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Meta·Data Scientist·Technical Phone Screen·Senior

SeniorPrefer not to say
Apr 2026

Summary

Meta DS interview with a product strategy case around a hypothetical restaurant recommendation feature. One question, but it had a lot of surface area to cover and I don't think I handled the scoping part well.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

Facebook is considering launching a restaurant recommendation feature. How would you evaluate whether it's worth building, and what data would you look at to make that call?

Product StrategyProduct Analytics & MetricsPricing & Monetization
Author's notes

I jumped straight into engagement metrics and kind of forgot to size the market first, which probably made my answer feel backwards.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying the product goal and target user segment, then evaluate strategic fit with Meta's ecosystem and monetization potential. Outline a data-driven framework that assesses user demand, competitive landscape, and potential impact on key metrics like engagement and revenue. Conclude with a recommendation based on expected ROI and risks.

Pro tip: Emphasize the importance of defining clear success metrics and running a cost-benefit analysis, including opportunity costs, to show business acumen. Mention the need to consider Meta's existing data assets and potential privacy concerns.

1. Clarify the Objective and Scope

Ask clarifying questions to understand the goal: Is it to increase user engagement, drive ad revenue, or compete with other platforms? Define the target user segment and geographic scope.

2. Assess Strategic Fit and Competitive Landscape

Evaluate how the feature aligns with Meta's mission and existing products (e.g., Facebook Groups, Marketplace). Analyze competitors like Yelp, Google Maps, and TikTok to identify differentiation opportunities.

3. Identify Key Metrics and Data Sources

Determine success metrics such as user adoption, engagement (e.g., recommendations made, saves, shares), and monetization (e.g., ad clicks, bookings). List internal data (user behavior, location, social graph) and external data (market trends, competitor performance) to analyze.

4. Conduct Data Analysis and Modeling

Use historical data to estimate potential demand and impact. For example, analyze search queries for restaurants, engagement with similar features, and user surveys. Build a model to forecast ROI and sensitivity analysis.

5. Make a Recommendation and Outline Next Steps

Synthesize findings into a clear go/no-go recommendation, including expected impact, risks, and mitigation strategies. Suggest a pilot or MVP to test assumptions before full launch.

Key Points to Mention

  • Alignment with Meta's mission and existing product ecosystem (e.g., leveraging social graph and location data)
  • Competitive analysis: differentiation from Yelp, Google, and TikTok
  • Key metrics: user engagement (DAU/MAU, time spent), monetization (ad revenue, transaction fees), and retention
  • Data sources: internal (user behavior, search logs, location history) and external (market research, competitor data)
  • ROI analysis: development costs, opportunity costs, and potential revenue streams
  • Privacy and ethical considerations: handling user location and preference data

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