BBC Product Manager Interview Questions
& Process

The hiring process at the BBC is quite slow, taking almost two months from application to hear back. Both interviews I attended felt very structured, which, while potentially ensuring fairness, also came across as a bit abrupt and lacking in energy. At one point, I felt the interview panel seemed disengaged with my responses. They didn't introduce themselves or their roles, nor did they inquire about my interest in the position. No information was provided regarding the next steps after either interview, leaving me uncertain. The most frustrating part was not hearing back for two weeks after my second interview, which required me to present a deck about leading a digital product (an exercise I took a full day to prepare for). I only received feedback after proactively following up with the recruiter. Given the effort invested in preparing, I expected a clear decision. Ultimately, it was a disappointing experience.

I applied for a different, more junior product manager role initially, hoping to join BBC. I was a bit offended I didn't get a callback for that one since I felt overqualified. About a month later, BBC HR unexpectedly called me for an interview for a mid-level product manager position. I accepted, and the first step was a short phone interview. Then, I was invited for a one-on-one with the hiring manager a week later, which went well. The staff were great, and I got positive feedback about 6 days later. After that, I was asked to travel to London for a presentation to a panel of 3 people, including the hiring manager I'd already met. This was about 2.5 weeks after the in-person interview. They said it would take two weeks to hear back, but I got an offer just 4 days later. The whole process was a bit slow, but it made sense, and everyone was really nice.

The application process is discriminatory, with an online application that has acceptance criteria. This job is advertised as only eligible for those with a disability. If this situation was reversed and the job explicitly stated that those who are disabled are not eligible to apply, there would be a complete uproar. Whether someone is disabled or not does not impact the job or responsibilities held within this role. If companies wanted to be truly inclusive and diverse, they would consider all backgrounds, ethnicity and ability when it comes to filling job positions. Instead, in this situation, they have chosen to exclude and discriminate.