63 Product Owner Interview Questions & Answers
Table of Contents
Great product owners know how to balance analytical and creative thinking. They carry the business knowledge and acumen necessary to make sound decisions on behalf of their clients, teams, and company. They understand what drives value and know how to break down large bodies of scope into incremental development plans. They also possess the leadership and communication skills necessary to influence others.
If that sounds like you, this product owner Q&A set will help you to properly frame your experience in the best light possible and set the stage for a successful interview. If you feel you are lacking in any of the areas described above, this set of questions, answers, and advice will help you to identify gaps you may want to address prior to your interview.
The questions in this guide focus mainly on three key areas integral to success as a product owner:
Competency
Companies seek product owners that understand the line of business they will be working to improve and/or the market their products will serve. They seek product owners that understand the product development process and how to prioritize the work involved in alignment with a value stream. Additionally, they seek product owners that are knowledgeable about the methodology and systems used to develop products (i.e. Scrum, Kanban, Jira, Monday, Wrike).
Communication
Companies want to hire product owners that can effectively serve to bridge the worlds of their clients with product development teams. This requires the ability to author user stories that are clear in scope and purpose. This requires the ability to develop and communicate priority effectively. This also requires the empathy and intuition necessary to integrate ideas from multiple sources and resolve conflicts.
Leadership
Companies want to hire product owners that are both servant and influential. They seek candidates that know how to balance the needs of their teams with the needs of their clients. They want to hire collaborators who are passionate about developing the right thing at the right time for the right reasons.
Regardless of where your skills land on the spectrum of product owner experience and knowledge, you can improve your chances of a successful interview by focusing your preparation on the three key areas described above. This guide will step you through helpful examples of how to confidently speak about your experience, skills, and talents in a way that will boost your chances of being offered your next product owner role.
Behavioral
1. What are some of the things you do when you encounter difficult stakeholders?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
All product owners work with difficult stakeholders from time to time. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the product owner they hire for the open position has a solid strategy for partnering with stakeholders they perceive as difficult.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to keep your answer to this question strictly professional and generic. Interviewers may not appreciate candidates discussing specific and personal scenarios they experienced with a previous stakeholder.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"When I encounter a difficult stakeholder, the first thing I do is keep an open mind and listen. Maintaining an open and interested attitude helps my stakeholders comfortably share more about whatever is impeding our ability to work together effectively.
For stakeholders who are fearful of change or technology, I work with them to help them understand the value they will gain through the development process and educate them as appropriate. For stakeholders that change their minds frequently, I help them see the impact of constant change and the value of better planning. For unresponsive stakeholders, I ask them what I can do to best support them while we work together.
Regardless of the issue, there is always a way forward. Some resolutions require more effort than others, but maintaining a positive attitude in the face of difficulty helps me succeed in these situations."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
User-Submitted Answer
"I will try to understand stakeholder's points of view, expectations, and concerns about the project or particular improvement using active listening.
If some of the stakeholders' expectations are not fulfilled, I will describe why this happened, take action to avoid this and establish open communication channels. I will tailor my communication style according to stakeholder's level of knowledge and interests, to avoid communication issues and maintain a positive attitude.
Also I will discuss our goals and find the common ground.
In case those techniques won't give results, I will highlight it to my supervisor and escalate this situation, to keep moving forward with project goals"
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Jaymie Payne Reviewed the Above Answer
These are all fantastic strategies to share in your response!
Behavioral
2. What is one of your professional weaknesses?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This question is a favorite of many interviewers and you will likely be asked about your weaknesses at some point throughout your job search. This question feels like a trap to many interviewees, and it is important to prepare a solid response in advance of any interview.
There are two main purposes for asking you to describe your weaknesses. First, your interviewer wants to know which areas you perceive you need to grow professionally. Hiring managers, peers, stakeholders, and teammates play a critical role in the professional development of Product Owners. It is important for your interviewer to learn about your weaknesses to assess how they will impact the teams you will work in and whether or not they can offer you a supportive growth environment.
Secondly, many interviewers use this question to test the integrity of a candidate. Your interviewer wants to know if you are willing to be authentic with them even though you've likely just met for the first time during the interview.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to describe the proactive steps you are already taking to reduce the impact of the weakness going forward. This will demonstrate your self-awareness and dedication to professional growth. Additionally, it can be helpful to describe how the open position provides an opportunity to leverage your best strengths while providing a supportive and complimentary environment to grow within.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
1st Answer Example
I feel I could improve upon my data analytics skills. I am very comfortable working with the tools used in my current role, but there are a number of powerful business intelligence tools I would like to work more with in the future. I have used Tableau and Microstrategy, but I know there are features I am not yet an expert on. I like to encourage my teams to use a data-supported approach when making decisions, and the process is more valuable when you have the system experience necessary to find the right information at the right time.
I am currently researching Power BI and I plan to learn about several additional tools over the coming months. Do your teams leverage any specific analytic software?
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
One of my weaknesses is that I have limited experience working with Jira. I am comfortable using other backlog management tools, but I know Jira is the main software used by the teams here.
I have recently watched several helpful instructional videos. Many of the backlog management features are similar to what I am used to. While it might take a bit of time to get started, I feel confident I will be able to quickly bridge this gap in my knowledge with minimal impact operationally.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
3rd Answer Example
One of my professional weaknesses is giving administrative tasks the time they deserve. I tend to dive into working with my clients and teams to design and deliver important product functions without saving time for timesheets and organizational tasks.
I have been working on this issue for the last year or so and I have made a lot of progress. I developed a list of user stories to improve my workflows and I am incrementally making changes. I feel much more organized and it has been helpful to take care of administrative tasks as I go.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
Behavioral
3. Describe a time you helped your stakeholders or business partner understand a technical need.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product Owners are responsible for setting the priority of the product backlog. This includes weighing the needs of important stakeholder requests against technical priorities. Interviewers ask this question to determine how a candidate might interact with future stakeholders to show them the value of investing in technical requirements.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Interviewers want to be sure a candidate can coach their clients and assist them in making educated prioritization decisions. Remember to include any supporting detail you offered to outline the value of addressing the technical need when walking your interviewer through the points you made in the scenario described.
Written by Karrie Day on May 13th, 2023
Answer Example
I worked on a solution that tracked the money and time spent on various work tasks for my business partners. They needed a new report for analytical purposes and asked me to move the related stories to the top of the backlog. The development team informed me that the technology we had been using for reports was obsolete and that we needed to find a new solution and test it with one of the current reports before developing something new.
My stakeholders were unhappy with this plan, but I explained why it made sense to experiment with the smallest scope possible. I explained that replicating an existing report would serve as a proof of concept that could be easily and quickly tested because we already had the basic design and data queries.
We agreed to test the new tool with an existing report and develop their specific requirements for the new report while they waited. I also worked with them to run database queries as a stop-gap until their report could be developed. This process gave the development team time to address issues that came up while learning the new tool, and the development of the new report went smoothly.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Behavioral
4. How do you facilitate the story estimation process?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Story estimation is a key backlog management activity that affects several downstream processes. Product Owners play a significant role in this collaborative team process. Interviewers want to ensure the candidate understands how to facilitate the creation of reliable and efficient estimates for the products they are responsible for.
Written by Karrie Day on May 13th, 2023
Remember To
Remember that it is common practice within many teams for the Scrum Master or project manager to lead the story estimation process. While that may be true for your organization, it is best to describe your ability to lead this style of meeting while participating and collaborating with other leaders to resolve conflicts at the same time.
Written by Karrie Day on May 13th, 2023
Answer Example
During story estimation meetings, I walk my teams through the details of the user stories we need to estimate. I explain how the business intends to use the requested functionality, the value they expect to receive from it, and the priority of the stories. The development team asks questions and weighs in on the scope. We break stories down, add spikes, and adjust assumptions or acceptance criteria as needed.
After that, we give estimates for the stories. I have worked with story points and t-shirt sizing methods. Either way works, as long as everyone understands we are using a relative sizing technique and they have enough experience to relate the story to something similar from the past.
Each person gives an estimate, and we discuss why we voted the way we did if disagreements arise. In the event we still disagree, we typically yield to the person who has the most stake in the game for the selected story. I sometimes ask our Scrum Master for advice when a team is facing a new challenge or there is a serious disagreement that could benefit from an additional perspective.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
User-Submitted Answer
"With our teams, we use Story Points as a unit of estimation, and Planning Poker as a technique to provide estimations. I've prepared a board with previous estimations and several examples for each amount of Story Points so that estimations are consistent and the team's velocity can be used to estimate epics."
