What’s Your Favorite Product and How Would You Improve It?” A Trick Question in Disguise!

In this next installment of our comprehensive series on Common Product Management Interview Questions, we explore a deceptively simple yet powerful query: "What’s your favorite product, and how would you improve it?" While it may initially appear to be a casual icebreaker, experienced product managers understand that this question is a strategic opportunity to showcase deep, structured thinking. It’s not merely about naming a favorite product—it’s your chance to demonstrate how you analyze user needs, evaluate product strategy, and envision tangible business impact.

Throughout this article, we’ll break the question down step by step, offering practical tips and concrete examples—such as examining Notion—to help you craft an answer that truly sets you apart. Whether you’re new to product management or a seasoned professional refining your approach, this guide will empower you to turn this seemingly simple question into your competitive edge.

Picture yourself in an interview: the hiring manager asks, "What is your favorite product, and how would you improve it?" At first glance, it might seem like a personal inquiry; after all, everyone has a favorite product. However, beneath the surface, this question is a meticulously crafted tool designed to assess your ability to dissect product development, pinpoint user pain points, and propose impactful improvements. While many candidates might offer a quick, opinion-based answer, top-tier product managers seize this opportunity to link their passion for a product with actionable insights—demonstrating both deep familiarity and strategic acumen that align with the priorities of any forward-thinking organization.

So, how do you answer it effectively? What’s Behind This Question?

Recruiters and hiring managers aren’t just curious about your favorite apps or gadgets. They’re using this question to evaluate your product sense – your ability to understand, analyze, and improve a product from multiple perspectives. Here’s what they’re really looking for:

1. Understanding of User Needs – Can you clearly articulate why a product is successful and how it addresses specific pain points for its users? Can you identify who the target users are, what problems they face, and why this product is a solution to those problems?
2. Product Sense & Creativity – Do you demonstrate an understanding of what makes a product work, and can you think creatively about improvements that will enhance the user experience or drive business growth?
3. Business & Market Thinking – Can you connect the product’s features to key business outcomes like revenue, user engagement, or retention? This is where frameworks like AARRR (Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Referral, Revenue) come into play.
4. Communication Skills – Are you able to clearly and concisely explain your thought process? This isn’t about using fancy language; it’s about making sure the interviewer understands your reasoning and sees how you structure your ideas. Being clear and unambiguous is crucial, especially since different cultures or backgrounds might interpret ideas differently.

By addressing these areas in your answer, you demonstrate a well-rounded approach that shows you can handle both the strategic and practical aspects of product management.

How to Nail Your Answer

Let’s break this question down and explore a step-by-step approach to crafting a structured, thoughtful response that will impress your interviewer.

1. Choose Wisely: Your Product Selection Matters

Your choice of product forms the foundation for your answer, so choose wisely. The product you select should be something you are familiar with and use regularly. It should also be relatable and, ideally, relevant to the company you’re interviewing for. After all, a product that is aligned with the company’s industry will give you a stronger chance to showcase relevant skills and knowledge.

Pro Tip:

Whether you choose a hardware or software product, make sure you understand the ins and outs of the product and its business context. Don't pick something just because it's popular—pick a product you genuinely know and can speak about in-depth. And if you're unsure about the format (hardware vs. software), it’s okay to ask the interviewer if they have a preference.

Good Product Choice:

“My favorite product is Notion, a versatile productivity tool that helps users manage tasks, notes, and projects. I use it daily for both personal and professional projects. I appreciate how its customizable interface adapts to various workflows—from personal goal setting to collaborative team management. This deep familiarity showcases my expertise in productivity solutions and my ability to identify specific pain points and potential improvements.”

Weak Product Choice:

“I like Tesla cars because they look cool and are innovative.”

(This answer may come off as too surface-level and doesn’t demonstrate any deep understanding of the product or its user needs.)

2. Describe the Product & Why You Like It

Describe why you like the product and what made you choose it over countless alternatives in the market. Now, delve into why this product resonates with you. Explain the core problem it solves and the pain points it addresses. Here, you should showcase your ability to analyze a product’s strengths and what makes it stand out from its competitors.

1. User Needs & Pain Points: What specific user needs or frustrations does this product resolve? Example: Notion resolves the need for a flexible, all-in-one workspace, addressing frustrations with disjointed note-taking and project management tools.
2. Target Audience: Who are the primary users of this product? Is it designed for individuals, businesses, or a niche market?Example: Its primary users range from freelancers and students to large teams in tech companies who require customizable workflows.
3. Unique Selling Points (USPs): What makes this product unique compared to alternatives in the market? How does it differentiate itself?

Example: Notion’s drag-and-drop interface and deep integration capabilities set it apart from more rigid competitors, offering both simplicity and extensive customization options.

