Product Sense: A 7 Step Framework With Real Examples
TL;DR:
- Use a 7-step framework to structure product sense answers systematically
- Start with user context, define the problem, then ideate solutions methodically
- Practice with real examples like "Design an alarm clock for blind users"
- Focus on reasoning over perfect solutions, interviewers want to see your thinking process
- Track success with specific metrics and be ready to defend your choices
Context and why it matters in 2025
Product sense interviews test your ability to think like a product manager. This requires mastering product management fundamentals. They ask hypothetical questions like “How would you improve Google Maps?” or “Design a product for elderly people.” These are intentionally vague, and they trip up even experienced PMs who don’t have a repeatable way to approach them.
A framework helps. It shows interviewers how you break down ambiguity, empathize with users, evaluate trade-offs, and think through features. This builds on solid user research skills. With AI and product cycles moving faster than ever, this type of thinking is more important than memorizing frameworks.
Step-by-step playbook
Step 1: Clarify the scope and constraints
Ask 2–3 questions about user type, platform, business context, or KPIs. Then restate the problem clearly.
Step 2: Define the target user and their context
Pick one persona. Be specific about their daily life, environment, and frustrations using customer interviews insights. Anchor everything around them.
Step 3: Identify the core problem to solve
Frame a problem statement in the user's own language. This requires product strategy thinking. Avoid jumping to "they need an app", get to the real need.
Step 4: Generate solution ideas
Brainstorm 3–4 ideas that are meaningfully different. Don’t get stuck optimizing just one.
Step 5: Select and detail your recommended solution
Pick one and go deep. List 3–5 features, walk through the experience, and show how it maps back to the core need.
Step 6: Consider implementation and trade-offs
Prioritize the MVP. Acknowledge risks, technical limitations, or business realities. It shows maturity.
Step 7: Define success metrics
Choose 2–3 user metrics and 1–2 business metrics using product metrics frameworks. Explain why they matter and how you'd track them.
Example structure template
Target user: Working mom with two kids under 8, commutes 45 mins/day, shops once a week
Core problem: Needs to plan meals quickly that match preferences, restrictions, and ingredients
Solution: AI meal planner app that scans pantry, recommends meals, generates a grocery list
Key features:
- Pantry scanner
- Kid-friendly filtering
- Smart grocery list
- Meal prep timer
- Feedback loop
MVP: Manual entry + 5 curated recipes + simple grocery list
Trade-offs: AI accuracy, personalization, recipe data
Metrics:
- Time spent on planning (target: <10 min)
- Weekly active meal plans
- Recipe save rate
- Grocery list completion rate
Metrics to track (when practicing)
- Time to complete: 8–12 minutes per full answer
- Completeness score: Did you hit all 7 steps? Rate 0–2 each
- Engagement level: How many follow-up Qs did your response generate?
- Specificity index: How concrete were your features and examples?
- User empathy count: Mentions of user needs, pain, or context
- Business awareness score: Mentions of feasibility, monetization, competition
Common mistakes
- Jumping straight into solutions
- Being too generic with user needs
- Suggesting features without explaining why
- Ignoring business and technical constraints
- Using vague metrics like “engagement”
- Forgetting to define an MVP
FAQ
How long should I take?
12–15 minutes. Use ~2 for clarification, ~3 for user/problem, ~3 for ideation, ~4 for solution, ~2 for trade-offs and metrics.
What if I don’t know the domain?
Use the framework to show structured thinking. Reasoning > domain expertise.
Should I mention competitors?
Only briefly. Focus on users and how your idea helps them better.
The prompt is too vague, what do I do?
That’s the point. Ask clarifying questions and narrow the scope to one clear user + problem.
Why CraftUp helps
You don't learn product sense in a weekend. You build it through repetition, feedback, and structure. This is why daily product learning matters. CraftUp teaches you exactly that, with:
- 5-min daily exercises to sharpen product intuition
- Real PM scenarios to practice every day
- Mobile-first format that builds consistent habits
- Updated AI-era workflows for 2025 PM challenges
→ Start free at craftuplearn.com
Ready to master product sense frameworks and land your next PM role?