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview Coach
Jaymie Payne Reviewed the Above Answer
Great job!
Behavioral
5. What types of behavioral patterns can a Product Owner display that add value to their Scrum projects?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers ask this question to learn a candidate's opinion on the traits necessary for success as a Product Owner. This information helps an interviewer get a sense of the benefits a candidate might offer their Scrum teams.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to focus your response on major skill areas that all Product Owners are expected to possess. For example, a successful response to this question could discuss a Product Owner's patterns of communication, leadership, and analysis.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
I think it is helpful for Product Owners to have the ability to set their opinions and assumptions aside and keep an open mind. Product Owners need to listen neutrally to their customers and the members of their Scrum teams. Product Owners have to facilitate conversations often, and the ability to think from various perspectives to formulate a strategy that serves everyone adds value.
Also, I think Product Owners need to be able to think and execute at multiple levels seamlessly. They are often required to ensure the big picture comes together while simultaneously diving into the details. Product Owners may be prepping for release planning, sprint planning, and dealing with the current sprint all in the same week at times. Solid Product Owners demonstrate the time management skills, flexibility, and agility necessary to juggle all of these perspectives.
Finally, I think Product Owners are good storytellers and coaches. They often serve as a bridge between worlds and need to communicate the needs of various groups in such a way to gain buy-in and inspire quick and effective action. Enjoying people, listening to their stories, and working as a servant leader are all helpful behaviors.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Behavioral
6. How do you know when you have experienced success as a Product Owner?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers ask this question to learn how a candidate would assess the success of their work as a Product Owner. Companies are interested in hiring candidates who focus on adding value to the customers they serve as well as continual improvement of the Scrum process.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to go beyond success measures that are not easily quantified, such as 'I am successful when my customer is happy.' Many of the contributions a Product Owner makes should align directly with business goals that are clearly defined and measurable.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
I am successful as a Product Owner if my team delivers a product that adds business value and directly addresses the needs and goals of the business we serve. I should be able to prove with metrics that revenue was generated, operational efficiencies were made, or customer satisfaction was improved.
I also see my work as successful when I help my business stakeholders understand their options and the effects of their business decisions from a technology perspective. Likewise, I am successful when I can help the development team understand more about the businesses and users they serve and how the solutions they develop align with the needs of the business to generate value. I know this has happened when either side begins to demonstrate more inclusive language and performance gains such as increased velocity occur.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Communication
7. What are the main communication responsibilities of a product owner?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Well-developed communication skills are integral to success in the product owner role. Interviewers ask this question to ensure that a candidate clearly understands their audience and the communication-related duties of the product owner role.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to review the job description for any communication-specific duties before your interview. A product owner's communication responsibilities can vary depending on the product, team, and company. Offering a custom response in alignment with the job description will demonstrate you are well-prepared and understand the responsibilities of the role.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Product owners often manage the communication between stakeholders, engineering teams, users, and other departments necessary for product development, release, support, and maintenance. They develop roadmaps and ensure that user priorities are properly gathered and represented in backlog format. They communicate changes in priority and constantly gather feedback to ensure the right items are being developed at the right time.
I also understand that if I were hired for this role, I would be responsible for end-user training and the communication plan to end-users for each release."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Communication
8. How do you communicate business need to the development team?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The Scrum process is heavily concerned with delivering functionality that is aligned with business need and priority. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the Product Owner they hire is prepared to assist the development team in understanding how to best deliver quality solutions on behalf of the customers they serve.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
What to Avoid
Remember to include a variety of strategies within your response. The principles of Scrum and agile methodologies value collaboration over documentation. Interviewers expect conversational approaches to be included in a candidate's response.
Written by Karrie Day on May 13th, 2023
Answer Example
I use several techniques to communicate business goals and needs to my teams depending on the need and the learning style of the individuals involved. I have documented workflows and walked teams through the current state of business processes to help them understand the efficiencies we aim to create. I sometimes lean on metaphors and figurative language to help them better understand the effect of certain user stories on the business.
I have posted the business goals of the users in team rooms or virtually to keep them fresh in our minds as we work. I have also developed personas, orchestrated shadowing opportunities, taken developers to customer meetings, and facilitated 'ask the customer' lunches to help them get to know their users and develop relationships with them.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Communication
9. What experience do you have presenting information to senior management and/or executives?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Many companies rely on Product Owners to work directly with senior stakeholders. Interviewers want to ensure that candidates can present the right level of detail in a way that is easily understood by this important audience.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to indicate your awareness that senior-level presentations should be customized for the audience. Executive-level presentations require confidence, humility, and an approach aligned with the specific needs of the audience involved.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
In my last Product Owner role, I was responsible for developing and maintaining product roadmaps. I regularly presented these to senior executives who were responsible for budget approval. During these meetings, I communicated the vision for the product, the investment needs, and the projected ROI information.
I appreciated the direct communication style of the executives I worked with. I learned to customize my presentation style to match their individual preferences. I found that these presentations were a perfect time to gather information on changes in business direction and ask for the support our team needed.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Competency
10. What is user story mapping, and what value does it create for the business clients of a project?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
User story mapping is a powerful planning tool that many Scrum teams rely on to develop a big-picture strategy for their products. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate has experience facilitating or participating in these important sessions.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
What to Avoid
Remember to convey your understanding that story mapping is a team effort. The Product Owner is a key participant, but story mapping is highly collaborative, and ownership is shared across the Scrum team and their business partners.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
User story mapping is a process of creating a visual map of the stories for a product and how they could be incrementally developed to add value over the course of a project. Story mapping sessions are typically facilitated by Product Owners or Scrum Masters and include the development team and key stakeholders. The result is a big-picture representation of how all of the pieces of a product will come together and add value over time.
User story mapping is helpful because it fosters alignment between the customers and the Scrum team. It shows everyone how the product will come together and allows the group to discuss the available options around to develop the best possible value stream. Once created, the user story map can be used to socialize the plan and gain buy-in from user groups and management.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Competency
11. What is your method for gathering business knowledge in areas where you are not a subject matter expert?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some Product Owners are assigned to work on Scrum teams that serve lines of business they are not an expert in. In these cases, Product Owners are expected to quickly learn the basic operations of their customers. Interviewers ask this question to ensure a candidate has a strategy for obtaining this information.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to include methods beyond asking your customers directly for the knowledge you seek. Product Owners should be able to dig in and analyze the workflows and artifacts of a business quickly with limited supervision and use this knowledge to develop an effective backlog. Demonstrating your ability to leverage multiple options will help to convince your interviewer you will be able to come up to speed quickly if offered the open position.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
I use several methods to gather business knowledge. I typically start by meeting with the management of the business I will be working with. I ask for a high-level overview and gain permission to meet with their staff as needed. I review any available documentation, and I gain access to the relevant systems they currently use so that I can review them.
I also shadow end-users in the roles the product I am responsible for will serve. I think it is imperative to understand their perspective so I can help design solutions that will be the best fit for their needs and working style. All of these methods work to establish strong working relationships and trust with the stakeholders that can be leveraged on an ongoing basis as new business knowledge needs arise.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Competency
12. What metrics or KPIs do you feel are important for a Product Owner to track?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product Owners are concerned with various areas of metrics that concern their product, their team, and their business. Interviewers ask this question to determine if you understand the basic scope of metrics that are important to your work as a Product Owner.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to focus your response on the basic metrics your interviewer is likely to be familiar with. This question is intended to test your knowledge of tracking the health of a product, the impact a product has on high-level business goals, and the performance of a Scrum team over time. Discussion of metrics that are overly specific to a particular team or line of business may confuse your interviewer.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
I am interested in the velocity of the team and how well we are tracking towards a minimally viable product release or a release plan milestone. I sometimes track the difference between the estimation for a story and the actual level of effort required to deliver it. I use this information to plan and identify trends for discussion in sprint retrospective meetings.
At the product level, I ensure we have metrics to track the health of the product. This may include tracking active user counts, query counts, page views, product downtime, user errors, integration failures, etc. I use metrics to understand usage and growth over time and identify technical issues the team needs to address. Additionally, I look at end-user support metrics to ensure that issues are resolved appropriately.
