Strategy & Operations Manager, AI at Funnel Leasing - Interview Preparation Plan | RealPrep

Strategy & Operations Manager, AI at Funnel Leasing - Interview Preparation Plan | RealPrep

Interview Process

The interview process at Funnel Leasing (and its sister company, Funnel.io, which shares similar processes) typically involves several stages designed to assess a candidate's skills, experience, and cultural fit. This includes initial screenings, in-depth interviews, and a skills assessment. The company values a structured yet thorough approach to ensure the right candidates are identified.

Expected Timeline: The exact timeline can vary, but it generally follows a structured process from application to offer, including screening, interviews, and assessments.

Screening Interview

Typically 30-45 minutes.

An initial conversation with a Talent Partner to understand your background, career aspirations, and alignment with the role and company.

What to expect: Be prepared to discuss your resume, motivations for applying, and what you're looking for in your next role. Expect questions about your general experience and career goals.

Interviews

Variable, likely 45-60 minutes per interview.

One-on-one discussions with the hiring manager and potentially other team members. These interviews delve deeper into your skills, experience, and how you align with Funnel's culture and values.

What to expect: Expect behavioral and situational questions related to strategy, operations, AI, problem-solving, and teamwork. Prepare examples that showcase your accomplishments and how you've handled challenges.

Skills Assessment

Variable (take-home assignments can range from a few hours to a few days; logic test is ~15 minutes).

Depending on the role, this may involve a case study, a take-home assignment, or a work sample review. For operational or strategic roles, a case study or problem-solving exercise is common. Funnel also utilizes a short logic test for all roles.

What to expect: For a Strategy & Operations Manager, AI role, expect a case study or a problem-solving exercise that requires you to analyze a business problem, propose a strategy, and outline operational steps. Demonstrate your analytical, strategic, and AI-related thinking.

References and Background Check

Timing is post-offer.

Following a successful interview process, references will be contacted, and a background check will be conducted.

What to expect: Provide professional references who can speak to your work ethic, skills, and performance.

Interview Types & Description

Behavioral

Assesses past behavior to predict future performance. Focuses on how you've handled specific situations, managed teams, solved problems, and demonstrated leadership.

Preparation Tips

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
Prepare specific examples related to strategy, operations, AI, cross-functional collaboration, and problem-solving.
Quantify your achievements whenever possible.

Sample Questions

Describe a time you had to drive a strategic initiative from conception to completion. What were the challenges and outcomes?
Tell me about a complex operational problem you solved. How did you approach it, and what was the result?
How have you influenced stakeholders across different teams (e.g., Product, Engineering, Sales) to achieve a common goal?
Describe a situation where you had to adapt quickly to a significant change in priorities or environment.

Quick Practice - Behavioral

Technical/Analytical

Evaluates your ability to think critically, analyze data, and solve problems. For this role, it will likely involve AI, machine learning, and operational efficiency concepts.

Preparation Tips

Familiarize yourself with AI concepts, machine learning applications (especially in a business context), and operational metrics.
Be ready to discuss how you would approach data analysis for a specific business problem.
Practice breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts.

Sample Questions

How would you measure the success of our AI-powered virtual leasing agent?
Imagine our virtual leasing agent is not meeting conversion targets. How would you diagnose the problem and propose solutions?

Role-Specific/Situational

Focuses on your understanding of the role's responsibilities and how you would handle hypothetical situations specific to Funnel Leasing and the Strategy & Operations Manager, AI position.

Preparation Tips

Research Funnel Leasing's products, market position, and recent news thoroughly.
Understand the interplay between AI, operations, and product development in a SaaS environment.
Think about how you would bridge the gap between technical teams and business objectives.

Sample Questions

How would you prioritize competing strategic initiatives for the AI product roadmap?
Describe your approach to building scalable operational processes for a rapidly growing AI product.

Cultural Fit

Assesses how well your values and working style align with Funnel Leasing's culture, particularly their P.I.N.K. values and emphasis on ownership and fun.

Preparation Tips

Articulate how your personal values align with Funnel's P.I.N.K. values.
Share examples that demonstrate your proactive nature, collaborative spirit, and positive attitude.
Ask thoughtful questions about the team dynamics and company culture.

Sample Questions

How do you embody our P.I.N.K. values in your work?
Describe a time you took ownership of a project or problem outside your direct responsibilities.

Preparation Plan

Prepare by deeply understanding Funnel Leasing's business, its AI initiatives, and the specific requirements of the Strategy & Operations Manager, AI role. Focus on showcasing your strategic thinking, operational expertise, AI knowledge, and cultural fit through well-structured examples and thoughtful questions.

Focus Areas

High

Funnel Leasing & Industry Knowledge

Research Funnel Leasing's products (Engage, Amplify, Convert, Signal), their renter-centric approach, target market (multifamily real estate), recent funding, and company values. Understand the broader PropTech and AI landscape in real estate.

High

Role-Specific Skills & Experience

Review the job description carefully. Prepare examples demonstrating your experience in strategy, operations, cross-functional leadership, AI product scaling, process improvement, and data analysis. Highlight any experience with SaaS, AI/ML, or the real estate industry.

High

AI & Machine Learning Concepts

Brush up on fundamental AI and machine learning concepts, particularly as they apply to business operations and product development (e.g., virtual agents, data analysis for product improvement). Understand how to measure AI product success and operationalize AI solutions.

Medium

Behavioral & Cultural Fit

Prepare to discuss your work style, collaboration methods, problem-solving approaches, and how you align with Funnel's P.I.N.K. values. Use the STAR method for behavioral questions.

Medium

Company Interview Process

Understand the typical interview stages and prepare for each. Be ready for a logic test and potentially a case study or skills assessment.

Timeline Suggestion

Dedicate at least 1-2 weeks for thorough preparation. Spend the first week on research and understanding the role/company. Use the second week to refine your examples, practice answering potential questions (including mock interviews if possible), and prepare insightful questions for the interviewers.

Key Advice

Emphasize your ability to bridge the gap between technical AI development and operational execution, demonstrating how you can drive scalability and efficiency for Funnel's AI products. Showcase your passion for innovation and your proactive, problem-solving mindset, aligning with Funnel's culture and values.