Cheat Sheet
Product Sense Interview Cheat Sheet
Quick-reference guide for product design questions. Use CIRCLES framework for every "design a product" question.
CIRCLES Framework
C - Comprehend the situation · I - Identify the customer · R - Report customer needs · C - Cut through prioritization · L - List solutions · E - Evaluate tradeoffs · S - Summarize recommendation
C — Comprehend the Situation
Clarify the question before jumping to solutions.
Questions to ask
- What is the company's goal? (Revenue, engagement, growth?)
- Are there any constraints? (Time, budget, technical?)
- What does success look like?
- Is this a new product or improvement?
I — Identify the Customer
Choose ONE target user segment.
How to segment
- Demographics (age, location, income)
- Behaviors (heavy vs light users)
- Needs (what problem are they solving?)
- Context (where/when/how do they use it?)
R — Report Customer Needs
List 5-10 pain points using the format: "User wants to [action] so they can [outcome]".
Example for young parents watching Netflix
- Parents want to quickly find content so they can maximize limited free time
- Parents want to pause/resume seamlessly so they can handle interruptions
- Parents want to discover age-appropriate content so they can watch with kids
- Parents want to multitask while watching so they can be productive
C — Cut Through Prioritization
Pick ONE pain point using the 2×2 impact/effort matrix.
2×2 Matrix rules
- High Impact + Low Effort = Do first
- High Impact + High Effort = Do later
- Low Impact + Low Effort = Nice to have
- Low Impact + High Effort = Avoid
L — List Solutions
Brainstorm 3-5 possible solutions.
Example solutions for seamless pause/resume
- Smart notifications: remind users of paused content
- Voice control: "Hey Netflix, resume my show"
- Cross-device sync: start on TV, finish on phone
- Quick resume widget: home screen widget
- Auto-resume on return
E — Evaluate Tradeoffs
Pick the best solution and explain why.
Criteria
- User impact (how much does it help?)
- Technical feasibility (can we build it?)
- Cost (time, resources, money)
- Strategic fit (aligns with company goals?)
S — Summarize Recommendation
Wrap up with a clear recommendation + metrics in 60 seconds.
Include
- Restate the solution
- Success metrics (leading + lagging)
- Next steps and rollout
- Risks and mitigation
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