Get Hired as a Product Manager

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to answer interview questions like a product manager
How to find & apply to the right product management positions
How to write an effective cover letter for a product management position
How to organize and optimize your resume or cv for product management applications
How to research a company and a product manager position prior to your interview
What questions to expect and prepare for prior to a product manager interview
How to correctly tackle product management behavioral interview questions
How to use the par / car framework to better answer "tell me about a time when" questions
How to correctly tackle product management product creation interview questions
How to correctly tackle product management estimation interview questions
How to correctly tackle product management instructional interview questions
How to reverse interview your interviewers and ask the right questions

How to spot red flags in companies and interview processes before you apply
How to make yourself stand out in a product management interview & application
How to adapt to any question you get in an interview by thinking like a product manager
How to make a great impression when interviewing virtually
How to tackle take-home case studies commonly included in product management applications
How to highlight your accomplishments in a way that product management hiring managers like
How to do effective side projects to increase your chance of being hired
How to effectively brand yourself online before applying for product management roles
How to get started with your first product management job and hit the ground running
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How to answer interview questions like a product manager
How to find & apply to the right product management positions
How to write an effective cover letter for a product management position
How to organize and optimize your resume or cv for product management applications
How to research a company and a product manager position prior to your interview
What questions to expect and prepare for prior to a product manager interview
How to correctly tackle product management behavioral interview questions
How to use the par / car framework to better answer "tell me about a time when" questions
How to correctly tackle product management product creation interview questions
How to correctly tackle product management estimation interview questions
How to correctly tackle product management instructional interview questions
How to reverse interview your interviewers and ask the right questions
How to spot red flags in companies and interview processes before you apply
How to make yourself stand out in a product management interview & application
How to adapt to any question you get in an interview by thinking like a product manager
How to make a great impression when interviewing virtually
How to tackle take-home case studies commonly included in product management applications
How to highlight your accomplishments in a way that product management hiring managers like
How to do effective side projects to increase your chance of being hired
How to effectively brand yourself online before applying for product management roles
How to get started with your first product management job and hit the ground running
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Introduction (Don't Skip This!)

Welcome to the course!

Let's take a second and set you up for success.

In this quick introduction video, we'll go over:

Why we decided to take a holistic approach to our course coverage
Why there are other courses out there on Product Management interviewing and make us ?
A really boring story about Cole's struggle with authority during childhood that you can completely skip (save yourself)
How Mrs. Gardner scarred Cole for life by not providing enough supporting documentation for Cole's queries
How we selectively incorporate good feedback into our courses while wholly ignoring negative feedback (PM-style ? )
How "focusing on the why" is what's going to really help us transform you into a PM interview machine

In this lecture, we'll go over the number one mistake people get wrong about Product Management.

Can you guess what it is?

Is it that people think you have to be a rockstar coding ninja to succeed in PM (you don't)

Is it that people accidentally confuse Project Management with Product Management and have been accidentally spending the last half decade of their life (whoops) in the wrong field because they refuse to admit their mistake?

No, it's much simpler.

It's the belief that you can find shortcuts and excel with "templates" and "done-for-you" guides.

That's not the point of Product Management and if anyone tells you they have a "template for x,y,z" then you're simply doing you a disservice.

In this video, we'll explain why that is and why you're better off learning how to "think like a PM" instead. If you can use critical reasoning to navigate any situation correctly, then you can adapt in any situation and don't need a crutch like a template.

Expect a firm "talking to" from Cole and the unshakeable feeling that, much like your least favorite parent, he is disappointed in you. He will not be coming to your baseball game.

In this quick lecture, we'll cover how the course is laid out and why we decided to do it that way. Consider this your roadmap to tackling the rest of the course and being on your merry way to getting a job in Product Management.

You'll also get a link to Cole's private webserver where he claims there are free resources (this is true), and his professional headshots for distribution to anyone "in the industry" (ok, I made that part up).

Let's get into the nitty-gritty on how getting hired into Product Management even works.

Let's say you DO get that job interview you've been dreaming about.

