Opower Technical Project Manager Interview Questions
& Process

So I applied and got a call back from the recruiter within a week. The first step was a recruiter screening call, then I had to complete a TPM homework assignment within 48 hours, which was doable if you've got PM skills. After that, a senior team member gave me a technical phone interview. The next thing was the main event: a full day (around 6 hours including lunch) of interviews in the typical tech company style. Expect to be thoroughly questioned, participate in thinking exercises, and answer questions about the company's products. It might seem odd to get product-related questions when you're new, but seriously, you should know how the company works before interviewing. Then there was a short wait, followed by a call from the recruiter with an offer (fingers crossed, because it's a great place!). If needed, you can negotiate a bit. Finally, they checked my references.

After not getting a different role, the HR person suggested me for the TPM job. We had a quick 15 min intro call, and she sent me a 3-page assessment to finish in a week. This included basic Agile/Waterfall knowledge, understanding Opower's platform model (hard to find info online, just some case studies), and samples of past reports and project plans. Then, I had a 30-min call with the hiring manager. They didn't ask about my assessment answers. The manager had general questions about my background and goals. It was tough to really stand out with common questions. The HR person was helpful and responsive throughout.

I applied with my resume via an internal referral and was quickly contacted by HR via email to set up a phone screening. It was about 30 minutes, focused on experience and skills. It felt a bit long for a screening, but I got to ask questions and learn about the company. Next, I had to do a skills test, which I thought was unnecessary since it was essay-based and high-level, easier to discuss on the phone, especially with my PMP and experience. After that, I spoke with the Hiring Manager for about 30 minutes. Then, I was invited for a 5-hour in-person interview with 5 one-on-one sessions. It was tiring but very informative. I was really impressed by everyone on the management team I met, both in personality and skills. It gave me a great impression of the people at OPower. I already had another offer and asked them to decide quickly. They made an offer the next day. I declined it, but people from the interview team reached out to congratulate me and encourage me to join, being flexible with my requests. I gained a lot of respect for the management and culture at OPower and would recommend it to anyone wanting to join a startup.