How to Answer: Tell me about yourself.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Product Owner job interview.
45. 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
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