WHO are you most likely going to talk to?

Turns out, it's almost always one of 5 groups.

Covered in this lecture:

Who are recruiters, what do they want, and what are they trying to get out of you? (also how do do they get unlimited LinkedIn InMail credits for spamming you...)
Why high value prospects might talk to another Product Manager first, and why they're referred to as a "hiring manager"
What pre-vetting interviews will primarily be looking for
Why you might interview with a team engineer and what they're looking for
Why you might interview first with a team designer and what they specifically want to hear (besides "I love your Dribbble")
What are the edge cases for people you might have to interview with, and what they all have in common
How to hide the fact that you think "Microsoft Edge is misunderstood" (get it together, jeez)

What do astronauts and Product Managers have in common? (besides being the two things Cole dreams about every day)

They both have long, multi-step interview processes full of hard questions and hands-on exercises.

Why is it that Product Management interviews are so notoriously difficult?

Well, that's what we're going to cover in this lecture.

It's inevitable that in this post-pandemic / never-ending-pandemic world that you get asked to interview virtually at some point. Most employers were shifting at least part of their interview process to remote calls already, but the "work from home" pandemic boom really kicked this trend into high gear.

Going forward expect at least the initial stages of your interview process to be online, if not the entire thing.

If you were going to an interview in person, you would want to set the best impression possible. When you interview virtually, it's the exact same.

In person, you'd wear something nice, brush your teeth, and make sure you don't look homeless. On a virtual call though... how do you improve the impression you give to the interviewer?

In this lecture, let's go over some quick and easy, high ROI fixes to improve your "Zoom presence".

Covered in this lecture:

Picking the best room to interview in
Testing and improving the acoustics in your space
Balancing light in the right way
Deciding between phone cameras and laptop cameras
Tracking your eye-line and adjusting your camera accordingly
Quick on the fly "set dec" as a final touch

Do you plan on being on virtual calls often going forward? (hint: you probably are)

If so, then you should consider upgrading your virtual office look before you hop on your first set of interviews.

If you're willing to put in some dough to upgrade your space, then really the sky is the limit.

We'll go over our top recommendations for improving your audio, video, and the overall comfort of your Zoom setup in this lecture

Covered in this lecture:

Options for upgrading your video image quality
Options for upgrading your audio quality
How to dramatically improve your room acoustics for < $50
How to setup your call so your eyes look directly at the camera without it being awkward
How to use artificial lighting to improve your look and achieve image consistency.
Easy extras that can go a long way

Question list:

00:21 - What do you do if you're applying for a PM position in an industry that you want to get into but don't have any experience in?

03:18 - How do you know if the job is dependent on your experience in that specific industry?

07:16 - Is taking a product internship role worth it?

10:27 - I don't work in product but I want to become a PM. Does it make more sense to try to become a PM internally at my company or to apply externally to another company?

13:55 - Should I negotiate my salary?

18:52 - Should I apply through job posts or should I only try to network and get introductions to open positions through friends?

21:48 - A recruiter reached out to me about transitioning to PM. Is that a viable option?

23:50 - Some employers might give you take home work, which is often considered a red flag. Should you try it anyway?

25:47 - I'm not a PM yet. Is there anything I should do to my resume to present myself in the best way?

Question list:

00:39 - Tell us about yourself, your background, and what you do now

02:35 - How did you become aware of product management and get into it?

03:24 - How did you come to know about what product management is?

06:25 - As a group PM, what do you do day to day?

09:57 - How do you approach managing other PMs?

11:22 - How did you land your first product management job?

13:23 - Influencing without authority: did you learn that at your first job or was it later on?

14:52 - What would you say the most difficult part of getting a PM job is?

16:30 - Consumer PM roles are more difficult for new PMs. From your experience, do you find that to be true?

21:06 - When hiring PMs, what are you looking for in a resume?

25:58 - What were some of the most interesting or odd questions you've been asked in a PM interview?

32:00 - What are the top things you're looking for when you're interviewing someone for a PM role?

38:14 - What is the biggest red flag for a company you'd be interviewing at?

