Interview Questions about Scrum and the Product Owner Accountability
In your experience, what benefits have you seen when teams use Scrum for product development?
Why is this question important?
Product Owners should have a good understanding of the Scrum Framework and its purpose. Being able to understand and work beyond the mechanics of Scrum allows Product Owners to maximize the value of the product. Being able to share the benefits you have seen when teams use Scrum for product development gives the company insight in your experience and understanding of Scrum beyond the mechanics.
Name a situation where you would choose not to use Scrum to develop your product.
Why is this question important?
This question seeks to understand your ability to distinguish between different problem solving domains and make decisions in context.
What skills have helped you be effective as a Product Owner?
Why is this question important?
Aside from theory, companies are interested in your real-world experience. This question gives you the opportunity to share what skills you have demonstrated in the past as a Product Owner. If this is your first interview for a Product Owner role, think of the skills, such as facilitation or Product Backlog Management and activities that you carried out in the past that relate to the Product Owner accountability.
Which skills do you want to develop as a Product Owner?
Why is this question important?
A Product Owner has a growth mindset and is innovative in spirit. They see challenges as an opportunity for progress and are open to developing new skills and improving existing ones. This question can show your level of self-awareness and willingness to continuously improve, and also the types of skills that Product Owners should possess. It also helps to set expectations: understanding which skills you wish to develop provides a basis for setting expectations and goals. It allows the company to support your growth in the role.
How would you explain the differences between Product Ownership and Product Management (or Product Owner and Product Manager)? Are the responsibilities and accountabilities different from one another?
Why is this question important?
This question seeks to understand your distinction between a job title, an accountability, and a responsibility. Ultimately, it helps the interviewer understand your perception of the Product Owner accountability within the context of being a member of a Scrum Team.
Describe the three most impactful learnings or insights from your Product Owner career and journey so far. Why were they so impactful?
Why is this question important?
Sharing impactful insights underscores your commitment to ongoing learning and improvement and is an opportunity for you to share your personal experiences. Also, your significant learnings can expose the challenging situations or complex problems that you have encountered. Sharing these insights allows you to showcase your problem-solving skills and adaptability in dynamic and often uncertain environments.
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