On the business side, I develop KPIs that indicate how well the solutions are developed to meet the specific goals of the business. This might include tracking metrics like marketing campaign success rate, changes in revenue, a reduction in time spent on a particular operating task, or an improvement in data accuracy. I also do market trend analysis to ensure that the goals we select will drive the kinds of results my clients are interested in.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Competency
13. What is a persona, and how is it used in agile development?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Many Scrum teams leverage personas to develop optimal user experiences. Interviewers ask this question when user details such as environment or demographic play a significant role in the success of the solutions developed for their company.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
What to Avoid
Remember to research the difference between personas and actual users of a system if you are not familiar with this concept. Personas are hypothetical and represent the general lifestyle and work situation of a group of users within a system. They are not meant to be tied to a specific person.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
Answer Example
A persona is a description of a hypothetical end-user of a product. It contains information about that user's role within the business, their demographic, what their work environment is like, and what their lifestyle might be like. For example, I may write a persona for an accounting manager if I am responsible for a system that has financial reporting functionality.
The goal of the persona is to help the development team think from the perspective of the end-user when designing and building solutions. Over time, it assists teams in making user-focused changes in feature usability that improve user satisfaction.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Competency
14. What are the components of a good user story?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product Owners are the primary authors of Scrum user stories. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's knowledge of the information that should be included in a quality user story.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to align your response with classic Scrum principles or Agile basics. For example, an interviewer may be confused by a candidate who stated that a user story should contain a complete set of business and technical specifications before it can be developed.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
A good user story should communicate who the story is intended to serve, the functionality to be built, and the business value the story should generate. The statements should be as concise as possible and should resonate with the customers they are written to serve as well as the development team.
I also capture information regarding related epics, the priority, the requester, the date the story was requested, scope notes, and the known acceptance criteria. The goal is to document only what is necessary to move the story forward and not to waste time on unnecessary detail or specifications that would limit the creativity of the development team.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Competency
15. What are the main responsibilities of the Product Owner role on a Scrum team?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This question is asked to determine if a candidate has a general understanding of the duties of a Product Owner. Interviewers realize that companies implement the role differently depending on needs and seek to test basic Scrum knowledge.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to limit your response to roles and responsibilities that align with classical Scrum team models. While Product Owners sometimes take on project management or other duties outside of the Product Owner role, these functions are not typical of the Scrum process and should be excluded from your response.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
Product Owners define the vision of a product from the perspective of the client and the users that the solution will ultimately serve. Product Owners are members of Scrum teams and serve as a liaison between the development team and their customers. They help the team understand business needs and priorities, and they own the creation and maintenance of the product backlog.
Product Owners assist in driving the scope and planning activities for releases and sprints. They participate in testing and acceptance of the features that are developed. They also coordinate release plans and training with the end-users.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Competency
16. What are some of the considerations that need to be made when prioritizing user stories within the product backlog?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product Backlog prioritization is a major responsibility of the Product Owner role. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate understands how to analyze and prioritize both business and technical requests when performing this task.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to describe a well-rounded approach including consideration of factors such as business need, technical feasibility, and customer satisfaction within your response. A well-prioritized backlog is holistic and incorporates the feedback and needs of all sides to develop the most valuable plan possible.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
There are several main considerations to make when prioritizing the product backlog. Product Owners need to consider the business need of the requested functionality and the value it is expected to generate. They also need to consider how each user story aligns with the business goals and how they can be delivered in an order that makes sense for the affected user groups.
Likewise, It is important to consider technical requirements when prioritizing stories. Sometimes there is technical debt or setup that must be done before high-priority user stories can be worked on.
None of the considerations I mentioned are more important than the others. The right approach is dependent on the situation at the time the prioritization is made. I help my business partners understand that the priorities can and should shift when new, more valuable opportunities arise.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Competency
17. What are the artifacts of Scrum?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
A standard implementation of Scrum includes three main artifacts that are created and maintained by the team regularly. This question is meant to test your basic Scrum knowledge.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to limit your response to Scrum artifacts such as burndown charts and backlogs. While they may be helpful supplementary tools, interviewers would not expect candidates to include artifacts like project plans, process flows, charters, or roadmaps in their answers.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
The main artifacts of Scrum are the product backlog, the sprint backlog, and the product. Over the years, teams have expanded this list to include things like sprint retrospective commitment lists, release plans, user story maps, and burndown charts.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Competency
18. What is release planning, and what is the role of the Product Owner during this meeting?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Release planning is especially important for projects with large teams or large scope projects that fall under the authority of a program management office or projects for clients that can only implement new features at certain times. Interviewers ask this question to determine if you know the goals of the session and how it can add value in a scaled environment.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to only include release planning agenda items that are classically in scope for this style of meeting. For example, most teams would not expect to have a discussion about estimation for a future project or specific development tasks during release planning.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
Answer Example
Release planning sessions are used to determine the high-level scope for upcoming sprints and how completed stories will be released. Teams review calendars and availability and determine how their projected completion dates align with the needs of their customers.
Some of the main inputs are the product backlog and the estimated velocity of the team. The Product Owner answers questions about priority and story scope during these sessions. They also explain how releasing functionality at various times will impact their customers operationally or financially.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Competency
19. What is a minimally viable product?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
There is usually a difference between the minimal functionality necessary to launch a product and the scope of an entire project. Interviewers ask this question to ensure you know the various techniques that foster the execution of this important Scrum concept.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate your understanding that the Product Owner is not solely responsible for deciding which stories define the scope of a minimally viable product. Other members of the team often offer technical, usability, and feedback mechanism considerations that should be considered when determining MVP scope.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
Answer Example
A minimally viable product, or MVP, represents the product features that need to be completed for a product to launch initially. The initial release is usually developed for a small set of users who provide feedback that can be incorporated into future sprints. As a Product Owner, I collaborate with the business and development team to determine the right mix of user stories to be included in the MVP. I also partner with the business to determine which users will be included in the initial release and how they will provide feedback.
This approach reduces risk, as problems concerning usability and bugs arise early in the process. Early user feedback also lets me validate user story prioritization and make adjustments as necessary. In some cases, it generates excitement and increases buy-in within user groups.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Competency
20. What is the difference between a sprint backlog and a product backlog?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product Owners should have experience working with all of the main artifacts of Scrum. Interviewers ask this question to test your basic knowledge of two of the main artifacts and how they differ.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
What to Avoid
Remember to limit your response to product or sprint backlog attributes that are customarily tracked within these artifacts. While some teams choose to track additional data because they find it valuable, not all Scrum teams allow for this type of process deviation.
Additionally, you do not have to list the detailed differences in the data points that are tracked within the backlogs. Your interviewers are focused on whether or not you understand the differences in the purposes of the backlogs and when they are used in the Scrum process.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
Answer Example
A product backlog is a prioritized list of user stories that represent the needs of the business. Depending on the team, it may also include technical or maintenance needs. The product backlog contains basic story detail, acceptance criteria, and estimates. The Product Owner typically authors and maintains the product backlog, and it may be reviewed frequently with customers and the Scrum team to ensure proper prioritization.
A sprint backlog is created for each sprint, and it represents the tasks or work necessary to develop the user stories in scope for a particular sprint. The sprint backlog contains basic task detail, estimates, and status information. It is owned and updated by the team during each sprint.
Product backlogs are lists of work for consideration, and sprint backlogs are lists of work in progress. Many companies use software to manage both backlogs within the same tool.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Competency
21. Describe the role of the Product Owner during a sprint planning meeting.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Sprint planning is an important Scrum ceremony that involves reviewing the proposed sprint scope and developing the sprint backlog. Interviewers ask this question to ensure candidates understand the scope and importance of the role Product Owners play in this meeting.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
What to Avoid
Remember to indicate that Product Owners collaborate with other team members to decide the scope of the user stories the team plans to include in the sprint. Sprint planning involves negotiation and developing a strategy that serves the development team in addition to the customers.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
Answer Example
During sprint planning, Product Owners review the proposed stories they would like to see included in the sprint based on the team's availability and velocity. Teams then discuss the stories - why they are needed and how they will be used. Product Owners capture any questions for their business users or customers. The discussion is collaborative and often includes the negotiation of important technical stories into the scope.