43:44 - Do you have any go-to questions you ask candidates?

46:41 - What are your tips for people who want to become a PM?

Question list:

00:32 - Tell us about yourself and your career history

04:11 - How did you get your first product management job?

07:25 - What do you think the most difficult part of the PM interview is?

09:37 - Are you currently in a position where you're hiring other PMs?

10:38 - What are you looking for in a resume?

12:14 - What are the most interesting questions you've been asked in an interview?

13:59 - Have you ever gotten any of the classic brain teaser questions?

16:40 - As a hiring manager, what is one of the biggest red flags in a candidate?

19:14 - As a candidate, what are some red flags in a company you're interviewing at?

22:09 - What are some of your favorite questions to ask a candidate?

27:53 - What are your tips for people who want to become a PM?

Question list:

00:56 - Introduce yourself and tell us about your career history

02:04 - How did you get into product management?

04:08 - What made you want to become a PM before you found our course?

07:25 - What were the things that helped you the most from our "Become a Product Manager" course?

09:43 - How did you get your current job?

11:35 - How did you get the first interview with the recruiter?

12:45 - How was your onboarding process for your first PM job?

14:29 - What does your regular day look like?

16:08 - What do you think is the most challenging part about being a PM?

17:39 - When you're trying to drive alignment, do you find any value in creating a compelling story?

21:16 - What types of questions were you asked in your PM interview?

25:16 - What type of question did you find the most difficult?

29:20 - How did you stand out in the PM interview? Did you do a side project?

35:40 - Do you have any tips for people who are trying to get a PM job?

37:52 - What type of networking do you find the most helpful?

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Offers insights into the mindset of a product manager, which is valuable for those new to the field and seeking to understand the role's core principles

Provides guidance on optimizing resumes and cover letters, which is essential for making a strong first impression on potential employers in the product management field

Includes a full mock interview with walkthrough instruction, which offers a practical way to prepare for the interview process and receive immediate feedback

Covers how to tackle take-home case studies, which are commonly included in product management applications and require a specific skill set to complete successfully

Requires learners to have access to recording equipment to improve their presence in remote interviews, which may pose a barrier to some learners

Reviews summary

Effective pm job application and interview guide

According to learners, this course is a highly effective guide for anyone looking to land a Product Manager role. Students say it provides practical and actionable strategies for optimizing resumes and cover letters, and crucially, helps you master the PM interview process. Reviewers particularly appreciate the detailed breakdown of different interview question types (behavioral, product creation, estimation) and the valuable frameworks taught like PAR/CAR. The included mock interviews and case study walkthroughs are frequently highlighted as extremely helpful resources. While the course focuses specifically on getting hired rather than teaching core PM skills, students feel it gives them the necessary tools and confidence to navigate the challenging application landscape. Some mention it could be more in-depth in certain areas, but overall, the feedback suggests it successfully prepares candidates for PM interviews.

Course is solely focused on the hiring process.

"It's important to understand this course is strictly about getting hired, not about how to actually perform the PM job."

"Don't expect to learn product strategy or execution skills here; it's purely interview preparation focused."

"It's a great course for interview prep, but you'll need other resources to learn the day-to-day aspects of the job itself."

Instructors share valuable insights from experience.

"Cole's experience as a PM and interviewer provides great context and credibility to the advice given."

"The instructors are clearly knowledgeable and passionate about helping people break into Product Management."

"I appreciated hearing about their personal interview failures and lessons learned; it felt very relatable."

Mock interviews and case studies are very valuable.

"The mock interview with the Apple case study was a fantastic way to see how it all comes together in practice."

"Walking through the case study step-by-step gave me real confidence in my ability to tackle similar problems."

"Watching the interviews with successful PMs and hiring managers was eye-opening and provided great insider tips."

Covers all key PM interview question formats.

"The course breaks down behavioral, estimation, and product creation questions clearly, giving me confidence to face them."

"I feel much more prepared for the different types of questions after taking this, understanding the interviewer's perspective."

"Using the frameworks like PAR/CAR made answering behavioral questions much easier and more structured."

