Grubhub Sr. Product Manager (Ads Personalization) Interview Guide

If you’re preparing for the Sr. Product Manager (Ads Personalization) role at Grubhub, here is a comprehensive overview of the interview process based on the experiences of candidates who have gone through it. This guide will help you understand the key stages, the type of questions you can expect, and how to present yourself as a strong candidate for this strategic role.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for the Sr. Product Manager position at Grubhub typically consists of several stages: initial recruiter screening, technical interviews, product management interviews, and a behavioral assessment. Here’s what each stage generally involves:

1. Recruiter Screening:

Initial Call:

The first step is usually a call with a recruiter. They will discuss your background, the role, and why you’re interested in Grubhub. The recruiter will also clarify your experience in product management, particularly in ad tech or personalization.

• Example Question: “Can you describe a project where you worked on ad targeting or personalization? What was your role and the outcome?“

2. Technical and Product Management Interview:

After passing the recruiter call, you’ll be scheduled for one or two technical interviews. In these, you’ll be asked to demonstrate your analytical and quantitative skills, as well as your ability to manage ad personalization systems.

Data-Driven Decision Making:

Expect questions where you have to demonstrate your ability to make decisions using data, particularly in the context of ad performance and user engagement.

• Example Question: “How would you evaluate the effectiveness of a new ad targeting algorithm? What metrics would you track?”

SQL & Data Tools:

Be prepared to talk about your experience using data analytics tools like SQL, Tableau, or Redash to analyze ad performance, user behavior, or personalization strategies.

• Example Task: “Given a large dataset of user clicks and impressions, how would you approach analyzing ad relevance and user engagement?“

3. Product Strategy Interview:

This round typically focuses on how you approach product development, manage cross-functional teams, and lead product initiatives. You may be given a product challenge related to ads personalization where you need to define a product roadmap or design an advertising feature.

• Example Question: “How would you approach building a product feature that personalizes ads for users based on their behavior in a multi-sided marketplace like Grubhub?”

You might be asked about your experience in Agile product development, managing backlogs, prioritizing features, and handling trade-offs between competing priorities.

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration:

As a Senior Product Manager, you’ll need to collaborate with teams like data science, engineering, and marketing. This round will assess your ability to influence and work with different stakeholders to achieve business goals.

• Example Question: “Describe a situation where you had to align multiple stakeholders (e.g., product, engineering, data science) on an advertising personalization project. How did you ensure alignment?”

Be ready to discuss how you manage conflicting priorities and drive consensus across teams, particularly in a fast-paced and data-driven environment.

5. Behavioral Interview:

Finally, you’ll likely have a behavioral interview to assess your fit within Grubhub’s culture. Expect questions about your leadership style, team dynamics, and how you handle challenges.

• Example Question: “Tell me about a time when a product initiative didn’t go as planned. How did you manage the situation and what did you learn?”

Cultural Fit:

Grubhub values team-oriented, data-driven professionals with strong problem-solving abilities, so be prepared to show how you align with these values.

Key Skills Grubhub Looks For

1. Product Management Experience:

Grubhub requires 5+ years of product management experience, with a strong emphasis on ad tech and personalization. Experience in industries like eCommerce, technology, or multi-sided marketplaces is highly valued.

• Example: If you’ve worked on personalization features in eCommerce or advertising platforms, discuss how you’ve optimized these features based on user behavior data.

2. Analytical and Data-Driven Decision Making:

A key requirement for the role is proficiency in making data-driven decisions. This includes analyzing large datasets, conducting A/B tests, and using SQL or data visualization tools like Tableau to drive product decisions.

• Example Question: “Can you share an example of a time you used data to pivot a product feature or strategy?“

3. Ad Personalization Expertise:

You should have experience in building or improving ad targeting systems or personalized ad experiences. Be prepared to discuss how personalized ads work, including machine learning models, real-time bidding, and user segmentation.

• Example Question: “How would you design an ad personalization system that tailors content based on user preferences and previous orders?“

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Leadership:

As a Senior Product Manager, you’ll be expected to lead and collaborate across multiple teams. Grubhub values candidates who can effectively manage stakeholder relationships, influence product direction, and guide teams to execute the product vision.

• Example Question: “Describe a time when you led a cross-functional team to launch a major product feature. How did you manage the project and what challenges did you face?“

5. Agile and OKR Methodologies:

Grubhub uses Agile methodologies, so familiarity with Agile processes, managing product backlogs, and driving OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) is important.

• Example Question: “How do you manage prioritization in an Agile environment when faced with multiple competing priorities?”

Example Interview Questions

Product Strategy & Execution:

• “How would you prioritize feature improvements for ad personalization based on user feedback and revenue generation?”
• “Walk me through how you would develop an MVP for a new personalized advertising feature.”

Data and Analytics:

• “What metrics would you use to evaluate the success of an ad personalization feature?”
• “How would you use data to determine if a personalized ad strategy is delivering the desired user engagement?”

Cross-Functional Leadership:

• “Tell me about a time when you disagreed with another team on a product direction. How did you handle the situation?”
• “How do you ensure all relevant teams are aligned when launching a new feature?”

Behavioral:

• “Tell me about a time when you had to manage competing priorities. How did you handle it?”
• “Describe a time when a product launch did not go as planned. What was your approach to resolving it?”

Tips for Preparation

• Understand the Ad Tech Landscape: Familiarize yourself with how personalized ads work in multi-sided platforms, including machine learning, real-time bidding, and user segmentation.
• Brush Up on Data Analysis: Be comfortable with SQL, data visualization tools, and metrics that track the success of ad personalization.
• Prepare Case Studies: Have examples ready where you’ve led personalization initiatives or worked on ad tech features, demonstrating the impact of your work.
• Focus on Collaboration: Since this role requires cross-functional collaboration, emphasize your ability to align different teams and manage stakeholders.