The team defines their tasks for the stories and develops the sprint backlog that is representative of the scope commitment for the sprint. Some teams also create a development calendar for the sprint that projects when stories are scheduled to be ready for testing and review. Product Owners do not drive that portion of the meeting, but they are typically available as needed for questions.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Competency
22. We hire product owners with IT backgrounds that serve as a proxy for the business they will be developing products for. How will you ensure that you have the knowledge needed to develop an effective product backlog?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Business systems analysts, support analysts, engineers, service managers, or IT professionals with similar titles sometimes fulfill the role of a product owner within product development teams. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate they select has a plan to gather the specific industry expertise necessary to effectively author and prioritize product backlogs on behalf of their customers.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include a mix of strategies within your response. Also, discuss strategies that make sense for the users or customers of the company you are interviewing with. For example, a company that develops gaming apps would not expect a product owner to gain expertise by shadowing end users in an office setting.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"In my early career as an engineer, I frequently requested to attend client meetings alongside our analysts and project managers. I asked questions and helped to refine the requirements that were gathered. Additionally, I shadowed end users and worked to understand their workflows and pain points. All of those activities helped me to understand their perspective and improved my work as an engineer.
As a product owner, I follow a similar approach. I learn about their business from the ground up by asking questions, reviewing workflows, shadowing, and using their current systems. I establish strong relationships with senior stakeholders and end users where appropriate and use the information I gather and my technical expertise to formulate effective backlogs."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
23. What is the difference between a user story and a product backlog item?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some product owner interviews include questions that test a candidate's agile vocabulary. Interviewers value candidates who can demonstrate proper understanding and use of terms they will need to use and potentially explain to their customers regularly.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Thoroughly research terms like product backlogs, sprint backlogs, user stories, and product backlog items if you are new to agile development methodologies before your interview. Candidates transitioning from industry-specific or IT roles, such as business analysts, will be more successful in an interview for a product owner position if they can use correct agile terminology.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Backlog item is an overarching term that represents the work required to develop, support, maintain, and ultimately decommission a product. User stories are a specific type of backlog item that represents features required to satisfy user requirements for the product. Other backlog items include defects, technical work, and information-gathering initiatives."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
24. What are the basic components of a product roadmap?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product roadmaps are visual representations of the strategic planning for a product's development, marketing, release, support, and maintenance. Not all product owners are responsible for the creation and ownership of product roadmaps, but they should be able to understand them and contribute to them as necessary. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's knowledge of this basic product development communication and planning artifact.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to keep your answer simple and representative of the information contained within most product roadmaps. Some product managers and owners leverage roadmap documents to communicate extra information, but including those details within your answer may confuse the interviewer. For example, a product manager may elect to include goal statements or information regarding specific KPIs, such as user count increases, but this information is not typically found within product roadmaps.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"A product roadmap is a visual representation of the phases of product initiation, development, release, support, and maintenance. It communicates the major activities, the groups responsible for them, milestones, and associated status information. In some cases, product managers, program managers, or product owners include budgetary and risk information."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
25. What are the characteristics of a well-developed backlog item?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product backlog creation and grooming are critical responsibilities of the product owner role. Interviewers ask this question to test the candidate's basic knowledge and ensure they understand the qualities that should exist within the backlog items they would author if hired for the open position.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include backlog item metadata, such as the name of the requestor or the date the item was added to the backlog. Many companies use solutions such as Jira that help product owners track this data automatically, but including it within your response helps to demonstrate your understanding that backlog item metadata is an important component of a well-developed backlog item.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"A well-developed backlog item should be described well enough that the team understands the scope of the item and the basic details associated with it, such as the requestor name or request date. Additionally, it should be prioritized within the list of related backlog items and estimated. Finally, a well-developed backlog item should include any applicable acceptance criteria."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
26. What is the definition of 'ready' and how does it compare to the definition of 'done'?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The definitions of 'done' and 'ready' represent crucial checkpoints in the product backlog item development workflow. Companies seek candidates that understand these terms as they will be expected to adhere to the concepts behind them during product development.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe what must occur before an item is 'ready' or 'done' and what comes next in the workflow. Providing a complete picture of the workflow will help inspire confidence in your ability to properly adhere to these concepts of the product development methodology followed by the interviewing team.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"DoR, or 'Definition of Ready,' is a designation given to backlog items ready to be released. They have been tested and accepted by the team and the customer or stakeholder as appropriate. DoD, or 'Definition of Done,' is a designation given to backlog items that are complete from a development and testing perspective. When a backlog item is done, the team member(s) responsible can move on to the next item.
From a timeline perspective, backlog items first reach the state of done and then move into the ready phase after customer acceptance and any final activities such as training that might be necessary before they can be released."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
27. Imagine that you are a product owner for an eCommerce website. Can you give me an example backlog item for a shopping cart?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The creation and management of product backlog items is a primary job responsibility of the product owner role. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate they select understands the concept of a product backlog item.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to keep your answer simple and focused on a user-centric backlog item. The interviewer asks this question to test your knowledge of a basic product owner concept. Offering a technical example may not be as impactful as proving your ability to author backlog items that demonstrate the user's perspective.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"A backlog item for an eCommerce website shopping cart would be a user story to allow the user to use a gift card as a form of payment."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
28. What is the optimal length for a sprint in your opinion?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Optimal sprint length is a widely debated subject within agile development communities. Some teams elect for shorter sprints with a smaller scope to minimize risk and improve their ability to continually release. Some prefer longer sprints to allow more time to complete complex features. There is no right or wrong answer to this question, but it is often included in an interview to test a candidate's knowledge of the factors that would impact a team's sprint length decision.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe the value of whatever sprint length you choose for your answer. For example, you might state that you prefer working in two-week sprints because it helps the team limit work in progress and deliver functioning products sooner and more regularly.
Also, it is important to note that the sprint length should align with the needs of the team, the needs of the customer, and the type of product being developed. The goal is to select a length that generates a maximum velocity state over time."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The optimal length for a sprint varies depending on the team, the size of the team, the needs of the customer, and the type of product being developed. I usually like to work in two-week sprints with small teams that develop relatively simple products, technologically speaking. I prefer extending sprints to three or even four weeks when working with larger teams that develop complex solutions that are heavily integrated with other systems. I find that it reduces story carryover and overhead.
What is the sprint length for the team I would work with if offered the product owner position at XYZ company?"
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
29. What is a sprint?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers use questions like these to separate viable candidates from those not educated on basic agile development terms and practices. Product development teams follow intense, specific, and repeatable workflows, and many companies expect the product owners they hire to be well-versed in this area.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to communicate that sprints are short and time-boxed, or fixed in length. Demonstrate that you understand the goal of a sprint is to create fully developed and tested product increments that are potentially releasable to the end users of the product.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Sprints represent iterations in agile product development. They are short, time-boxed team initiatives in which a certain portion of a product is analyzed, designed, developed, tested, and potentially released."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
30. How do you know when a user story is ready for test?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This is a common product owner interview question because teams that are somewhat new to agile methodology struggle to know exactly when their backlog items are complete from a development perspective. Interviewers ask this question because product owners play an important role in helping to define the ready-for-test criteria that must be met before a backlog item can be tested.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to indicate that user stories that are ready for testing meet conditions beyond the user-focused acceptance criteria. Additional conditions of a story may include technical items such as related refactoring, changes to integrated systems, or data staging that must be completed before a story can be handed off for testing.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Stories that are ready for testing are fully developed and have met all of the required conditions in addition to the acceptance criteria. For example, all related developer tasks such as database changes, UI changes, environment setting adjustments, data staging, etc. must be complete before marking a story ready for testing."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
31. Imagine you are holding a product backlog refinement meeting. What is your role, and what is the outcome?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product backlog refinement or grooming is an important activity that occurs regularly during product development to ensure teams are working on the right items at the right time. Interviewers ask this question to ensure a potential product owner understands the importance of refinement and their role in the process.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include removing old items from the backlog in the scope of the activities in your answer. Also, it can be helpful to offer your understanding of the role of other team members, such as engineers or scrum masters. This additional information may increase the interviewer's confidence in your potential for success if selected for the open position.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Backlog refinement meetings are facilitated in various ways depending on the team and the customer, but they typically involve reviewing the backlog items, adjusting priority, refining scope details, removing items that are no longer necessary, and estimating new items.
As a product owner, I typically make adjustments to the stories as we go, and I keep a list of details that need further clarification after the meeting. For example, if my team struggled to estimate a user story because we were unsure of the scope, I would make a note to discuss it with the product manager or users after the meeting. The rest of the team members raise new backlog items for consideration, ask questions, and participate in estimation. The scrum master helps to ensure that the process goes smoothly.
