Average product manager candidates have an awareness of how different functions work together. They are able to see how their product decisions may impact other teams and processes, but are unable to effectively navigate the complexities. They have the ability to communicate broadly, but struggle to gain buy in from cross-functional partners without instructions or guidance.

Below Average: Below average product manager candidates have a limited understanding of the different functions within a product's life cycle. They may be narrowly focused on their specific area of expertise, without any ability to collaborate or interact with other teams. They may not understand the complexity of interdepartmental partnerships, leading to misunderstandings with other team members and slower progress.