What’s your favorite product? — Case Interview Ultimate Guide
Keep your opinions on the shelf during this product management case interview question.
When you’re in a product manager interview, you’re always arguing for something — that your answer is the right one, that your product segments make sense, and most importantly, that you are the product manager for the job. One of the best opportunities you have to prove that to your interviewer is with the classic question: “What’s your favorite product?”
Don’t mistake this question as an opportunity to air preferences! This question can be turned into a golden opportunity to prove that you have a key PM quality: customer obsession.
Let’s make it happen, step-by-step.
Step One: Choose Your Product
Your product choice will set the stage for your answer. Here are some options to consider.
- Something you love. If it’s truly your favorite, you’ll naturally speak with passion. This can help, but can also lead to rambling or a focus on personal opinions that don’t help your case.
- Something obscure. Choosing a less-known product can be a smart move. If your interviewer isn’t familiar with it, you can set the narrative. Just be sure you know it inside out, because they just might know it better than you.
- The best products. Picking something like the iPhone is tempting because it’s a phenomenal product. However, there is little room for improvement and it’s a bit of a cliche. It can be a bold choice if you handle it well, though!
Ultimately, select a product you can discuss intelligently and passionately, without getting lost in the weeds. Feel free to choose and research in advance, but don’t script your answer. Interviewers can tell!
Step 2: Explain what “favorite” means
Here’s the trick: This question isn’t about your opinions, it’s about showcasing the values you hold dear as a PM. You can reframe the entire discussion in just a couple of sentences:
My favorite product? Great question. For me, a product stands out when it clearly meets users’ needs. The products I admire the most are those designed with a deep understanding of what people really want.
By framing it this way, you’re shifting the conversation from personal preference to professional insight. You’re highlighting what makes a product exceptional from a PM perspective, which positions you as a thoughtful and user-focused product manager.
Step 3. Check your time
At this point, you need to gauge how much time you have to explain your choice. This will shape your response:
I’d love to dive into why this product resonates with me. Before I do, could you let me know how much time I have? I can keep it brief or go into a deep analysis.
Knowing the time constraints helps you understand whether to expect follow-up questions and therefore whether to answer with a long-form or a short-form analysis.
Step 4a. Explaining your choice (long-form)
If you have ample time, dive into a detailed analysis of the product’s design by discussing product goals, customer segments, pain points, and solutions. Use all of your skills, such as Triple Anchors to stay on track.
Here’s a revision to the standard playbook to reflect the fact that the product you chose already exists:
- Backward-Looking Focus: Unlike a forward-looking, hypothetical design challenge, your analysis should reflect on how the existing product successfully addresses real customer needs.
- Existing Choices: Since the product is already on the market, analyze why the choices made for target customers and problem-solving were effective, rather than suggesting what they should be.
Customer Segments
- Identify and explain the specific customer segments targeted by the product.
- Discuss why these segments were chosen and how the product caters to their needs.
Pain Points
- Detail the pain points these customers faced before the product existed.
- Explain which of these pain points were most significant and why.
- Identify any pain points that remain unresolved (this can be useful for follow-up questions).
Solutions
- Evaluate the solutions the product provides for these pain points.
- Describe why these solutions are effective and how they meet the customers’ needs.
- Highlight any innovative or particularly successful aspects of the product’s design.
Conclusion
- Summarize why the product’s solutions are so effective and impactful.
- Reinforce how the product’s elegant approach to solving user problems makes it your favorite.
By focusing on the actual impact and effectiveness of the product’s design choices, you can clearly demonstrate why it stands out and how it aligns with your principles as a product manager.
Step 4b. Explaining your choice (short-form)
If you have just a few minutes to explain, you are certain to get a follow-up question like “tell me how you would improve the product”. In this case, hit the highlights in a couple minutes, being sure to touch on target customers, pain points and solutions.
For fun, here’s an example short form analysis for the iPhone:
The iPhone is my favorite product because it was world-changing because it radically understood users and their needs, possibly even better than the users knew themselves. From the outset they looked past business users to every day consumers and figured out what they really wanted. The mobile internet was barely usable so people could only use internet on desktops. People used the internet to get driving directions but had to print them out to use them because phones couldn't display this kind of content. Their solution to pair a massive battery with an edge-to-edge screen together made all kinds of experiences possible, especially once they introduced the app store. Now obviously I love my iPhone as something I use everyday, but it’s my favorite because it is the very example of design informed first by deep understanding of people and what they need.
In this short answer, I’m able to hit on the key points: target customers (everyday users, not just business), pain points (clunky mobile internet, dependency on paper maps), and solutions (game-changing design, the App Store). I also reiterate that my favorite == customer focused.
Step 5. The Follow Up
After your detailed or concise response, be ready for follow-up questions. Thanks to your structured approach in steps 1–4, you’re set to tackle these with ease:
- Clarify Goals: Clearly state your improvement goals, such as enhancing user experience, expanding functionality, or targeting a new customer base.
- Target Groups: If applicable, highlight any customer segments not fully addressed by the current product and discuss how you might serve them better.
- Identify Gaps: Reflect on any unresolved pain points or unmet customer needs you mentioned. These can be areas for improvement or opportunities for new features.
- Propose Solutions: Offer specific, thoughtful solutions or enhancements based on your understanding of the product and its market.
For example, if discussing the iPhone, you might suggest ways to improve Siri, introduce new accessibility features, or enhance app discoverability. If you reference your initial analysis, the follow up answer will extend smoothly and demonstrate your ability to think critically and strategically about product development.
Wrapping Up
The “favorite product” question remains a staple because it reveals a lot about how you think as a PM. By following this approach, you can turn this seemingly simple question into a powerful demonstration of your skills. Always keep your customer focus front and center, and you’ll shine in any product manager interview.
What’s your favorite product and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Looking to go further? Head over to ProductSimply.com for one-on-one coaching and expert advice on mastering product management interviews.