Ultimately, the outcome of the meeting is a well-groomed product backlog and a list of any applicable action items to be tackled after the meeting."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
32. Can you provide an example of a quality user story?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
User stories communicate the needs of users and the features necessary to fulfill them. In many cases, the user-centric approach of writing user stories is preferred over traditional business requirements and functional requirement documentation. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate can apply this critical concept of agile product development.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to use one of the traditionally accepted user story formats within your response. For example, the 'As an
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"A quality user story should communicate the user persona most affected by the story, the functionality needed, and the need that is satisfied when it is delivered. For example, a user story for a search page of an eCommerce website might be as follows: As a customer, I am presented with a list of products that are related to the product I searched for so that I can review a more comprehensive list of products I might want to purchase.'
In addition to the story title, the story should be prioritized and estimated by the team that will develop it. The story should also include basic scope details or acceptance criteria. An example of acceptance criteria would be: 'The user is presented with a message that draws their attention to the additional products that other customers frequently purchase when they run a similar search.'"
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
33. What are some examples of product backlog items you might not author yourself as a product owner?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product backlog ownership and maintenance is often a shared responsibility within a team. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a product owner understands that backlogs can contain more than user-focused feature requests. These items represent essential work necessary for user stories to be developed properly, and product owners may play a role in their documentation and prioritization.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include information gathering or research items within your list of examples. Teams often need time to research their options before deciding on a course of action. It is important to properly represent this work within a backlog as it adds value to the process and must be scheduled accordingly.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"As a product owner, I might not author backlog items, such as defects, technical debt items, and technical information gathering items."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
34. What is the difference between a product manager and a product owner?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product management and ownership represent product-related duties that companies fulfill in various ways. Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's basic knowledge of these concepts and to learn more about how the candidate compares and contrasts them.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to mention that the functions of product management and product ownership can be owned by one or more individuals depending on the product and the company's structure. Answer using the traditionally accepted definition of each role if you are unclear about how the two roles are viewed by the company you are interviewing with.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"In my experience, there is a lot of confusion about the difference between these two roles, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. In companies that have both roles, product managers determine which products will fulfill user needs and whether or not they are viable and feasible given the results of market analysis. They develop an overall strategy for development and release and own the product roadmap. They coordinate activities between groups such as marketing, legal, finance, and engineering. They interact directly with the customer.
Product owners play a specific role within development teams. They develop product backlogs that represent the specific work that must be done to develop the product itself. They drive iteration goals and define the acceptance criteria for user stories. They facilitate discussions with the product manager or with users directly to refine the scope and gain user acceptance before the release of a product iteration.
Can you tell me how the two functions of product management and product ownership are handled within the teams I would be working with if selected for the open position?"
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
35. How do you feel you can add value to the QA testing process as a product owner?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Testing products to ensure they meet the standard of quality that makes sense for the product and its consumers is a critical piece of the product development process. While product owners are not always the primary tester, they can add value and perspective to the process. This question is included in a product owner interview to learn how a candidate plans to add value to the phases of product development for which they are not primarily responsible.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to indicate that you are willing and able to manually test your product as a product owner. While your main responsibility may lie in resolving any scope or functionality-related questions from the user's perspective, interviewers appreciate candidates willing to jump in and help their teams in multiple ways.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"As a product owner, I can add the most value to the QA testing process by representing the customer or user perspective. I can answer questions about the acceptance criteria and gather any additional information needed from the customer to move a story forward. Additionally, I can jump in and test stories myself and provide guidance on whether or not issues that are identified need to be addressed before a story can be accepted at the user level."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Competency
36. What are acceptance criteria, and why are they important?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This question is included in a product owner interview because acceptance criteria are critical components of a well-developed product backlog item. Interviewers want to ensure the candidate they select understands the concept and why it adds value to the product development process.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to state that acceptance criteria help teams to manage scope. While acceptance criteria play an important role in driving the testing strategy for a product, it is also important to demonstrate your understanding that they help teams to only develop what is needed for the feature to be ultimately accepted by the user.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"Acceptance criteria represent the conditions that should exist within a developed user story before the story can be accepted. For example, if an accounting user needs a system to calculate state tax, they require that the system allows for state tax rates to be updated.
Acceptance criteria are important because they help teams avoid scope creep and set expectations. They also provide a guide for testing."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Conflict
37. Describe a time you experienced conflict while advocating for your client during a Scrum project.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Debates over story scope, prioritization, and implementation are common in Scrum. Product Owners are required to represent the perspective of their customers during this process. Interviewers ask this question to ensure candidates have the soft skills necessary to navigate these discussions.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Agile and Scrum development practices focus on defining the value stream of any given course of action. It is possible that the highest value outcome does not align with the original customer request. Remember to show respect for your customer's perspective in your response while demonstrating your ability to choose the best path.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
I served as a Product Owner for a website that allowed external clients to search a large database of videos and other media products for download. I talked with several of my internal stakeholders responsible for customer support, and they described a common complaint about the usability of the search tool. Users reported missing results and a painful filtering experience, so I began to develop a strategy to build something more user-friendly.
The development team pushed back and offered some ideas about why the users were not getting their expected results. They suggested we train the users to work with the current design. I helped the team understand the personas of the users who most frequently used this functionality. They were often junior team members, and their roles had a high turnover rate. Due to their age demographic, they were used to search tools similar to those used in popular applications. I asserted that making a more intuitive experience for them would add more value than continuous training on an outdated tool. I demonstrated how the improvement would lead to increased sales that would quickly offer the ROI needed to justify the time and resources the effort would take.
We embedded a new search tool that followed the users throughout the site. It was more intuitive, it was faster, and the results were better. Our sales increased, the customer experience was improved, and our business partners were thrilled with the results.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Conflict
38. Describe a time you experienced a conflict with an engineer on a team you worked on.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product owners and engineers do not always agree. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about how a candidate handles themselves in these potentially challenging situations.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to select an example of a time you experienced a professional conflict rather than a personal conflict. While personalities can clash in the workplace, airing out these conflicts may leave your interviewer with a poor impression. It is best to stick to an example where you disagreed about the scope of a story or the prioritization of work within a backlog.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"We use Jira to manage our backlog in my current role as a product owner. The engineers on my team sometimes get together privately and discuss technical work they feel is important. The tech lead was in the habit of creating technical backlog items in Jira and prioritizing them as he saw fit. I would then later see the items in the backlog prioritized over important work that had already been planned for release by a specific date. The team would get upset with me when I would move them down in the list accordingly, and it caused a lot of conflicts.
I went to the tech lead and asked if he would make a list of the technical backlog items and meet with me to discuss them before adding them to Jira. That way, we could collectively discuss the priority and ensure they were ranked with the customers' needs in mind. This change in the process helped me to understand the backend of the system and the needs of the engineers, and it helped our tech lead understand the customer perspective. Ultimately, the change in the process added a lot of value."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Conflict
39. How would you rate your ability to respond to team-level conflict?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product owners often find themselves at the center of team conflicts. For example, they regularly advocate for the needs of their users and prioritize those needs alongside essential technical items such as refactoring, technical debt, and support. Interviewers ask this question to gain insight into how a candidate views their ability to handle themselves when the needs of their users conflict with the needs of their team.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to demonstrate humility within your response, even if you are excellent in the face of conflict. Interviewers appreciate candidates who can identify where they can continue to grow the skills they already possess.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I would say that I am good at responding to team-level conflicts. I stay calm and do my best to steer the team toward logical points of consideration instead of emotional arguments. I would like to be excellent at facilitating solutions to conflict one day, and I am grateful the product owner provides opportunities to grow in this area."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Critical Thinking
40. How do you determine if an idea is a worthwhile investment?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
User story prioritization is a core responsibility of Product Owners. This question is asked to understand the thought process a candidate would use to prioritize user stories and counsel their clients on future investments.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to describe analytical processes that can be executed in a relatively swift manner. Scrum projects typically require teams to make quick decisions based on data that can be easily gathered and analyzed.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
There are several factors to consider when deciding if an idea is a good investment from a product development perspective. I consider:
- How well the solution aligns with the business goals
- The risk of not addressing the problem
- Whether or not the functionality is repeatable
- Whether the solution can be scaled to meet the needs of multiple user groups
- Whether the solution will improve morale or satisfaction
- Whether the solution will generate revenue or reduce operating costs
- How relatively easy or difficult it is to build
- Whether the solution offers a competitive advantage
- Whether the solution improves customer satisfaction
Solutions that have the potential to add value in more than one of the areas I mentioned or solutions that serve large populations are typically prioritized higher. I also use a mix of queries, interviews, and research to gather the data needed to make the proper considerations.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Discovery
41. Tell me about yourself.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This is a basic question likely to be asked in any interview. The motivation behind this question is simple. Your interviewer wants to know more about your education and the professional roles you've held.
