How to Generate Customer Interview Scripts Using JTBD Probing Questions

The interview-script skill in the phuryn/pm-skills repository generates complete customer interview guides by combining Jobs-to-Be-Done (JTBD) probing questions with The Mom Test principles, outputting structured scripts via the pm-product-discovery:interview-script CLI command.

The phuryn/pm-skills repository provides product managers with a declarative framework for conducting discovery research. This open-source toolkit enables teams to generate customer interview scripts using JTBD probing questions that uncover customer motivations without introducing bias, leveraging a Markdown-front-matter format that integrates directly into the PM-Skills CLI.

Understanding the JTBD Interview Structure

The interview-script skill produces a complete interview guide organized into three distinct sections as defined in pm-product-discovery/skills/interview-script/SKILL.md.

Warm-Up Section

The skill creates a neutral opening block designed to put interviewees at ease. These non-leading questions avoid any mention of your product or solution, adhering strictly to The Mom Test principles by focusing on the interviewee's life and responsibilities rather than your ideas.

Core Exploration Block

The central component uses JTBD-style probing questions following the format: "When I [situation], I want to [motivation], so I can [outcome]." These probes surface past behavior, functional desires, and emotional drivers rather than hypothetical future actions. The skill templates in pm-product-discovery/commands/interview.md ensure questions remain focused on the customer's job-to-be-done.

Wrap-Up Protocol

Each script concludes with a concise recap and next-step request, maintaining JTBD language to keep the focus on the interviewee's desired outcomes rather than product features.

Locating the Skill Definition

The interview generation capability is distributed across the repository's Product Discovery suite:

• pm-product-discovery/skills/interview-script/SKILL.md — Defines the declarative skill parameters and JTBD template structure.
• pm-product-discovery/commands/interview.md — Provides the CLI wrapper that invokes the skill via the generic skill execution engine.
• pm-product-discovery/README.md — Documents the Product Discovery suite capabilities.
• README.md — Lists the interview-script as a top-level entry point for the repository.

Generating Scripts from the Command Line

The skill executes through the PM-Skills CLI using the pm-product-discovery:interview-script command.

Generate a basic script by specifying your target audience:

pm-product-discovery:interview-script \
  --target "HR managers in mid-size SaaS firms" \
  --output interview.md

This outputs a complete markdown file containing the three-section structure, ready for use in customer conversations.

Customizing JTBD Probing Questions

The skill accepts optional parameters to tailor the interview framework to specific research needs while maintaining the JTBD structure.

Modifying Warm-Up Prompts

Override the default opening questions using the warmup parameter:

pm-product-discovery:interview-script \
  --warmup "Tell me a little about your day-to-day responsibilities." \
  --output custom_interview.md

Configuring Core JTBD Templates

Replace the standard JTBD prompt template with the jtbd_prompt parameter:

pm-product-discovery:interview-script \
  --jtbd_prompt "When you need to ___, what do you try to achieve?" \
  --output custom_interview.md

Both parameters combine to create highly targeted scripts while maintaining the non-leading, Mom Test-compliant approach.

Integrating with Post-Interview Workflows

The interview-script skill connects directly to the summarize-interview utility for end-to-end research pipelines. Pipe the generated script through your workflow to analyze transcripts against the original questioning framework:

pm-product-discovery:interview-script > script.md

# ... conduct interview, capture transcript as transcript.txt ...

pm-product-discovery:summarize-interview \
  --transcript transcript.txt \
  --script script.md \
  --output summary.md

This integration ensures consistency between your JTBD probing questions and the subsequent analysis of customer responses.

Summary

• The interview-script skill in phuryn/pm-skills generates structured interview guides using JTBD probing questions and The Mom Test principles.
• Scripts are organized into three sections: warm-up, core exploration using "When I... I want to... so I can..." formats, and wrap-up.
• Execute the skill via pm-product-discovery:interview-script with optional warmup and jtbd_prompt parameters for customization.
• Skill definitions reside in pm-product-discovery/skills/interview-script/SKILL.md and pm-product-discovery/commands/interview.md.
• Chain outputs to the pm-product-discovery:summarize-interview command to maintain JTBD alignment from script generation through transcript analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What file defines the JTBD interview template structure?

The pm-product-discovery/skills/interview-script/SKILL.md file defines the complete interview template structure, including the warm-up section, core JTBD probing questions, and wrap-up protocol. This declarative skill file specifies how the framework incorporates The Mom Test principles to avoid leading questions.

How do I customize the JTBD probing questions in the generated script?

Use the --jtbd_prompt parameter when invoking pm-product-discovery:interview-script to override the default template. For example, pass --jtbd_prompt "When you need to ___, what do you try to achieve?" to modify the core exploration block while maintaining the JTBD format.

Can I integrate the interview script with transcript analysis?

Yes. The skill is designed to work with the summarize-interview command. Save your generated script, conduct the interview, then run pm-product-discovery:summarize-interview with --script pointing to your generated file and --transcript pointing to your interview text. This ensures the analysis maps back to your original JTBD probing framework.

What are The Mom Test principles referenced in the skill?

The Mom Test principles, as implemented in pm-product-discovery/skills/interview-script/SKILL.md, require that questions focus on the interviewee's actual past behavior rather than hypothetical future actions. The skill enforces no leading questions, no pitching, and strict focus on the customer's job-to-be-done rather than your product solution.

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