Provides concrete strategies for applications.

"I found the advice on structuring my resume and cover letter incredibly useful. It helped me tailor them effectively for PM roles."

"The course gave me practical steps I could immediately apply to my job search and refine my application materials."

"Unlike other courses, this one provides actionable strategies, not just theoretical concepts about the PM role itself."

Some sections could benefit from more detail.

"I wish they went into more detail on complex product sense questions or analytical cases."

"Some topics felt a bit rushed; I needed outside resources for more depth in certain areas."

"It's a good overview for interview prep, but for tackling highly technical or specific industry interviews, you might need more."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Get Hired as a Product Manager | Applying & Interviewing with these activities:

Review Product Management Fundamentals

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Reinforce your understanding of core product management concepts before diving into the application and interview process.

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Review introductory materials on product management methodologies.
Summarize key concepts and frameworks.

Build Your Online Portfolio

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Showcase your skills and experience to potential employers by creating a professional online portfolio.

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Select a platform to host your portfolio.
Document your past projects and experiences.
Highlight your accomplishments and quantify your impact.
Solicit feedback and refine your portfolio.

Practice Answering Behavioral Questions

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Master the art of answering behavioral questions using the PAR/CAR framework to impress interviewers.

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Identify common behavioral questions.
Prepare stories using the PAR/CAR framework.
Practice answering questions out loud.
Record yourself and analyze your performance.

Four other activities

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Design a New Product Feature

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Apply your product management skills by designing a new feature for an existing product.

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Choose a product and identify a problem or opportunity.
Conduct user research to understand user needs.
Develop a product specification document.
Create wireframes or mockups of the feature.

Read 'Cracking the PM Interview'

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Gain insights into the product management interview process by reading a popular and highly-regarded book.

View Cracking the PM Interview: How to Land a... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Cracking the PM Interview'.
Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
Practice answering the sample interview questions.

Attend Product Management Meetups

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Expand your network and learn from other product managers by attending local meetups.

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Search for product management meetups in your area.
Attend a meetup and introduce yourself to other attendees.
Ask questions and learn from their experiences.
Follow up with people you met on LinkedIn.

Read 'Inspired: How to Create Products Customers Love'

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Deepen your understanding of product development by reading a classic book on the topic.

View Product is Hard SVPG Box Set: Includes INSPIRED... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Inspired'.
Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
Reflect on how the concepts apply to your own work.

Career center

Learners who complete Get Hired as a Product Manager | Applying & Interviewing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Product Manager

The role of Product Manager is the primary focus of this course, which thoroughly covers the application and interview process. This course provides guidance on how to think like a product manager, find the right positions, and prepare for interviews. Anyone wishing to become a product manager should take this course, as it includes information on resume optimization, cover letter writing, company research, and how to tackle common interview questions. It also covers case studies, take-home work, and how to impress your interviewers. This course is designed to help you navigate the entire hiring process to maximize your chances of success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Associate Product Manager

This course is ideal for those seeking an Associate Product Manager role, as it thoroughly addresses the application and interview process for product management positions. It teaches how to find suitable roles, build your brand, and optimize your application materials. A candidate for an associate product manager position should benefit from the course's advice on researching companies before interviews and tackling take-home work and case studies. The course includes critical information on how to approach common interview questions and how to think like a product manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Associate Product Manager

Product Owner

A Product Owner would find this course helpful as it covers many aspects of the product development cycle, especially those that intersect with product management. While the course centers on getting hired, a Product Owner would benefit from the modules on thinking like a product manager, tackling case studies, and answering interview questions effectively. In particular, the sections on product creation and estimation may be useful. As this is an interview-focused course, it will help anyone looking to move into a new Product Owner position.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Owner

Product Analyst

Product Analysts seeking to advance their careers may find value in this course. While the course focuses on the product management interview process, the sections on thinking like a product manager, tackling case studies, and answering various interview questions are applicable. A Product Analyst would benefit from the course's strategic approach to the job search and help in understanding the mindset of a hiring manager. The course also includes modules on how to tackle product estimation and creation questions, which may be useful to an analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Analyst

