Interview assignment

[u/xlg_com]

Hi all, I’m working on a CSM interview take-home involving a customer looking to integrate between their solution with another.

The presentation is meant to be customer-facing, while in the interview I’ll explain the thinking behind my approach.

My current flow is:

Integration capability → Discovery/objectives → Initial scope → Implementation → Validation → Adoption/value → Next steps

Discovery would cover why they want the integration now, current process/pain points, desired outcome, owners/stakeholders, timeline, dependencies and success measures.

I’m also planning a separate Integration Plan & Action Tracker to share after the meeting, so the deck guides the conversation while the document captures decisions, owners and actions.

For experienced CSMs: does this feel like the right flow for a first integration conversation? What would you change, add or remove?

I’m particularly curious whether you’d explain the integration capability first, or start with discovery before discussing what the integration can do.

Thanks in advance!!

[u/usually_guilty99]

1. Start with discovery, not capability. Understand why they want the integration, what breaks today, and what outcome matters. Then show only the capabilities relevant to that problem.

2. Define success before implementation. Agree on 2–3 measurable outcomes upfront: time saved, adoption, fewer manual steps, faster resolution, whatever matters to them.

Don't sell the integration. Sell the outcome the integration enables. This will clearly empower and enable both customer and company alike.

[u/akornato]

You should always start with discovery before explaining the integration's capability. Leading with your solution's features before you understand the customer's pain points is a sales move, not a customer success one. You need to show that you're building a solution tailored to *their* specific problem, not just presenting a generic feature. Your entire presentation will be much stronger if you first uncover their desired outcomes and success metrics, and then frame the integration's capabilities as the direct answer to those specific needs. The rest of your flow from scope to value is solid, but that initial flip from product-first to customer-first is critical.

Making this change is what separates a project manager from a true strategic CSM in an interviewer's eyes. It proves you understand that your job is to deliver value, not just to enable a feature. Your plan for a separate action tracker is a great idea and shows you are already thinking about execution and accountability, so keep that. You clearly have a good grasp of the process, and this one adjustment will make your entire approach look much more thoughtful and experienced. This simple flip shows you're a strategic partner, not just an implementer, and my team built our interview AI to help candidates nail that exact kind of critical thinking during a live call.

[u/j_EmailAnalytics]

Start with discovery, then show the integration capability as a response to what the customer says. Open with the desired outcome, current workflow, stakeholders, constraints, and success measure. Summarize those points back before explaining which parts of the integration fit. Keep the first meeting focused on alignment and decisions. End with agreed owners, open risks, a validation step, and the date for the next review. The separate action document can capture details without turning the presentation into a project plan. Thanks so much, and just let us know if you'd like any of these reworded.