Willis Towers Watson is a global advisory, broking, and solutions company dedicated to helping clients manage risk and optimize their benefits and investments.
The Product Manager at Willis Towers Watson plays a pivotal role in driving business processes and technology design, specifically focusing on the "Plan Price Deliver" (PPD) strategy. This role encompasses leading design and implementation phases, managing product evolution, and ensuring effective project delivery through collaboration with both business and technology teams. Key responsibilities include organizing training and change management efforts, managing product backlogs, and driving the adoption of new processes across cross-functional teams. A successful Product Manager will possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, a strong problem-solving mindset, and the ability to analyze and improve existing products and processes by leveraging data insights. Familiarity with project management methodologies such as Agile and Six Sigma is essential, as is a collaborative attitude that aligns with the company's values of teamwork and strategic execution.
This guide will help you prepare for your interview by equipping you with an understanding of the role's expectations and the skills necessary to succeed at Willis Towers Watson.
The interview process for the Product Manager role at Willis Towers Watson is structured to assess both technical and interpersonal skills, ensuring candidates are well-suited for the demands of the position.
The process typically begins with a 30-minute phone interview conducted by an HR representative. This initial conversation focuses on your background, motivations for applying, and understanding of the company. Expect questions that explore your experience with project management and your ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders.
Following the initial screen, candidates usually participate in two rounds of interviews. The first round is often a technical interview where you may be asked to discuss your experience with product management methodologies, such as Agile or Six Sigma. You might also be presented with scenario-based questions that require you to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to manage complex projects. The second round typically focuses on behavioral questions, where you will be expected to provide examples of past experiences that showcase your leadership, collaboration, and communication skills.
In some cases, candidates may be asked to prepare a presentation on a relevant topic, such as a product strategy or a case study related to process improvement. This round assesses your ability to articulate ideas clearly and engage with the interviewers effectively. Be prepared to answer questions and defend your approach during this session.
The final stage often involves a meeting with senior leadership or hiring managers. This interview is designed to evaluate your fit within the company culture and your alignment with the organization's strategic goals. Expect to discuss your vision for the role and how you plan to drive product evolution and adoption within the company.
Throughout the process, candidates should be prepared for a mix of technical, situational, and behavioral questions that reflect the skills and competencies required for the Product Manager role.
Next, let’s delve into the specific interview questions that candidates have encountered during their interviews at Willis Towers Watson.
Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.
Before your interview, take the time to familiarize yourself with Willis Towers Watson's strategic initiatives, particularly around their Plan Price Deliver (PPD) strategy. Understanding how this initiative drives client planning and service delivery will allow you to align your responses with the company's objectives. Be prepared to discuss how your experience can contribute to these goals, showcasing your knowledge of the industry and the specific challenges WTW faces.
Expect a significant focus on behavioral questions that assess your personality and fit within the company culture. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses. Reflect on past experiences where you demonstrated leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration, especially in complex project environments. Highlight instances where you successfully managed stakeholder expectations or navigated challenging situations, as these are likely to resonate with the interviewers.
Given the emphasis on managing complex projects, be ready to discuss your experience with project management methodologies such as Agile or Six Sigma. Prepare examples that illustrate your ability to lead design and implementation phases, manage product backlogs, and drive product evolution. Highlight your proficiency in using project management tools and how you have applied them to achieve successful outcomes in previous roles.
Strong communication skills are crucial for this role. During the interview, practice clear and concise communication. Be prepared to explain complex concepts in simple terms, as you may need to convey information to stakeholders with varying levels of understanding. Additionally, demonstrate your ability to engage and escalate issues effectively, showcasing your interpersonal skills and collaborative mindset.
Willis Towers Watson values a culture of continuous improvement. Be prepared to discuss how you have identified inefficiencies in past projects and the steps you took to address them. Share specific examples of how you have driven change and improved processes, as this will demonstrate your proactive approach and commitment to enhancing organizational effectiveness.