While preparing a response before your interview may seem unnecessary, it is always best to have a list of self-introduction talking points at the ready. The details you offer will help your interviewer steer the conversation. Therefore, it is important to include details that are not represented on your resume but may be important to the work you will be doing if hired for the open position.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to consider including any of the following in addition to a high-level walkthrough of your educational and professional background:
- Why you're excited about the open position
- Travel you've done relevant to any international communities you may work with
- Projects, customers, technologies, or vendors you have experience with that are relevant to the open position
- Certifications applicable to the Product Owner role
- How you know the person who recommended you
- Your short-term career goals
Keep in mind that this question typically comes at the beginning of your interview. It is your first impression and it is important to let your personality shine while demonstrating your presentation skills. You may find it helpful to practice your response to this question a few times before your interview if you are typically nervous at the start of an interview. Nailing this question will help boost your confidence and set the stage for success.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
1st Answer Example
I have a bachelor's degree in computer information systems, and my first role out of college was in data analytics. I enjoyed the work, but I wanted to move closer to the product development process. I sought out a mentor who worked as a Product Owner and shadowed her in addition to my analyst duties. I learned a lot about the Scrum process and effective product ownership.
I landed a position as a Product Owner a year ago and have been in that role since. Our team develops all of the user support functions for our company's website. I enjoy working with my team, but I would like to expand my work into other product areas so that I can continue to grow my Product Owner skills. I feel the position here at XYZ company is a wonderful opportunity to help me grow while leveraging my current skills and experience.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
2nd Answer Example
My background lies in marketing. I worked for several small to mid-size marketing firms after college graduation. I began with small marketing campaigns and materials and then moved into creative project management. In that role, I had the opportunity to work with several product development teams. I enjoyed collaborating with them and I assisted their Product Owner regularly.
I then decided to pursue my Product Owner certification and move into an official Product Owner role. I have worked with my current team for the last two years. Our team develops social media marketing design tools. I enjoy the role as it allows me to leverage my marketing expertise while working directly in product development.
Jane Doe recommended me for the Product Owner position here at XYZ company because she knew my background in marketing would be an ideal fit for the open Product Owner position. I am excited to be here today and look forward to learning more about the team(s) and product(s) I will be working with if hired.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
3rd Answer Example
I worked for five years as an administrative assistant to three entertainment production executives. My title was a bit misleading because I mostly managed large projects for them and oversaw a team of operations assistants. We handled all of our departments' hiring, scheduling, billing, and purchasing.
I was asked to serve as the Product Owner for a series of resource scheduling, payroll, and reporting projects two years ago. The projects served my department and three other partner departments. The development team had an analyst that served as a product owner proxy, but he lacked expertise in our operations. We developed a method for collaborating, and I learned Scrum while he learned about our operations.
I have used the software developed here at XYZ company for the last three years. I would love the opportunity to serve as a Product Owner for the ABC functions. I feel my in-depth background in operations and executive-style reporting will add value to the team and the product.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
Discovery
42. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned so far in your career?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers ask this question to test a candidate's capacity for learning and growth. Acceptable answers can involve technical or interpersonal lessons and should demonstrate how you might add value to the hiring company.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to answer this question with an example that is scalable or repeatable. The most valuable lesson you have learned in your career should involve something that initially made a sizable positive change and offers potential for future value to your next company.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"The biggest lesson I have learned is the power of having a humble spirit and an open mind. I have learned that the best possible ideas for any given solution can come from anywhere. It is not always my job to imagine the best solution. It is my job to seek ideas and bridge them together in a cohesive fashion so they can be understood, supported, engineered, and implemented in the best way possible."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Discovery
43. What aspects of your professional background set you up for success as a Product Owner?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some Product Owners have technical or analytical experience, and others have deep business process-specific knowledge. Some candidates have a mix of both. The interviewer asks this to ensure the candidate's background is in line with the specific needs of their team.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
What to Avoid
Remember to consider discussing aspects of your background that you obtained outside of the Product Owner role. For example, you may have previously worked in an operational role that represents the target audience of the product the team you're interviewing with develops.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
My hybrid business and technology background sets me up for success in the Product Owner role. My time as a business systems analyst taught me how technology is developed and the phases involved. I also understand system design best practices and have experience applying them on behalf of my customers. This same experience helped me to grow my business knowledge as it required me to shadow and learn various business processes and create solutions with business goals in mind.
Additionally, I have experience working in the Product Owner role itself. I have over five years of experience in developing product vision, creating and maintaining backlogs, and working with development teams in a Scrum setting to create and implement value-driven solutions.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Education
44. Are you a certified product owner?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some companies seek product owners with specific credentials. There are two popular certifications widely recognized within the role of the product owner. They are Certified Scrum Product Owners (CSPOs) and Professional Scrum Product Owners (PSPOs). Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates with certifiable skills that apply to the product owner role.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to be honest about your certification status if it has expired. CSPO certifications require renewal every two years, so be sure to validate the status of your certification before your interview.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I am a certified Professional Scrum Product Owner. I received my certification last year."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Education
45. What certifications or education do you have that are relevant to the Product Owner role?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product Owner, SAFe Agilist, and Scrum Master certifications have become a recent qualification for many agile roles, including the Scrum Product Owner. Interviewers ask this question to ensure you have a specifically required certification or the educational background necessary to fulfill the duties of the role.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to be clear about the status of any certifications you describe within your response. Some future employers validate certification status with the organizations that provide them. Any confusion around this topic may prevent you from moving forward in the interview or hiring process.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
I obtained my Certified Scrum Product Owner certification through Scrum Alliance. I also have an active Agile Analysis Certification through the International Institute of Business Analysis.
I have also taken project management, user story estimation, leadership, and testing courses that have served me in my role as a Product Owner.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Experience
46. What development methodologies do you have experience with?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Products are developed using various methodologies, including formal approaches such as Scrum and hybrid approaches that blend and scale agile best practices in a way that works best for a specific team. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about a candidate's background working with various methodologies and determine whether their experience is a match for the requirements of the product owner opportunity.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to answer authentically. This question is an opportunity for the interviewer to ask follow-up questions about your specific duties within a given methodology. Candidates that embellish their experience within a particular methodology run the risk of their interviewer uncovering their dishonesty during follow-up answers.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"In my early career, I worked on waterfall projects. Most recently, I have worked on Scrum teams and within an enterprise that is making a transition to the Scaled Agile Framework."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Experience
47. Describe your level of expertise within the XYZ industry.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product owners play an integral role in defining product features and prioritizing their development. As a result, companies seek product owners with advanced knowledge of the industry they will be working to support or build commercial products for. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates with a background in alignment with the products they will be defining, developing, and supporting.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to mention your experience learning new business areas in previous roles and discuss a strategy for getting up to speed in the event you do not have direct experience in the area you would be supporting if offered the position. Some companies will accept a candidate with limited domain knowledge that can demonstrate a willingness to learn alongside development and strategic analysis experience.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I have five years of experience working directly with clients in the healthcare industry as a product owner. I was a business systems analyst before transitioning to the product owner role. I feel my background is an ideal fit for the open position at your company."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Experience
48. What phases of product development do you have experience working within?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The product development activities a product owner participates in can vary depending on several factors. Interviewers ask this question to identify candidates with experience that aligns well with the duties the product owner will be expected to perform.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to review the job description before your interview to ensure you understand the scope of the position. If you have not had experience working within a specific phase, such as product ideation, note the gap and express your confidence that you would also be able to successfully navigate the product owner duties of those phases.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I have end-to-end experience with all of the phases of product development. I have experience working directly with users to initiate products and develop a list of desired features. I have experience working with teams to develop and test prototypes and working products. I have experience leading user testing and training. I have experience implementing products through iterative releases and supporting them afterward. Finally, I have experience working to decommission products that are no longer viable or needed by the users they serve."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Experience
49. What software or tools do you have experience using to facilitate the Scrum process?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Many teams leverage software to manage the Scrum process. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate has experience using tools similar to the ones their company relies on.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
What to Avoid
Remember to limit your response to tools you have a real working knowledge of. Some companies search for candidates who can assist their team in adopting or improving their implementation of a specific tool. Follow-up questions may expose your lack of knowledge or dishonesty if you list tools you have not actually used.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
Answer Example
I have used Jira and Wrike in the past. I like them both, and the setup varied from team to team. I like Excel for backlog management when I am working on small teams or teams with limited budgets.
