Our interview process at Zalando is designed to help you and us collect all the information necessary to make a decision. In case you have further questions, feel free to reach out to your Talent Acquisition Partner. We are more than happy to catch-up with you directly… we want you to feel prepared!
If your application is reviewed positively by the hiring team, the interview process for product design roles at Zalando typically consists of several steps:
- A screening interview with a Talent Acquisition Partner.
- A preliminary interview with the manager who is hiring for their team or a team member.
- The final interview round, consisting of 3 or 4 deep-dive interviews.
The average process takes about 3 - 4 weeks, depending on the availability of the candidates and interviewers. The focus of the final round will be different for each role. For example, interviews for an individual contributor position will differ from management roles. When they are remote, the final interviews do not have to happen all on the same day; we will be flexible and optimize the process to your individual needs and preferences.
Let's take a closer look at each stage of the interview process.
Screening interview with a Talent Acquisition Partner (30min) - During this session, we would like to better understand your motivation, expectations, and skills. We will help give you a better understanding of the position, the business area and Zalando’s culture. Bring your initial questions about the position and Zalando culture to this call. We will also ask one or two high-level technical questions to evaluate your skill and experience level.
Preliminary interview (45 - 60min) - This interview with the Hiring Manager or a peer will delve into your past product design experience. We’ll explore your design process, collaboration skills, and ability to solve complex problems with simple design solutions. Bring any specific questions you have about the role or team to this conversation. This interview is also your chance to get more insights into the position you applied for and the team you would be working with. Ask questions — don’t be shy!
Final interview round: A series of in-depth interviews designed to assess your design thinking, technical skills, and how well you align with our product design philosophy.
- Product Design Deep Dive
Purpose: To assess your experience in leading design projects and your ability to operate in both problem and solution spaces.
What to expect: You’ll discuss key projects you’ve led, showcasing how you’ve created impact through design. We’ll cover the end-to-end design process, from research and ideation to execution and iteration.
Preparation tip: Be ready to share insights from challenging projects, including lessons learned from failures. Prepare the 2 most impactful ones from the last 2 years. Depth over breadth matters here. - Design Exercise
Purpose: To evaluate how you solve design challenges in real time, demonstrating your design thinking and technical approach.
What to expect: You'll work through a design challenge that simulates a real-world problem. The focus will be on how you approach the problem, prioritise tasks, and find solutions. Depending on time, you may work on one or two challenges.
Preparation tip: Stay focused on clear, thoughtful problem-solving. It’s okay if you only complete one challenge — quality over quantity matters here. - Stakeholder Interview
Purpose: To evaluate how you collaborate with cross-functional teams, especially Product and Engineering.
What to expect: We’ll focus on how you communicate with stakeholders and align design direction with business objectives. Explain how you integrate feedback into your work.
Preparation tip: Be ready to discuss examples of working with Product Management, Engineering, Applied Science and other stakeholders to achieve design goals.
There may be an additional interview for high-seniority candidates.
Here are a few general tips to prepare for your interview process for product design at Zalando:
- Explore our Zalando Design blog, including:
- How to shine in a job interview at Zalando Part 1
- How to shine in a job interview at Zalando Part 2
- Get a better understanding of Zalando's culture and values. Follow us on LinkedIn and explore what’s new on the Inside Zalando blog.
- Ask questions! Take some time to think about what you would like to know from your potential manager and from future colleagues.
Overall, the interview process for Product Design roles at Zalando helps us assess your core product design craft skills, solution design, CX vision, collaboration and leadership. It’s also designed as a chance for you to learn more about the role you have applied for, your potential future manager and how we work.
We want you to feel well-prepared, so don't be afraid to ask questions or reach out to your Talent Acquisition Partner for support throughout the process.
Curious, but you haven’t applied yet? Apply today for one of our open Product Design & User Experience roles.
