The Hertz Corporation Product Manager Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

The Hertz Corporation is a leading global vehicle rental company that operates well-known brands like Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty across thousands of locations worldwide.

As a Product Manager at Hertz, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing the consumer experience through innovative product features and seamless digital interactions. Your primary responsibility will be to identify opportunities within the consumer-facing technical product, particularly in the pricing vertical, and to collaborate across various teams including engineering, marketing, finance, and operations. This role demands a deep understanding of customer needs, the ability to drive product strategy and execution, and experience managing complex data analytics to inform decision-making. Key skills include strong analytical capabilities, proficiency in agile methodologies, and a knack for influencing cross-functional teams without direct authority.

This guide will help you prepare for your interview by providing insight into the expectations and nuances of the Product Manager role at Hertz, ultimately positioning you as a strong candidate who understands the intersection of technology and customer experience.

The interview process for a Product Manager role at The Hertz Corporation is designed to assess both technical and interpersonal skills, ensuring candidates are well-equipped to drive product innovation and enhance customer experiences. The process typically unfolds in several structured stages:

1. Initial Phone Screen

The first step is a brief phone interview with a recruiter, lasting around 15-30 minutes. This conversation focuses on basic logistics, your background, and your interest in the role. The recruiter will gauge your fit for the company culture and discuss your relevant experiences, particularly in product management and cross-functional collaboration.

2. Hiring Manager Interview

Following the initial screen, candidates who progress will have a one-on-one interview with the hiring manager. This session dives deeper into your product management experience, including your ability to define product roadmaps, prioritize features, and make complex trade-offs. Expect to discuss your past projects, how you’ve driven product strategy, and your approach to working with engineering and design teams.

3. Technical and Behavioral Interviews

Candidates will then participate in a series of technical and behavioral interviews. These interviews may involve multiple rounds with various stakeholders, including product team members, engineers, and possibly marketing or finance representatives. You will be assessed on your analytical skills, understanding of product metrics, and ability to influence cross-functional teams. Behavioral questions will focus on your problem-solving abilities, decision-making in ambiguous situations, and how you handle feedback and collaboration.

4. Case Study or Product Challenge

In some instances, candidates may be asked to complete a case study or product challenge. This exercise evaluates your strategic thinking and ability to develop innovative solutions for real-world product scenarios. You may be required to present your findings and recommendations to a panel, showcasing your communication skills and product sense.

5. Final Interview with Senior Leadership

The final stage often includes an interview with senior leadership, such as VP or C-level executives. This conversation will focus on your vision for the product, your understanding of market trends, and your ability to drive adoption of new initiatives. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate your strategic thinking and how you can align product goals with the company’s broader objectives.

As you prepare for your interviews, consider the specific skills and experiences that will resonate with the interviewers, particularly in areas like product metrics, cross-functional collaboration, and customer-centric innovation.

Next, let’s explore the types of questions you might encounter during this interview process.

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

Understand the Company Culture

Hertz values a culture of diversity and inclusion, which is reflected in their hiring practices. Be prepared to discuss how your unique experiences and perspectives can contribute to this culture. Show that you appreciate the importance of collaboration and communication across various teams, as this is crucial for a Product Manager role.

Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration

Given the emphasis on working with multiple teams such as engineering, finance, and marketing, be ready to share examples of how you have successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams in the past. Highlight your ability to influence without authority and how you’ve navigated complex decision-making processes. This will demonstrate your readiness to thrive in a collaborative environment.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills

With a strong focus on product metrics and analytics, it’s essential to demonstrate your analytical capabilities. Prepare to discuss how you have used data to inform product decisions, identify opportunities, and measure success. Be specific about the tools and methodologies you’ve employed, and consider discussing any relevant metrics you’ve tracked in previous roles.

Emphasize Customer-Centric Thinking

Hertz is dedicated to enhancing the customer experience, so be prepared to articulate how you prioritize customer needs in your product management approach. Share examples of how you’ve gathered customer feedback, tested hypotheses, and iterated on product features based on user insights. This will show that you understand the importance of a customer-first mindset.

Be Ready for Technical Discussions

As a Product Manager, you will need to engage in technical discussions with engineering teams. Brush up on your understanding of product architecture and be prepared to discuss how you’ve contributed to technology decisions in the past. This will help you establish credibility with technical team members and demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between business and technology.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Expect behavioral questions that assess your problem-solving skills, adaptability, and ability to deal with ambiguity. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, focusing on specific examples that highlight your strengths in these areas. This will help you convey your experiences effectively and leave a lasting impression.

