Lincoln Financial Group Product Manager Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Lincoln Financial Group is dedicated to helping individuals plan, protect, and retire with confidence through its comprehensive financial solutions.

As a Product Manager at Lincoln Financial Group, you will play a crucial role in driving product strategy, particularly within the realms of underwriting, legal, and compliance functions. This position requires you to create and maintain a strategic roadmap that spans 12 to 18 months, collaborating closely with Portfolio Owners and key stakeholders to define product features and prioritize initiatives that deliver value to customers and the business. Your responsibilities will include balancing stakeholder priorities with development capacity, monitoring product performance against key metrics, and ensuring that both IT and non-IT tasks are effectively integrated into the product backlog.

Success in this role demands strong analytical and problem-solving skills, effective communication capabilities, and a leadership style that fosters collaboration and trust across teams. A deep understanding of the insurance industry, particularly in product management, will significantly enhance your effectiveness. Additionally, a willingness to embrace change and push for innovative solutions is crucial, as Lincoln seeks to transform and streamline its product offerings.

This guide will prepare you to articulate your qualifications and align them with the expectations of Lincoln Financial Group, ensuring you make a compelling case for your candidacy.

The interview process for a Product Manager at Lincoln Financial Group is structured to assess both technical and interpersonal skills, ensuring candidates are well-suited for the dynamic environment of product management within the insurance industry. The process typically unfolds as follows:

1. Initial Screening

The first step involves a brief phone interview with a recruiter, lasting about 20-30 minutes. During this call, the recruiter will review your resume, discuss your background, and gauge your interest in the role. This is also an opportunity for you to ask preliminary questions about the company culture and the specifics of the position.

2. Technical Interview

Following the initial screening, candidates may participate in a technical interview, which can be conducted via video conferencing. This interview focuses on your understanding of product management principles, including your experience with product roadmaps, stakeholder management, and agile methodologies. You may be asked to discuss specific projects you've worked on, emphasizing your analytical and problem-solving skills.

3. Case Study Presentation

A unique aspect of the interview process is the requirement to prepare a case study presentation. Candidates are typically given a business case to analyze and present to a panel of interviewers. This presentation assesses your ability to synthesize information, develop strategic recommendations, and communicate effectively. Expect to defend your approach and answer questions from the panel regarding your decisions and thought processes.

4. Behavioral Interviews

After the case study, candidates will engage in one or more behavioral interviews with various team members, including potential peers and managers. These interviews focus on your past experiences, leadership style, and how you handle challenges in a team setting. Questions may revolve around your ability to collaborate, influence stakeholders, and adapt to changing priorities.

5. Final Interview

The final stage often includes a more in-depth discussion with senior management or executives. This interview is designed to assess your alignment with the company's values and long-term vision. You may be asked about your career aspirations, how you handle feedback, and your approach to driving product innovation.

Throughout the process, candidates are encouraged to demonstrate their understanding of the insurance industry, particularly in relation to product management, underwriting, and compliance.

Next, let's explore the specific interview questions that candidates have encountered during this process.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand the Interview Process

The interview process at Lincoln Financial Group can be lengthy and involves multiple rounds, including phone and in-person interviews. Be prepared for a detailed discussion about your resume and experiences, as well as a presentation of a business case. Familiarize yourself with the structure of the interview, as candidates have reported a mix of soft skills and technical questions. Knowing what to expect can help you manage your time and nerves effectively.

Prepare for Business Case Presentations

Candidates have noted that a significant part of the interview involves presenting a business case. Take the time to practice your presentation skills and ensure you can clearly articulate your thought process, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Focus on how you would approach the development of epics and features, as well as how you would prioritize them based on customer and business value.

Highlight Your Stakeholder Management Skills

Given the emphasis on customer and internal stakeholder management in the role, be ready to discuss your experiences in this area. Prepare examples that showcase your ability to balance stakeholder priorities, manage expectations, and communicate effectively across different teams. This will demonstrate your capability to serve as the "translation layer" between business and IT.

Emphasize Your Analytical Skills

The role requires a strong analytical mindset. Be prepared to discuss how you approach problem-solving and decision-making. Use specific examples from your past experiences to illustrate your analytical skills, particularly in relation to product management and the journey from vision to implementation.

Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit

Lincoln Financial Group values a non-hierarchical culture of collaboration, transparency, and trust. During your interview, emphasize your ability to work effectively in teams and your willingness to roll up your sleeves to get the job done. Share examples of how you have fostered collaboration in previous roles, especially in cross-functional teams.

Be Ready for Technical Questions

While the focus is on product management, candidates have reported being asked technical questions related to programming and analytics. Brush up on relevant technical skills, particularly if you have experience with SQL or other analytical tools. Be prepared to discuss how you have used these skills in your previous roles to drive product success.

Ask Insightful Questions

Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your understanding of Lincoln Financial Group's business and the specific challenges they face in the insurance industry. This not only shows your interest in the role but also your proactive approach to understanding how you can contribute to the company's goals.