Product Marketing Manager

A Product Marketing Manager may find this course useful as it provides an understanding of how the product management team thinks, which is valuable when bringing products to market. Though this course focuses primarily on the hiring process, product marketing managers can use the knowledge from the modules on how product managers think, and how they approach product creation and strategy. The course may help product marketing managers better understand the product development process and how to effectively work with product managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Marketing Manager

Business Analyst

This course may be helpful for a business analyst interested in transitioning to a product-focused role or who works closely with product managers. While the course is designed to assist those seeking product management roles, its modules on thinking like a product manager and understanding the product development process can benefit a business analyst. The course may provide insights on how a product team functions and how to collaborate with them more effectively. It also discusses how to approach product creation and strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

While this course centers on product management, a Project Manager looking to expand their skills may find useful information. The course's focus on the product manager's mindset, the product development process and how to approach product creation may be applicable. Although the course is not for a Project Manager directly, it could help them communicate with product teams more effectively and potentially make a career pivot. This is an interview focused course, so it will help anyone looking to move into a new Project Management position.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

UX Designer

A UX Designer may find this course useful as it provides insights into the perspective of a Product Manager. Although the course primarily focuses on the product management hiring process, the modules on product creation, understanding the product development process, and strategic thinking are also valuable to a UX designer. By understanding how a product manager thinks, a UX designer can better align their designs with product strategy. This course may assist UX designers to collaborate more effectively with product teams.

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Software Engineer

This course may be helpful for software engineers considering a move into product management, as it provides insight into the role. As this course helps with the application process of a Product Manager, it may be helpful for a Software Engineer seeking to transition into the role. The course provides a look at the product development process, how product managers think, and how to approach case studies and interview questions. It also covers product creation and estimation questions which can be valuable for a software engineer seeking a shift in their career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer working within a software or technology company may find this course relevant, as it explains the role of Product Managers. This course dives into the mindset of a Product Manager and the kinds of questions asked in that role, so a technical writer may gain a new perspective on a key stakeholder. The course can help them be better equipped to understand the product development process, which could inform their documentation work. Technical writers may also find the section on product creation and strategy helpful in understanding product documentation needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Marketing Specialist

A Marketing Specialist working closely with product teams may find this course helpful. Despite focusing on product management interviews, the content provides valuable insights into product strategy and the product development process. This course may help a marketing specialist understand the product lifecycle, which can improve communication and collaboration with the product management team. The course offers a look into the product manager's mindset and how they approach product creation, which may be useful for marketing initiatives.

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Sales Representative

Sales representatives who are selling technical products could find this course useful, as it provides a product-centric view that may help them better understand the products they are selling. While this course focuses on getting hired as a product manager, the sales representative can potentially benefit from understanding the product development process. The course may enable a representative to speak about products with greater insight and therefore, be more effective.

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Entrepreneur

This course may assist entrepreneurs, especially those who are building their own products. While the course is focused on the product management interview and application process, it offers insights into how product managers think, approach product creation, and analyze markets. This understanding may help an entrepreneur make better decisions about their product strategy and development and be more aligned with the goals of their business. The course's discussion of product creation may be helpful for entrepreneurs in particular.

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Management Consultant

A Management Consultant who works with tech companies may find this course useful as it provides an understanding of product strategy, though it is focused on the interview process. Consultants can benefit from learning how Product Managers evaluate and create products, and the way that they approach difficult problems. This course may also improve communication between a management consultant and stakeholders in the product field. The modules on product strategy and thinking like a product manager may be especially helpful.

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Data Scientist

A Data Scientist may find some aspects of this course useful, particularly in how product decisions are made. Although the purpose of the course is to prepare individuals for product management interviews, the modules on product creation, estimation and thinking like a product manager could be useful. A data scientist may better understand how their work is used to improve products. This course may help Data Scientists better collaborate with product teams and make more data driven products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Applying & Interviewing

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Effective pm job application and interview guide

Activities

Career center

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