I also like to use sticky notes and note cards when it makes sense. They provide me with the ability to quickly and visually organize large data sets. Virtual whiteboards or sticky note apps can also work for online teams.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Experience
50. What is a user persona, and have you ever used them in your work as a product owner?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
User-centered design approaches are commonplace for commercially sold products and are now a focus within enterprise solution development groups at many companies. Interviewers ask this question when they anticipate the product owner they select will be responsible for creating or utilizing personas to ensure that the features their teams develop align with the needs and desires of their users at each stage of the development process.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide an easy-to-understand example of a user persona within your response. This additional information will demonstrate your ability to apply and explain this product development concept.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"A user persona is a fictional character based on a common user or stakeholder of a product. Information is provided about the persona that helps development or marketing teams understand the perspective of potential customers or users of the products they develop. User stories are then in user-centric and persona-driven formats.
For example, if I am building healthcare software, I might write personas to represent the perspectives of nurses, doctors, administrators, billing specialists, social workers, accounting managers, etcetera.
My current team works with personas, and I use them to author and refine user stories. The personas were originally created by a user interaction design specialist, but I have added details to them over the years."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Experience
51. Describe the projects where you served as a Product Owner.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This is a basic background question. Interviewers are interested in learning the lines of business you have supported and the scale of the projects you have worked on.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to be clear about the title you held when describing experience gained in roles other than Product Owner. For example, it may be appropriate to describe experience gained as a business analyst responsible for duties similar to a Product Owner, but it is important to note the title you held at the time.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
I was the Product Owner for a product that maintained contract data for services sold to external customers. It generated legal documents and invoices. It also integrated with several downstream systems that required active service contracts for access to various features.
I also served as a Product Owner for an internal resource scheduling system that tracked assignments and the hours spent on them and then generated payroll data and customer invoices. This product required several integration efforts, and we used a scrum of scrums model to collaborate and scale the development for these projects.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Experience
52. What is your experience with user interaction design techniques?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product Owners are not typically user interaction design experts, but they advocate for their users regularly. Interviewers ask this question when seeking Product Owners who will be expected to demonstrate user interaction design best practices or collaborate with user experience experts.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
What to Avoid
Remember to be clear about the difference between feature design experience and formal user interaction design expertise when answering this question. Companies may ask detailed follow-up questions if they require a candidate to have specialized skills in this area, and marketing basic design experience as expertise with user-interaction design is likely to make a poor impression on your interviewer.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
I am not a user interaction design expert, and I have encouraged customers to budget for one when the user experience was a driving success factor for the products I was responsible for. However, I have taken several classes to improve my ability to make some of the same considerations an interaction designer would make. I like to ensure the solutions we develop are in line with the basic standards. I have experience developing mock-ups and wire-frames to gather user feedback before major features are developed. I have also facilitated basic usability testing with users in the past.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Experience
53. What is your experience in software delivery and client training?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers ask this question to determine how experienced a candidate is working with end-users to ensure the successful delivery of a product. Interviewers expect an optimal candidate to be able to demonstrate a mix of planning, training, customer support, and soft skills necessary to perform well during this stage of the process.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to consider all aspects of delivery and training. This includes identifying trainees, handling logistics, developing training materials, and participating in launch and post-launch support activities.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
I have experience planning and leading training, delivery, and go-live support functions for many products. I performed these functions in waterfall projects and as a Scrum Product Owner.
As a Product Owner, I typically work with my business partners to determine the subset of users that will be affected by any given release. I work with their management on timing and training needs. I bring this information back to the team and determine when and how we can release the product.
I have developed training materials, automated help features, and product release notes for various products. I have facilitated training sessions and served as a point person for customer support needs during the release activities.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Experience
54. What experience do you have working with vendors for technology solutions?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some companies ask Product Owners to serve as the liaison between their company and outside technology vendors. Interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate has experience navigating these relationships.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to highlight your communication and relationship-building skills within your response. Companies often value the connections they establish with outside vendors and appreciate candidates who can foster healthy team relationships with third parties.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
I have served as the customer contact for several vendors. My role has typically been to communicate the business goals, review potential solutions, request support, and track the progress of issues on behalf of the business.
I got to know the individuals at the vendor companies over time and built strong working relationships with them. I found this helped them respond to our needs faster, and I learned more about their products and how I could best customize them for my users.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Experience
55. What strategic planning facilitation techniques do you have experience with?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Scrum projects are focused on developing quality and valuable solutions quickly. Properly developing a high-level strategy is critical in this fast-paced environment. Interviewers seek Product Owner candidates with experience using quick-hit strategic planning methods.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to describe discovery and strategic planning techniques that can be facilitated relatively quickly. Scrum does not typically allow for this type of detailed analysis.
Written by Karrie Day on May 14th, 2023
Answer Example
I have experience facilitating SWOT analysis sessions. In these sessions, we develop lists of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Then, we determine their impact on the business and develop goals accordingly. I have also worked with the OKR model to develop objectives and key results. This model is useful for developing the key performance indicators for the products I am responsible for.
Each of these methods works well in a Scrum setting. They only require a few meetings and provide the right level of information to drive the product vision setting, approval, and user story mapping activities that typically come next.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Leadership
56. What kind of leadership experience do you have?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers ask this question to determine the specific level of experience a candidate has in a leadership capacity. Most product owners are expected to lead through influence. Candidates with experience in multiple leadership formats are optimal in many cases.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Mention any significant leadership experience you have from your personal life, such as coaching, committee leadership, or mentoring. Also include examples of awards or accolades you received for outstanding leadership in your answer.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I mentored and led numerous business analysts throughout my career. I was responsible for setting the direction of their work, ensuring quality standards were met, and helping them grow professionally. Additionally, I led custom development and vendor implementation project teams while working as a project manager.
As a product owner, I mostly lead through influence and serve as a facilitator. I bridge stakeholders with competing needs together and help them to define a common set of goals that collectively contributes to the value stream of their business."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Problem Solving
57. What are some methods of addressing user stories that are deemed to be too large by the development team?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product Owners often author user stories from the perspective of the business or customers before they have a chance to work with the development team to discuss how they will be developed. Stories may be identified as too large in scope during backlog refinement and sprint planning meetings. Interviewers ask this question to ensure you understand the key role product owners play in the negotiation of scope that occurs in this scenario.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember that the Product Owner does not traditionally have the authority to decide exactly how a story is broken down. Product backlog refinement is a collaborative team-owned process that relies on both technical and user-driven considerations. It is best to use inclusive language that demonstrates a team-based approach.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
Answer Example
The teams I have worked with use three main methods of addressing stories that are too large. First, we see if there is an opportunity to break the stories down into smaller stories. If so, we try to break the stories down so that each of them could stand on their own and add value in the event they are not all able to be released together.
Secondly, if the group of stories is large enough, we relate them together with an Epic. This allows us to track the progress of the overall development effort in addition to the status of individual stories.
Thirdly, I work with the team to determine if adding a spike story would be beneficial. We add one in the event developing a proof of concept or allowing time for research would reduce risk and the size of the story in question.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Problem Solving
58. What common challenges have you faced as a Product Owner?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Scrum Product Owners regularly face challenges in their role as a bridge between their Scrum teams and the customers they serve. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the Product Owner they hire has the soft skills and experience necessary to address these challenges.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to focus your response on challenges that are unique and specific to the Product Owner role. While you may face issues such as personality conflicts, your interviewer wants to know that you are prepared to handle scenarios that the Product Owner will be expected to resolve specifically.
Written by Karrie Day on May 13th, 2023
Answer Example
One of the biggest challenges I have faced as a Product Owner is making my clients comfortable working with smaller releases. Some customers find a steady stream of new features disturbing to their workflow. I find myself spending a lot of time prepping them mentally to get excited about releases and plan them in such a way to minimize distraction and maximize value.
I have also faced challenges working with customers who are not comfortable not knowing exactly what they will get and exactly how much it will cost. A lot of my customers have previously worked with Waterfall development teams, and they are used to signing off on specific statements of work and detailed requirement documents. I now ask them to allow future items to remain 'fuzzy' while we focus on the most important current priorities. That is a big leap for a lot of customers.
