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Zillow·Product Manager·Onsite - Product Sense / Strategy·Senior

Senior
May 2026

Summary

Zillow PM interview with a product strategy question framed around a different company. Pretty standard case-style format, one question, nothing too wild.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

You're a PM at Airbnb. What would you pick as the company's north star metric and why?

Product Analytics & MetricsProduct Strategy
Author's notes

The company-swap framing threw me a little.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying what a north star metric is: a single metric that best captures the core value the product delivers to customers and correlates with long-term business success. Then, for Airbnb, propose a metric like 'nights booked' or 'guest nights' because it directly reflects the value exchange between hosts and guests, and explain how it aligns with Airbnb's mission and business model. Finally, discuss how this metric balances growth with quality and can be influenced by product teams.

Pro tip: Acknowledge that the north star metric should be a leading indicator of sustainable growth, not just revenue, and show how it connects to the company's mission and strategy. Also, mention that it should be actionable and understandable across teams.

1. Define North Star Metric

Explain that a north star metric is a single, quantifiable measure that captures the core value the product delivers to customers and predicts long-term business success.

2. Connect to Company Mission

Tie the metric to Airbnb's mission of belonging anywhere and creating unique travel experiences, ensuring it reflects the value for both guests and hosts.

3. Propose and Justify Metric

Propose 'nights booked' (or 'guest nights') as the north star metric, explaining that it directly measures successful stays, which generate revenue and indicate platform health.

4. Discuss Alignment and Trade-offs

Show how this metric aligns with business goals, can be influenced by product changes, and balances growth with quality (e.g., avoiding cancellations or poor experiences).

5. Address Potential Alternatives

Briefly mention other candidates like revenue or active listings, and explain why they are less ideal (e.g., revenue is lagging, listings don't capture actual usage).

Key Points to Mention

  • North star metric should reflect customer value and predict business success.
  • Airbnb's mission: Belong Anywhere, focus on unique stays and host-guest connection.
  • Nights booked captures the core transaction and value exchange.
  • It is a leading indicator of revenue and growth.
  • It aligns with both guest and host success.
  • It can be influenced by product improvements (e.g., search, booking flow, trust).

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.