The Best Framework To Answer What’s Your Favorite Product | Product Management Interview In 2025

Summary

In this video, Dr. ND shares a strategic framework to help product management candidates excel in interviews, specifically focusing on the challenging question, 'What's your favorite product?' He breaks down how to select the right product, avoid common mistakes, and craft an A+ answer by highlighting passion, customer empathy, and strategic thinking. The video also covers how to answer the tricky follow-up question on improving the chosen product. With practical examples, including the popular Waze app, Dr. ND provides valuable tips on standing out during product management interviews at tier-one companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon.

Takeaways

• 😀 Interviewers often ask the 'What's your favorite product?' question during product management interviews at top companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, and AI companies like OpenAI.
• 😀 Selecting the right product is crucial. It’s advised to pick three digital products and one physical product as potential favorites to prepare for the question.
• 😀 Avoid culturally unique products that the interviewer may not be familiar with, like a rice cooker from a specific culture or WeChat, as they could limit the scope of your answer.
• 😀 Don't focus on product features alone. Instead, discuss the pain points the product solves for users to create a more compelling answer.
• 😀 Showing passion and empathy for customers is key. Share your personal experiences with the product to make your answer engaging and authentic.
• 😀 Strategic thinking is vital. When discussing product improvements, think big and present your ideas from a strategic perspective rather than just mentioning random features.
• 😀 Understand how product features align with customer needs. Be sure to connect your favorite product's features with real-world customer pain points.
• 😀 Use a clear framework when answering the question: start by describing the product’s functionality in one sentence, then move on to customer segmentation and pain-driven features.
• 😀 Pain-driven features are essential: Talk about how the product solves specific pain points in a meaningful way, and provide at least three different pain points and corresponding solutions.
• 😀 When asked how you would improve your favorite product, focus on unmet user needs and technological advancements, such as AI integrations or enhancements to the customer journey.
• 😀 The hardest part of the interview is answering how you would improve your favorite product. Address this by focusing on improving the overall experience, solving new user needs, and innovating with new technologies like AI.

Q & A

Why is the question 'What's your favorite product?' considered tricky in product management interviews?

This question seems easy at first but can be tricky because interviewees often fail to answer it in a compelling way. It requires more than just naming a product; you must show strategic thinking, empathy, and product insight in a short amount of time, often within 5 minutes.

How can you effectively select a product to discuss in this type of interview?

You should not select just one favorite product. Instead, pick three digital products and one physical product. This allows flexibility and helps you answer variations of the question. The product should be interesting, accessible to the interviewer, and relevant to your personal experiences.

What are some common mistakes candidates make when selecting their favorite product?

One common mistake is selecting a culturally specific product, like an Indian rice cooker or WeChat, which the interviewer might not be familiar with. Another mistake is choosing a product that's too common, making your answer less unique and memorable.

What are the top three factors to include in a successful answer to this question?

The three key factors are: 1) Passion and customer empathy, shown through storytelling; 2) Strategic thinking, highlighting the broader impact of the product; and 3) Product insight, showing how product features address real customer pain points.

What framework should candidates use to answer 'What's your favorite product?' effectively?

Candidates should use a framework that includes: 1) Describing the product in one sentence, outlining its functionality; 2) Identifying the customer segmentation for the product; and 3) Explaining pain points and how the product solves them through specific features.

How can candidates demonstrate customer empathy in their answers?

By sharing personal stories that highlight how the product addresses specific pain points they experience. For example, a candidate might describe how a navigation tool like Waze helps them navigate traffic while caring for their children.

What does strategic thinking look like when answering 'What's your favorite product?'

Strategic thinking involves demonstrating how the product fits into a larger context, considering the customer’s needs, market dynamics, and potential for growth. It's about showing not just why you like the product but also its broader impact.

How should candidates discuss product features in this type of interview?

Instead of focusing solely on features, candidates should start by discussing the pain points the product solves. Then, they should link specific features to these pain points, demonstrating how the product directly addresses customer needs.

What should candidates avoid when discussing their favorite product in interviews?

Candidates should avoid talking about overly common products or features that are too general. They should also avoid selecting products that may not resonate with the interviewer due to cultural differences or limited exposure.

How should candidates approach the more difficult question of how to improve their favorite product?

To improve the product, candidates should first align their suggestions with the product’s mission and customer needs. They can discuss unmet needs, technological advancements (like AI integration), and innovations that could improve the customer journey, such as adding parking recommendations or integrating with calendars for travel planning.