← Freightos Interview Insights
Wasn't expecting this to come up so directly for a PM role.
Be honest about your coding background, but pivot quickly to how it enables you to be a more effective PM. Emphasize your ability to communicate with engineers, make informed technical trade-offs, and understand constraints without overstepping into implementation.
Pro tip: Avoid claiming to be a coder if you're not; instead, highlight your technical literacy and how you collaborate with engineers to make better product decisions. Show that you know when to dive deep and when to trust the team.
State your coding background clearly and concisely, without exaggeration or apology. For example: 'I have a basic understanding of coding from [experience], but I'm not a professional developer.'
Explain how your coding knowledge helps you in PM tasks, such as estimating effort, discussing technical trade-offs, or earning credibility with engineers.
If your coding skills are limited, describe how you've learned enough to be dangerous or how you quickly pick up technical concepts when needed.
Share a specific instance where your coding background (or lack thereof) influenced a product decision or helped you collaborate with the engineering team.
Stress that while you can engage in technical discussions, you respect the engineering team's expertise and focus on the 'why' and 'what' rather than the 'how'.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.