Stay Informed on Industry Trends

Hertz is focused on innovation and staying ahead of industry trends, particularly in mobility and technology. Familiarize yourself with current trends in the vehicle rental and transportation sectors, such as electric vehicles and rideshare integrations. Being knowledgeable about these trends will allow you to engage in meaningful discussions and demonstrate your passion for the industry.

Follow Up Thoughtfully

After your interview, send a thoughtful follow-up email to express your gratitude for the opportunity to interview. Use this as a chance to reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and the company, and to briefly mention any key points from the interview that you found particularly engaging. This will help you stand out and reinforce your interest in the position.

By following these tips, you will be well-prepared to showcase your qualifications and fit for the Product Manager role at Hertz. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Product Manager interview at The Hertz Corporation. The interview will likely focus on your experience in product management, your ability to work cross-functionally, and your understanding of customer experience and analytics. Be prepared to discuss your past projects, how you prioritize features, and how you handle ambiguity in decision-making.

Product Management Experience

1. Can you describe a product you managed from conception to launch? What were the key challenges you faced?

This question assesses your end-to-end product management experience and your problem-solving skills.

How to Answer

Discuss the product's vision, the steps you took to bring it to market, and the challenges you encountered along the way. Highlight how you overcame these challenges and what you learned from the experience.

Example

“I managed the development of a mobile app feature that streamlined the booking process. One key challenge was integrating with existing systems, which required extensive collaboration with engineering. By facilitating regular check-ins and using agile methodologies, we were able to launch on time and improve user satisfaction by 30%.”

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

This question evaluates your strategic thinking and prioritization skills.

How to Answer

Explain your approach to prioritization, including any frameworks or metrics you use to assess the impact of features on customer experience and business goals.

Example

“I use a combination of the RICE scoring model and customer feedback to prioritize features. For instance, when deciding between two features, I assess their reach, impact, confidence, and effort. This helps ensure that we focus on high-impact features that align with our strategic goals.”

3. Describe a time when you had to influence a cross-functional team without direct authority.

This question tests your leadership and communication skills.

How to Answer

Share a specific example where you successfully influenced stakeholders to achieve a common goal, emphasizing your communication and negotiation skills.

Example

“In a previous role, I needed buy-in from the marketing team for a new product feature. I organized a workshop to present data on how the feature would enhance customer engagement. By aligning the feature with their goals, I was able to secure their support and ensure a successful launch.”

4. How do you handle ambiguity in product development?

This question assesses your ability to make decisions in uncertain situations.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to gathering data, conducting experiments, and making informed decisions despite uncertainty.

Example

“When faced with ambiguity, I focus on gathering qualitative and quantitative data through user interviews and A/B testing. For example, when launching a new pricing model, I ran a pilot program to gather insights before a full rollout, which helped us refine our approach based on real user feedback.”

Customer Experience and Analytics

1. How do you ensure that customer feedback is incorporated into your product development process?

This question evaluates your commitment to customer-centric product management.

How to Answer

Explain your methods for collecting and analyzing customer feedback and how you translate that into actionable product improvements.

Example

“I regularly conduct user surveys and analyze app store reviews to gather customer feedback. I then prioritize this feedback in our sprint planning sessions, ensuring that we address pain points and enhance the overall user experience.”

2. Can you give an example of how you used data analytics to inform a product decision?

This question assesses your analytical skills and ability to leverage data for decision-making.

How to Answer

Share a specific instance where data analysis led to a significant product decision, highlighting the metrics you used and the outcome.

Example

“While working on a feature to improve booking conversion rates, I analyzed user behavior data and discovered that users were dropping off at a specific point in the process. By simplifying that step based on the data insights, we increased our conversion rate by 15%.”

3. What metrics do you consider most important when evaluating product success?

This question tests your understanding of key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to product management.

How to Answer

Discuss the metrics you track and why they are important for assessing product performance and customer satisfaction.

Example

“I focus on metrics such as Net Promoter Score (NPS), customer retention rate, and conversion rates. These metrics provide insights into customer satisfaction and the effectiveness of our product features, allowing us to make data-driven decisions for future improvements.”

4. How do you stay updated on industry trends and emerging technologies?

This question evaluates your commitment to continuous learning and industry awareness.

How to Answer

Share your methods for staying informed about industry trends, such as attending conferences, reading industry publications, or participating in professional networks.

Example

“I subscribe to industry newsletters, attend relevant conferences, and participate in online forums. Recently, I attended a webinar on autonomous vehicle technology, which inspired me to explore potential integrations for our rental services.”