← Airbnb Interview Insights

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

Senior
Apr 2026

Summary

Interviewed for a PM role at Airbnb and got hit with a risks question pretty early. Not a lot to report in terms of rounds or structure, just the one question worth sharing.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

What do you think are Airbnb's biggest risks?

Product StrategyAdaptability & Ambiguity
Author's notes

I went straight to regulatory stuff since that's the obvious one, cities cracking down on short-term rentals and all that.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by acknowledging Airbnb's core strengths and then identify 2-3 major risk areas, balancing external and internal factors. For each risk, briefly explain why it matters and how you would mitigate it as a PM, showing strategic thinking and adaptability.

Pro tip: Tie each risk back to a specific product area or metric you'd monitor, demonstrating you think like an owner. Avoid generic risks; instead, focus on ones unique to Airbnb's two-sided marketplace and regulatory environment.

1. Acknowledge context

Briefly recognize Airbnb's position as a global marketplace and its recent challenges, showing you understand the business.

2. Identify key risk categories

Select 2-3 high-impact risks from areas like regulation, competition, trust & safety, and host supply.

3. Explain each risk

For each, describe the risk, its potential impact, and why it's particularly relevant to Airbnb.

4. Propose mitigation strategies

Suggest product-led solutions or strategic moves that could address each risk, showing PM thinking.

5. Prioritize and conclude

Rank the risks by urgency or impact and summarize which you'd focus on first as a PM.

Key Points to Mention

  • Regulatory challenges in major cities (e.g., permits, taxes, restrictions)
  • Intense competition from Booking.com, Expedia, and new entrants
  • Trust and safety issues (e.g., parties, scams, discrimination)
  • Host supply stability and quality control
  • Dependence on travel demand and economic cycles
  • Brand reputation and public perception

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