Instacart Manager, Product Design - Core Experience Interview Guide

The Manager, Product Design - Core Experience role at Instacart is a leadership position focused on managing the design team that enhances customer-facing experiences, especially in terms of user interaction, growth-centric features, and advertising products. Below is a detailed overview of the interview process, based on feedback from candidates who have interviewed for this position.

Interview Process Overview

1. Recruiter Screening:

Initial Call:

The first stage is typically a call with a recruiter, who will assess your experience and overall fit for the role. During this call, you’ll discuss your background, leadership style, and your experience in digital product design. The recruiter may also explain the role’s expectations, Instacart’s culture, and provide details about the next steps in the process.

• Example Question: “Can you describe a time when you led a product design team to deliver a customer-facing experience that improved user engagement?”

The recruiter will likely discuss the company’s values and expectations, and you’ll also be asked basic questions about managing design teams and delivering scalable solutions.

2. Design and Leadership Interview:

Portfolio Review and Case Study:

In the second round, you’ll be asked to showcase your design portfolio. Be prepared to walk through specific design projects, explaining your design process, how you managed the design team, and the outcomes. The interview will focus on both the design process and your leadership skills.

• Example Question: “Can you describe how you led a design team to create a user experience for a new product or feature? How did you collaborate with other teams like engineering or product management?”

You may also be asked to lead a design critique or present how you would tackle a new design challenge.

Design Challenge:

• Example Scenario: “Here’s a hypothetical scenario where Instacart wants to redesign the checkout flow. How would you approach this redesign to ensure that it is both user-friendly and aligned with business goals?“

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Problem-Solving:

Collaboration with Product and Engineering:

Since the role requires frequent collaboration with product managers, engineering teams, and data scientists, expect questions that assess how you handle cross-functional teamwork. You’ll be asked how you’ve worked with these teams to turn business requirements into effective design solutions.

• Example Question: “Tell me about a time when you worked with engineering and product teams to deliver a design under tight deadlines. How did you ensure smooth communication and execution?”

You might be asked to discuss specific challenges you’ve faced when integrating designs with engineering or when translating business goals into design deliverables.

4. Behavioral Interview:

Leadership and Team Management:

Since this is a leadership role, you’ll likely face questions about managing a design team, handling conflict, and mentoring junior designers. Instacart values leaders who can motivate their teams and maintain a high standard of work.

• Example Question: “How do you approach mentoring junior designers, and how do you foster a collaborative and inclusive design culture?”
• Example Behavioral Question: “Tell us about a time when you had to prioritize competing design projects. How did you manage the workload and set expectations with your team?“

5. Final Round with Senior Leadership:

Vision and Impact:

In the final round, you may meet with senior leadership to discuss your vision for the team and the broader product design strategy. Expect to be asked about your long-term goals for the customer-facing design experience and how you align your work with the company’s mission and values.

• Example Question: “What is your approach to setting a design vision that aligns with business goals, and how do you measure the success of design initiatives?”

Senior leaders will want to gauge how you manage product design at scale, and how your leadership will drive long-term innovation in user experience.

Key Skills Instacart Looks For

1. Leadership in Design:

Instacart values candidates who have people management experience and can lead design teams to deliver impactful customer-facing experiences. You should be able to provide direction, coach team members, and help them grow professionally.

• Example: “Can you describe a time when you had to navigate team dynamics and ensure that your design team stayed on track with the project goals?“

2. Product Design Expertise:

Strong experience in user-centered design, particularly in B2C environments, is critical. The role requires expertise in UX/UI design, creating user flows, wireframes, and prototypes. A deep understanding of design systems and maintaining visual consistency across products is key.

• Example Question: “How do you ensure consistency in design across multiple touchpoints in a product suite?“

3. Collaboration and Stakeholder Management:

As a manager, you’ll be working with cross-functional teams, so excellent collaboration and stakeholder management skills are essential. You need to be able to effectively communicate design decisions and rally teams around a unified vision.

• Example: “Tell me about a time when you had to present a design solution to senior leadership. How did you structure your presentation to ensure buy-in?“

4. Strategic Thinking and Vision:

This role requires someone who can drive strategic vision for product design. Instacart is looking for candidates who can balance short-term project execution with long-term design goals.

• Example Question: “How do you balance delivering quick wins with setting long-term strategic design goals for your team?“

5. Design Process and Craftsmanship:

You must be passionate about high-quality design craftsmanship. Instacart seeks candidates who can lead their teams to maintain a high visual bar while ensuring that the designs are also functional and user-centric.

• Example: “How do you ensure that your design team consistently produces high-quality work that meets business needs and user expectations?”

Example Interview Questions

Design Process:

• “Can you walk us through how you would redesign the onboarding experience for new users on Instacart? What steps would you take?”
• “How do you approach user research and testing during the design process?”

Leadership:

• “How do you handle underperforming team members, and how do you provide feedback to help them improve?”
• “Tell me about a time when you had to adjust your leadership style to fit the needs of your team.”

Collaboration:

• “Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with a product manager or engineer to solve a design challenge. How did you ensure smooth communication?”
• “How do you ensure that design decisions are aligned with product goals and user needs?”

Tips for Preparation

1. Prepare Your Portfolio:

Make sure your portfolio highlights your ability to lead design teams, work on impactful projects, and solve complex user experience challenges.

2. Understand Instacart’s Products:

Familiarize yourself with Instacart’s platform, its customer base, and its pain points. Be prepared to discuss how your design leadership can enhance their product experience.

3. Be Ready for a Design Challenge:

You might be asked to solve a real-world design problem, so practice framing your design process clearly and explaining how you would tackle new product features.

4. Show Your Leadership and Mentorship Experience:

Since this is a managerial position, highlight your experience leading teams, providing mentorship, and driving design excellence across multiple projects.