While the focus may be on behavioral and situational questions, be prepared for some technical inquiries related to product management and analytics. Brush up on your understanding of data analysis and how it informs decision-making. You may be asked to analyze existing products or processes, so having a solid grasp of metrics and performance indicators will be beneficial.
At the end of the interview, when given the opportunity to ask questions, use this time to demonstrate your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about the team dynamics, the challenges they currently face with the PPD strategy, or how success is measured in this position. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company culture aligns with your values.
By preparing thoroughly and aligning your experiences with the company's goals, you will position yourself as a strong candidate for the Product Manager role at Willis Towers Watson. Good luck!
In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Product Manager interview at Willis Towers Watson. The interview process will likely focus on your ability to manage complex projects, drive strategic planning, and communicate effectively with stakeholders. Be prepared to discuss your experience with product evolution, change management, and your approach to problem-solving.
This question assesses your project management skills and ability to lead teams through challenges.
Discuss the project scope, your role, the strategies you employed, and the results achieved. Highlight any metrics or feedback that demonstrate success.
“I led a cross-functional team to implement a new client management system. I initiated regular check-ins to ensure alignment and used Agile methodologies to adapt to changes. The project was completed two weeks ahead of schedule, resulting in a 20% increase in client satisfaction scores.”
This question evaluates your organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
Explain your prioritization framework, such as using urgency vs. importance, and provide an example of how you applied it in a previous role.
“I prioritize tasks based on their impact on business goals and deadlines. For instance, during a product launch, I focused on critical path items first, ensuring that essential features were ready while delegating less urgent tasks to my team.”
This question tests your decision-making skills under pressure.
Describe the situation, the decision you made, and the outcome. Emphasize your analytical skills and ability to act decisively.
“During a product rollout, we encountered a significant bug just before launch. I quickly gathered input from the development team and decided to delay the launch by 24 hours to ensure quality. This decision ultimately saved us from negative customer feedback.”
This question assesses your communication and interpersonal skills.
Discuss your approach to gathering, analyzing, and incorporating feedback from stakeholders, and provide an example of a time you successfully managed stakeholder expectations.
“I regularly solicit feedback through structured sessions and surveys. For instance, during a recent project, I implemented a feedback loop that allowed stakeholders to voice concerns early, which helped us adjust our approach and ultimately led to a more successful product launch.”
This question evaluates your change management skills.
Outline the change you implemented, the steps you took to facilitate adoption, and the results of that change.
“I introduced a new project management tool to streamline workflows. I organized training sessions and created user guides to support the transition. As a result, we saw a 30% increase in team productivity within the first month.”
This question assesses your analytical skills and understanding of product metrics.
Discuss the key performance indicators (KPIs) you track and how you use data to inform future product decisions.
“Post-launch, I track metrics such as user engagement, customer satisfaction, and revenue impact. For example, after launching a new feature, I monitored user adoption rates and conducted surveys to gather qualitative feedback, which informed our next iteration.”
This question evaluates your leadership and communication style.
Explain your communication strategies and tools, and provide an example of how you fostered collaboration.
“I use a combination of regular team meetings and collaboration tools like Slack to keep everyone informed. For instance, I implemented weekly stand-ups to discuss progress and roadblocks, which improved transparency and team cohesion.”
This question assesses your conflict resolution skills.
Describe the conflict, your approach to resolving it, and the outcome. Highlight your ability to mediate and find common ground.
“When two team members disagreed on the project direction, I facilitated a meeting where each could express their views. By encouraging open dialogue, we reached a compromise that incorporated both perspectives, ultimately enhancing the project outcome.”
This question tests your industry knowledge and awareness of current trends.
Discuss relevant trends and how they impact product management, demonstrating your understanding of the field.
“I believe that data-driven decision-making and user-centric design are key trends. Companies that leverage analytics to inform product development are more likely to meet customer needs and drive engagement.”
This question assesses your motivation and alignment with the company’s values.
Express your interest in the company’s mission, culture, and how your skills align with their goals.
“I admire Willis Towers Watson’s commitment to innovation and client service. I believe my experience in driving product strategy aligns well with your goals, and I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to impactful projects.”