Freshworks Product Manager Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process for Associate Product Manager at Freshworks, covering products like Freshdesk, Freshcaller, and Freshteam, took place over one day at their Chennai office. While the interviews themselves only lasted about 3 hours, candidates were expected to be available for the entire day, leading to significant waiting time between rounds. The process typically involved 3-4 rounds, with 2 interviews conducted by Directors in product management and 1-2 interviews with other PMs. The initial round usually involves a discussion about your past product management work, a project you've contributed to, and how you've managed specific situations.

The entire interview experience was poorly managed, requiring me to initiate most follow-ups to get HR to schedule any interview rounds. The initial two interviews were conducted by highly competent individuals who posed scenario-based questions. The final interview with the hiring manager revealed that he wasn't planning to proceed with the hire. He started late, rushed the interview citing a hard stop, and mentioned he'd reviewed my CV, negating the need for an introduction. He presented a scenario, asking for my analysis within 15 minutes. After 16 minutes, I inquired about starting, but he seemed to have left his desk (his camera was off). He returned about 10 minutes later, acted as if I hadn't reminded him (despite my chat message), and quickly went through my case study. He allotted me only two minutes at the end for questions. When I politely asked about key stakeholders I'd interact with, he reacted negatively, stating I'd have to interact with anyone as the job required. After further HR follow-ups, I received feedback two days later stating I was technically proficient, possessed business acumen, and was a capable product manager with strong cognitive skills, but apparently lacked the required seniority. It was evident the hiring manager hadn't fully engaged during my interview and likely had another candidate in mind.

A HR reached out and scheduled me for an interview with a Director. I accepted, but the next day, just as I was waiting for the interview, the HR sent a message saying they were no longer moving forward with my application. They didn't cancel the calendar invite. I was confused and tried contacting the HR via phone and text, but got no response. Since my Google Calendar still showed the interview slot, I attempted to join the Zoom call, but the link was invalid. There was absolutely no explanation, communication, or response from the HR. Definitely one of the worst interview experiences ever.