I am often able to calm their concerns and inspire trust by showing I have the system design and technology project execution expertise to define a strategic plan and tactically deliver upon it. I also leverage tools like user story mapping to help my customers and teams collaborate on the plan for our product and demonstrate how the process will deliver value faster.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Situational
59. Imagine that a stakeholder refuses to accept a release you demo. What next steps do you take as a product owner?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product owners and product development teams miss the mark from time to time. They must act quickly and adjust the plans for subsequent product iterations to address issues that keep stakeholders from accepting a release. Interviewers ask this question to learn about your ability to respond gracefully and strategically in the face of possible failure.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include adjusting the backlog or sprint plan to accommodate any new work that results from a failed release demo/approval meeting. It is essential to quickly identify the tactical level changes necessary to get the release in question into production while maintaining the integrity of the next most important backlog items.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"My first step as a product owner would be to understand the exact nature of the gap that caused my client's refusal to accept the release. For example, they may refuse a release because the demo failed unexpectedly or a feature was missing a key component. They may even refuse because they have an intuitive feeling that the release will be unsuccessful.
Depending on the cause, I would facilitate a discussion to identify the steps needed to bridge the gap. I would then ensure that the team adjusts the current sprint plan to account for any necessary new work and that the stakeholder takes on whatever work may be necessary on their side. I would follow up based on the agreed-upon timelines and then schedule a new meeting to review again and plan the release."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Situational
60. Can you discuss a situation in which you had to direct a project stakeholder toward a different course of action than the one they had originally planned to pursue?
Remember To
Remember to consider answering this behavioral question using the STAR framework. You state the Situation, describe the Task you need to accomplish, talk about the Actions you would take, and then discuss the results you plan on attaining. Behavioral questions can discuss past instances or how you anticipate reacting to a future situation.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Project stakeholders, clients, and end users may have strong beliefs about how a solution should be designed, implemented, and supported. Interviewers ask this question to determine how you handle yourself as a product owner when the needs and desires of a stakeholder do not align with the most valuable option available.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"As a product owner, I often have to give my clients news they do not want to hear. I currently work on an enterprise product that manages the workflow of tasks across several verticals within our organization. The senior financial stakeholder had several reports in mind that he wanted to develop as soon as possible. The data necessary for the reports was not in a place that would provide an accurate reflection of the information he wanted to analyze, and I had to explain that it made sense to defer the development of his reports.
I set up a meeting with him to review the backlog and walk him through the scheduled end-user features that would improve the integrity of the data in the system. He saw that his reports would be unusable until those changes were made. He agreed his reports should wait and even helped to champion the proper use of the new data entry features when they were released. He met with each of the user groups to let them know how their information would be used downstream and encouraged them to focus on capturing the best information possible."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Situational
61. Imagine you are working with your team to develop a search results page and the engineers have several potential candidates for the backend search technology. How would you represent the work necessary to decide which is best within your product backlog?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
It is common for teams to dedicate time for research or prototyping before determining the best possible way to move forward on behalf of their users. Questions like these are included in a product owner interview to test a candidate's ability to reflect activities like these within a product backlog.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to mention the work you would do to ensure the research or spike backlog item is executed correctly. For example, teams often take on items like these without properly defining the scope or goals, which can result in costly delays. As a product owner, you can assist your team by ensuring the goals of the research are clear and that the criteria used to arrive at a decision are consistent across the available options.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"I would add a product backlog item for a technical spike within my backlog. I would work with the engineers to understand the scope of the research necessary and collaborate to define a list of criteria that should be completed before the item could be considered done.
I would also ensure that there was a common set of criteria to be used when comparing and contrasting the available options. Finally, I would ensure that I communicate any search features or capabilities that are important from the user's perspective as they may help my team decide which tool is the best fit overall."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Teamwork
62. What is the role of Scrum Master, and how do you interact with this role as a Product Owner?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Scrum Masters and Product Owners partner heavily during all phases of Scrum development projects. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate they select understands how the roles are different as well as how they complement each other.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Remember To
Remember to be clear about your understanding of the collaborative nature of the roles of Scrum Master and Product Owner. Also, it is important to communicate your understanding of the crossover between the two roles. For example, Scrum Masters and Product Owners are expected to have leadership and facilitation capabilities.
Written by Karrie Day on May 15th, 2023
Answer Example
The Scrum Master is responsible for the successful facilitation of sprint and project ceremonies. They ensure that the team properly leverages the agile and Scrum principles to improve the quality of the products their teams develop. They mentor the team through the Scrum process and resolve conflicts that arise. Scrum Masters are also responsible for removing roadblocks and shielding the team from distractions.
As a Product Owner, I often work with the Scrum Master. They primarily adopt the perspective of the team, and I represent our customers. I seek their counsel when I have difficulty deciding on a priority order for stories. I often bring them along to customer meetings to educate our customers on the Scrum process. I seek their help in removing roadblocks as needed and provide them with the data needed to track our team's velocity and generate our burndown charts. We also partner heavily in the user story mapping and release planning processes.
Written by Karrie Day on May 17th, 2023
Teamwork
63. What is your best teamwork-related skill?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Product owners rely on their ability to work well in a team setting. Interviewers ask this question to determine the unique teamwork-based skills a candidate can offer their new team if selected for the open position.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to review the job description for teamwork-related attributes before your interview. Also, review the company website to learn more about their culture in this area. Candidates that align their response with the style of teamwork valued by the interviewing company are likely to leave a positive impression.
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Answer Example
"My best teamwork-related skill is recognizing the accomplishments of my teammates. I make it a point to cheer others along and help them understand the positive impact they make in the lives of our customers. I also like to recognize special moments in my teammates' personal lives. These activities help build a strong team atmosphere that ultimately translates to higher quality work."
Written by Karrie Day on November 2nd, 2022
Questions to Ask During A Product Owner Interview:
One of the strategies you can use to separate yourself from other candidates in an interview is asking thought-provoking questions of your own. Classic questions like 'Can you describe the company culture?' can help to fill the requirement of asking at least one question of your interviewer, but they aren't likely to leave a lasting impression.
It is better to ask a detailed question based on something specifically discussed during your interview. At MockQuestions, we know it can be difficult to come up with intriguing questions on demand. Here are three examples of three quality questions likely to help you stand out in a crowd.
1. What are the themes of the top priority features the team will be working on within the next few months?
This question demonstrates that you know just how critical it is for a product owner to understand the priority of the work represented within the backlog. Depending on the response, this question can serve as an opportunity to discuss how you have successfully managed similar bodies of work in the past. Interviewers value product managers that are prepared to hit the ground running. Candidates with experience in alignment with their team's most pressing needs are more likely to receive an offer.
2. What challenges has the team faced previously regarding backlog item development?
Scrum teams and teams that follow similar methodologies rely on their product owners to represent often complicated bodies of work as user stories or backlog items. Nailing the right level of detail regarding the scope, priority, value, and validation criteria is as much an art as it is a science. Product owner candidates who ask this question show that they know the importance of authoring an impactful backlog and desire to help improve upon any issues raised in the interviewer's response.
3. How are authority, leadership, and accountability shared within the team(s) I would be working with?
While product development methodologies are specific about roles and responsibilities in many cases, many teams adopt models that are unique to the members of the team, HR reporting structures, and the needs of the client. It is important to know how your interviewer views these critical aspects of the product development process as their response will help you determine if your values and experience are in alignment with their needs.
About the Author
In the early 2000s the cross-functional application development teams I was a part of began the transition from waterfall to agile. This was tricky for several reasons, but one of the biggest hurdles involved figuring out how our traditional roles of analyst, project manager, engineer, tester, and customer translated to the scrum-based model.
While I would like to tell you making the move to scrum was an easy and seamless adventure, it wasn't. I was working with a talented group and many of them were subject matter experts with well-developed leadership skills. Our thoughts about accountability and authority did not align with the Agile Manifesto and we had to rethink our entire approach.
Honestly, I hated working in the product owner role at first. I felt like a great deal of my authority to specify how features should work was usurped. My teams and I were spinning on conversations about stories written on notecards that I could have avoided altogether with a well-delivered set of requirements. I had to ask my clients to completely shift the way we worked together and ask them to trust in my ability to ensure they would get all of the features they needed without them signing off on anything. Do not get me started on the pain that was learning how to estimate user stories as a team...
Over time, things got better and I learned to appreciate the power of scrum. I no longer authored 300-page requirement documents or change requests. I had the opportunity to deliver and test functionality in a controlled setting while embracing changes that added value. Ultimately, the experience I gained as a product owner, scrum master, and leader of agile projects represents a cherished and invaluable time in my professional journey.
I genuinely appreciate the work of talented product owners, and I enjoy partnering with them in my current role as a career coach. I hope this Q&A set assists you in proving your worth to your prospective employer, and I encourage you to check out several of our other helpful sets written by experts using the links below.
Learn more about Karrie Day