Follow Up with Gratitude

After the interview, send a thank-you note to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. This is a chance to reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and the company, as well as to briefly mention any key points you may want to emphasize again.

By following these tips, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for the Product Manager role at Lincoln Financial Group. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Product Manager interview at Lincoln Financial Group. The interview process will likely focus on your experience in product management, stakeholder engagement, and your ability to drive strategic initiatives. Be prepared to discuss your past projects, how you prioritize tasks, and your approach to collaboration within cross-functional teams.

Product Management Experience

1. Can you describe a product you managed from conception to launch?

This question assesses your hands-on experience in product management and your ability to navigate the entire product lifecycle.

How to Answer

Detail the product's vision, the steps you took to bring it to market, and the challenges you faced along the way. Highlight your role in stakeholder management and how you ensured alignment with business goals.

Example

“I managed a digital insurance product that aimed to streamline the claims process. I collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather requirements, developed a roadmap, and prioritized features based on customer feedback. The launch resulted in a 30% reduction in processing time, significantly improving customer satisfaction.”

2. How do you prioritize features in your product backlog?

This question evaluates your decision-making skills and understanding of product value.

How to Answer

Discuss your criteria for prioritization, such as customer impact, business value, and technical feasibility. Mention any frameworks you use, like MoSCoW or RICE.

Example

“I prioritize features using the RICE framework, focusing on reach, impact, confidence, and effort. For instance, I recently prioritized a feature that would enhance user experience based on customer feedback, which was projected to increase engagement by 20%.”

Stakeholder Management

3. How do you handle conflicting priorities from different stakeholders?

This question tests your negotiation and communication skills.

How to Answer

Explain your approach to understanding stakeholder needs and finding common ground. Emphasize the importance of transparency and regular communication.

Example

“When faced with conflicting priorities, I hold a meeting with all stakeholders to discuss their needs and the potential impact on the project. By facilitating open dialogue, I can often find a compromise that aligns with our overall goals while ensuring everyone feels heard.”

4. Describe a time when you had to influence a decision without direct authority.

This question assesses your leadership and persuasion skills.

How to Answer

Share a specific example where you successfully influenced a decision through data, relationships, or effective communication.

Example

“I needed to advocate for a new feature that required additional resources. I gathered data on customer demand and presented a business case to the leadership team, highlighting the potential ROI. This approach helped secure the necessary resources for development.”

Agile Methodology

5. What is your experience with Agile methodologies?

This question gauges your familiarity with Agile practices and how you apply them in product management.

How to Answer

Discuss your experience working in Agile environments, including your role in sprints, stand-ups, and retrospectives.

Example

“I have worked in Agile teams for over three years, participating in daily stand-ups and sprint planning. I ensure that our backlog is well-groomed and that we continuously gather feedback from stakeholders to adapt our priorities as needed.”

6. How do you measure the success of a product post-launch?

This question evaluates your analytical skills and understanding of product performance metrics.

How to Answer

Explain the key performance indicators (KPIs) you track and how you use data to inform future product decisions.

Example

“Post-launch, I measure success through user engagement metrics, customer feedback, and sales data. For instance, after launching a new feature, I tracked user adoption rates and conducted surveys to gather qualitative feedback, which informed our next iteration.”

Strategic Thinking

7. How do you align your product strategy with the overall business goals?

This question assesses your strategic thinking and ability to connect product initiatives with broader company objectives.

How to Answer

Discuss your process for understanding business goals and how you translate them into actionable product strategies.

Example

“I regularly meet with senior management to understand the company’s strategic objectives. I then align our product roadmap to support these goals, ensuring that each feature contributes to our overall mission, such as increasing market share or enhancing customer satisfaction.”

8. Can you give an example of a time you had to pivot your product strategy?

This question evaluates your adaptability and problem-solving skills.

How to Answer

Share a specific instance where you had to change direction based on market feedback or internal challenges.

Example

“During the development of a new insurance product, we received feedback indicating a lack of interest in certain features. I quickly organized a team meeting to reassess our strategy, and we pivoted to focus on features that aligned more closely with customer needs, resulting in a successful launch.”

Technical Skills

9. What tools do you use for product management and why?

This question assesses your familiarity with product management tools and your rationale for using them.

How to Answer

Mention specific tools you’ve used, such as JIRA, Trello, or Asana, and explain how they help you manage your workflow effectively.

Example

“I primarily use JIRA for tracking progress and managing our backlog. It allows for easy collaboration with the development team and provides visibility into our sprint progress, which is crucial for meeting deadlines.”

10. How do you ensure that your product meets compliance and regulatory standards?

This question evaluates your understanding of compliance in the insurance industry.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to staying informed about regulations and how you incorporate compliance checks into your product development process.

Example

“I stay updated on industry regulations by attending workshops and collaborating with our legal team. During product development, I ensure compliance checks are integrated into our workflow, conducting regular reviews to mitigate any risks.”