I picked something I actually had strong feelings about which helped, but I spent too long on the complaint and not enough on the why underneath it.
Choose a well-known product that you have deep personal experience with, and critique it objectively using a product framework. Focus on specific user needs it fails to meet and the underlying strategic or execution reasons, rather than emotional complaints. Show that you can separate personal preference from product judgment and propose how you would improve it.
Pro tip: Avoid trashing a direct competitor of Google or a product that is widely loved without nuance; instead, pick a product where your critique reveals transferable product thinking. End with a brief, actionable improvement idea to demonstrate you are solution-oriented, not just critical.
Choose a product you genuinely use and dislike, and briefly explain why you are qualified to critique it (e.g., you are a target user, you have used it extensively). Avoid obscure or overly personal choices.
State what the product is supposed to do and for whom, to set a baseline for evaluation. This shows you understand product-market fit and user segmentation.
Critique 2-3 concrete aspects where the product falls short, such as poor UX, misaligned incentives, missing features, or strategic missteps. Use personal anecdotes or data to support your points.
Explain why these shortcomings exist—e.g., business model constraints, technical debt, or prioritization choices—and discuss the trade-offs the company likely made. This demonstrates strategic thinking.
Suggest 1-2 actionable improvements and the potential impact on user experience or business metrics. This shows you can move from critique to solution.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.