Grubhub Senior Manager, User Experience Research Interview Guide

If you’re preparing for the Senior Manager, User Experience Research position at Grubhub, here’s a detailed guide based on the actual interview experiences of candidates. This information will help you navigate the process effectively and highlight the key skills Grubhub is looking for in a candidate.

Interview Process Overview

Grubhub’s interview process for the Sr. Manager, User Experience Research role typically involves several stages: phone screenings, in-depth technical interviews, team interviews, and behavioral assessments. Here’s a breakdown of each step:

1. Initial Screening:

Recruiter Call:

The first step is an introductory call with a recruiter. This call focuses on assessing your background, interest in the position, and cultural fit within Grubhub. They will also discuss your experience in UX research, especially in managing teams and conducting strategic research.

• Example Question: “Can you walk me through a UX research project where you had a significant impact on product direction?“

2. Phone Interview with Hiring Manager:

If you pass the recruiter’s screening, you will have a call with the hiring manager. This interview dives deeper into your technical experience and leadership skills. Expect to discuss your approach to UX research methodologies, team management, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Example Questions:
  • “How do you prioritize UX research tasks when working with cross-functional teams?”
  • “Tell me about a time you had to influence product strategy based on user insights.”

They may also ask situational questions to understand how you handle ambiguity, manage teams, and push research findings to impact product decisions.

• Example Question: “Describe a situation where your research findings contradicted the product team’s vision. How did you manage that?“

3. Technical Interview (Research Case Study):

A significant portion of the interview process will focus on your research capabilities, specifically how you design, execute, and communicate research to inform product decisions. You might be asked to present a research case study or walk through a sample project you’ve worked on.

• Example Task: “Describe a research project where you used mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) to solve a business problem. How did you integrate findings from both approaches?”

This is a great opportunity to demonstrate your expertise in user research, your ability to create actionable insights, and your experience managing both qualitative and quantitative data.

4. Team Interview:

During this stage, you may meet with a panel of stakeholders, including members of the design, product, and engineering teams. The goal here is to assess how you collaborate with others and whether your leadership style aligns with Grubhub’s values.

• Example Questions:
  • “How do you ensure that your research is aligned with business objectives?”
  • “What strategies do you use to advocate for users within a fast-paced product development cycle?”

You may also be asked to discuss how you foster a user-centered culture within a team or organization.

5. Final Behavioral Interview:

The final round is often with senior leadership or HR and focuses more on cultural fit and behavioral assessment. They want to ensure that you can lead teams, collaborate across departments, and contribute to Grubhub’s mission.

• Example Behavioral Questions:
  • “Tell us about a time when you led a team through a challenging period of change. How did you manage and motivate your team?”
  • “How do you handle conflicting stakeholder priorities when conducting UX research?”
  • “Describe a situation where your research did not go as planned. How did you handle it, and what did you learn?”

Key Skills and Qualities Grubhub Looks For

1. UX Research Expertise:

Grubhub is looking for candidates with over 8 years of experience in product and digital UX research. They value candidates who are comfortable with a variety of research methodologies, such as user interviews, surveys, A/B testing, ethnographic studies, and usability testing.

You should be able to talk about your experience in managing Voice of the Customer (VoC) programs, customer satisfaction surveys, and benchmarking efforts.

2. Leadership and Team Management:

As a senior manager, you’ll be expected to manage a team of researchers. Grubhub values leaders who can mentor and help their teams grow. They look for candidates who have 3+ years of experience managing research teams and are comfortable with coaching and career development.

• Example Question: “How do you structure feedback and career growth for researchers on your team?“

3. Collaboration and Influence:

Since the role requires significant cross-functional collaboration, expect to be assessed on your ability to work with product managers, designers, and engineers to drive research insights into actionable product strategies.

• Example Question: “Can you share an example of a time when your research insights directly influenced a product feature or strategy?“

4. Strategic Thinking:

Grubhub values UX leaders who think beyond research tasks and understand how research fits into the broader product strategy. You’ll need to demonstrate your ability to align research goals with business objectives.

• Example Question: “How do you ensure that research is aligned with overall product and business goals?“

5. Communication Skills:

Excellent communication skills are essential for this role. You should be able to explain complex research findings clearly and persuasively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Example Question: “How do you present research findings to stakeholders with varying levels of understanding of UX research?”

Example Interview Questions

Research Methodology:

• “Can you describe a project where you had to combine both qualitative and quantitative research methods? What insights did you gain from each, and how did they complement each other?”
• “What is your approach to user segmentation in your research, and how do you use that data to guide design decisions?”

Leadership:

• “How do you manage your team to ensure they stay engaged and motivated, especially when working on long-term research projects?”
• “Tell us about a time you had to resolve a conflict between team members regarding the direction of research.”

Collaboration:

• “Describe a situation where your research findings led to a change in product direction. How did you collaborate with the product and design teams to make that happen?”
• “How do you build trust with stakeholders when introducing new research methodologies or results?”

Tips for Preparation

• Prepare Your Research Portfolio: Bring detailed case studies of research projects where you have directly influenced product decisions. Show how you’ve collaborated with cross-functional teams and how your research impacted product strategy.
• Focus on Leadership: Be ready to discuss your experience managing teams, mentoring researchers, and leading strategic initiatives. Emphasize your ability to grow and inspire others.
• Align with Grubhub’s Mission: Understand Grubhub’s user base, and be prepared to discuss how your experience in user research can impact their business. Research their platform, target audience, and recent product launches to tailor your responses.
• Stay User-Centered: Showcase your passion for user-centered design and research. Grubhub values a user-obsessed mindset, so make sure your answers reflect this.