To add depth to your answer, you can use frameworks like SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) or Porter’s Five Forces to assess the product’s competitive position. This demonstrates that you are thinking critically about its market dynamics and user adoption.You can also address different types of competitors:

1. Direct Competitors: Products that offer the same or very similar functionality.
2. Indirect Competitors: Products that address the same user need but in a different way.
3. Potential Competitors: New entrants or upcoming products that could disrupt the market.
4. Substitute Competitors: Alternatives that serve as a solution to the problem the product solves but in a very different form.

3. Connect It to the Role or Company

Interviewers appreciate when candidates tie their answers back to the company’s goals and priorities. Show that you understand the company’s mission, vision, and current product direction. Discuss any recent product launches, features, or initiatives they’ve introduced, and how your understanding of the product aligns with the company’s objectives.

Example:

If you’re interviewing at a SaaS company focused on collaboration, explain how Notion’s flexible design could be integrated with communication tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams to streamline workflow. This would boost team productivity and align with the company’s product strategy.

4. Identify an Improvement That Matters

Taking Notion as an example, imagine identifying that new users often find the plethora of features overwhelming. A thoughtful improvement might be to implement an AI-powered guided onboarding process that personalizes the setup experience based on user roles.

This is the most critical part of your answer because it demonstrates your ability to spot real user pain points, think strategically about product enhancements, and show how your ideas can drive tangible improvements. The key here is to move beyond surface-level suggestions and demonstrate thoughtful, structured problem-solving.

a) Start with the User Journey & Experience

Begin by walking through the user journey and highlighting areas where users might encounter friction or frustration. This will help you understand pain points and identify opportunities for improvement. Don't just focus on the obvious issues – dig deeper and think about the complete user experience. Ask yourself questions like:

• What part of the user journey feels cumbersome or inefficient?
• Are there features that users find difficult to navigate?
• Are users taking too many steps to accomplish basic tasks?

Example:For Notion, the user journey might be improved by simplifying the initial setup process. An AI-driven onboarding flow could identify a user's specific needs and suggest pre-built templates, reducing friction for new users.

B) Address User Segments

Think about the different user segments that interact with the product. Products often serve multiple user groups, each with their own unique needs and behaviors. What improvement can you propose that caters to these varied segments?. Your suggested improvement could address a specific pain point for one segment but ensure that it could also scale to benefit the other user groups. For example, adding advanced filtering options for teams might appeal to professional users but could also be adapted for individuals who want a more streamlined, customizable way to organize their personal projects.

Example:For instance, while teams might benefit from advanced filtering and collaboration features, individual users could appreciate customizable dashboards that simplify personal task management. This dual approach ensures the improvement scales across varied user segments.

C) Focus on Scalability & Business Impact

Now, it’s important to think about the scalability of your proposed improvement and its business impact. Keep in mind that your suggestion should be realistic and feasible, not a complete redesign. You want to make incremental changes that could be easily implemented but still have a big impact on the product’s growth.

• Will this change drive higher engagement?
• Could it improve user retention or acquisition?
• Will it positively influence revenue growth or reduce churn?

Make sure your suggested improvement aligns with the product's overarching goal. The improvement should contribute to enhancing user experience, increasing business value, or expanding market share. Avoid large, sweeping changes that would require significant investment; instead, focus on features or tweaks that can be incrementally tested and scaled.

Example:Enhancing the onboarding experience could lead to a measurable increase in user engagement and retention. For example, a smoother start might result in a 15% decrease in churn, directly influencing revenue growth over time.

D) Tie the Improvement to Metrics and a Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy

When proposing an improvement, always link it back to key business metrics to show how it will impact the product’s success. This demonstrates that your ideas are not just conceptual, but also strategically aligned with growth objectives.

For instance, if your improvement involves adding a premium feature to the app, you could discuss how it might drive increased subscription revenue or boost customer lifetime value (CLTV). Additionally, mention a GTM strategy to roll out the feature, such as targeting specific user segments first, gathering feedback, and then refining the product before a broader launch.

Example:

A practical GTM strategy could involve a phased rollout—first targeting a segment of new users, gathering feedback, and then refining the onboarding process before a full-scale launch. Key metrics to monitor would include activation rates and user satisfaction scores.

Pro Tip:

Throughout your response, maintain a conversational tone with the interviewer. Don’t just present a dry list of ideas – engage them by asking questions or providing insights that might make them curious.

Answering "What’s your favorite product, and how would you improve it?" is a subtle but powerful way to showcase your product thinking. It’s not about picking the most cutting-edge tech but demonstrating structured analysis, user empathy, and business awareness. The best candidates go beyond surface-level praise and show how they’d solve real user pain points while balancing feasibility and impact. So, next time you get this question, treat it as your chance to prove that you don’t just use great products—you think like the people who build them.