Program Management Interview Course from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to prepare for program manager interviews at tech companies
What program managers do

How to interview for program manager interviews
How to ramp as a new program manager

How to prepare for program manager interviews at tech companies
What program managers do
How to interview for program manager interviews
How to ramp as a new program manager

Syllabus

Understand who program managers are, what they do, and where they belong in an organization

Introduction to what you'll learn, who I am, who this course is for, and an overview of the content of this course.

Understand who program managers are, what they do, and where they belong in an organization

Learn about a day in the life of a technical program manager

Be prepared for the PgM interview process, craft an experience log, elevator pitch, and resume.

Learn the perspective and strategy we will take to interview for PgM roles

Learn about what tech companies look for when they recruit program managers

Learn how tech company program manager interviews are structured

Learn how to create an experience log to have high-quality interviews

In this section we review what type of stories to pick for your experience log.

Learn the basics of creating your resume along with a free tool that helps create beautifully crafted resumes

Craft an elevator pitch to start interviews off on the right foot.

Write and Submit your Elevator Pitch for Feedback

Program/Project Manager Fundamentals

A high-level overview of the basics of Project Management.

Project vs Program Management

A brief overview and simple framework for conducting Change Management, one of the more nuanced and subtle skills of a program manager.

A list of common terminology you may encounter as a Program Manager

Students will be able to search, apply, navigate behavioral questions, interview interview skillfully.

Use various tools to search for and apply to PgM roles

Throwaway interviews should be scheduled to prioritize high-value companies and practice.

How to answer behavioral questions strategically and efficiently

Behavioral questions make up the bulk of your interviews so you better get used to answering them.

How to answer those tricky Situational Questions, a variation of Behavioral questions.

How domain expertise questions comprise a majority of your interviews and how to answer them

How to interview with the Recruiter and Hiring Manager

How to interview and navigate on-sites

Students will know how compensation packages, offers, and negotiation work

Offers and Negotiations

People will learn how to ramp up effectively and next steps

How ramping up is critical to your success and next steps to continue your career as a program manager

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Prepares learners to answer behavioral and situational questions, which are frequently asked during program management interviews

Explores the differences between project and program management, which is helpful for those transitioning between the two

Covers change management, which is a subtle but important skill for program managers to develop and hone over time

Teaches how to create an experience log, which is a tool that helps learners prepare for program management interviews

Recommends scheduling throwaway interviews to practice and prioritize high-value companies, which may be time-consuming

Requires learners to search for and apply to program management roles, which may require additional time and effort

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 Program Management Interview Course with these activities:

Review Project Management Fundamentals

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of project management principles, which are foundational to program management.

Show steps

Review project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall).
Practice creating project plans and timelines.
Familiarize yourself with project management tools and techniques.

Cracking the PM Interview

Show steps

Learn how to answer common interview questions and understand the interview process.

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

Show steps

Read the book cover to cover.
Practice answering the questions in the book.
Reflect on how the advice applies to program management roles.

Behavioral Question Practice

Show steps

Improve your ability to answer behavioral questions effectively and strategically.

Show steps

Identify common behavioral questions related to program management.
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
Practice answering the questions out loud until you feel comfortable.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

The Making of a Manager

Show steps

Understand the fundamentals of management and how to lead cross-functional teams.

View The Making of a Manager: What to Do When... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
Reflect on how these concepts apply to your program management experience.
Identify areas where you can improve your management skills.

Mock Interview Practice

Show steps

Practice answering program management interview questions in a realistic setting.

Show steps

Find a friend or colleague to conduct a mock interview.
Prepare a list of common program management interview questions.
Conduct the mock interview and provide feedback to each other.
Record the interview and review it later.

Create a Portfolio of Program Management Projects

Show steps

Showcase your program management skills and experience to potential employers.

Show steps

Identify 2-3 projects where you played a significant role.
Document the project goals, your responsibilities, and the outcomes.
Create a visually appealing presentation or website to showcase your portfolio.
Highlight your key accomplishments and skills.

Attend Program Management Meetups

Show steps

Connect with other program managers and learn about industry trends and best practices.

Show steps

Search for program management meetups in your area.
Attend the meetups and network with other attendees.
Ask questions and learn from experienced program managers.

Career center

Learners who complete Program Management Interview Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Program Manager

A program manager drives progress across organizations, working with different teams to deliver projects and adapt to changing market conditions. This course is explicitly designed to help one prepare to interview for program manager roles, covering not only what program managers do but also how to present oneself effectively in interviews. The course covers creating an experience log, crafting an elevator pitch, understanding how tech companies recruit program managers, and learning about interview structures. The course helps aspiring program managers learn how to answer behavioral and situational interview questions skillfully.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Technical Program Manager

Technical program managers oversee technology-focused projects, utilizing both technical skills and project management to ensure successful project delivery. This course provides a high-level understanding of the program manager role, including a day in the life of a technical program manager. It helps build a foundation for interviewing for technical program manager roles. The course includes material on understanding domain expertise questions and how to ramp up effectively after landing the role. It specifically addresses the needs of individuals looking to transition into technical program management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Program Manager

Project Manager

Project managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing specific projects, often within a defined scope and timeline. This 'Program Management Interview Course' provides a high-level overview of project management basics and distinguishes between project and program management. It may be helpful for aspiring project managers who are looking to understand the broader context of program management and enhance their interview skills. The course includes modules on effective project management, change management, and common terminology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Product Manager

Product managers define and guide the development of products, focusing on understanding customer needs and market trends. Although not explicitly focused on product management, this course describes how program managers work with design and product sense, which may provide some helpful insights into how product development works. Those looking to understand the interdisciplinary nature of product development, in addition to working cross-functionally, may find this course useful. The course provides a high-level view of the program manager role that could benefit aspiring product managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Operations Manager

Operations managers oversee the day to day activities of an organization to ensure efficiency and productivity. They often work cross-functionally with multiple teams, making the program manager skill set overlap with this role. This course may be helpful, particularly to those looking to understand how to navigate behavioral and situational interview questions, as these skills are useful in all corporate environments. Additionally, the course provides a high-level overview of the program management role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Program Coordinator

A program coordinator provides support to program managers, assisting in planning, execution, and monitoring. This course is geared towards those seeking to become program managers, but the information here may be useful for developing a working understanding of program management. The course includes an introduction to the program manager role, how to ramp up after getting hired, and also common terminology. For those looking to ascend to a program manager role, this course will be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Coordinator

Business Analyst

Business analysts analyze data and processes to identify areas for improvement and make recommendations. This course is focused on program management but offers an opportunity to understand how program managers identify needs and drive progress across organizations. This course may be helpful for business analysts wanting to understand more about program management and how different teams work together. The course covers a high-level view of the program manager role and may demonstrate how businesses are run.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Management Consultant

Management consultants help organizations solve problems and improve performance, often by working with different departments. This course's emphasis on cross-functional work and program management may be helpful to those looking to understand how to manage projects and navigate change. The program provides practice in answering interview questions, including situational and behavioral questions, that may be helpful for management consultant interviews as well. The course provides a high-level overview of program management, a skill useful in consulting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Agile Coach

Agile coaches guide teams in adopting and implementing agile methodologies, focusing on improving team performance. Though this course is focused on program management, it does highlight the importance of adaptability and working across different teams, values that are useful in agile environments. This course may be useful for agile coaches looking to understand program management concepts and how to drive change within organizations. In particular, the brief overview of change management will be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agile Coach

Scrum Master

Scrum masters facilitate agile development teams ensuring that the Scrum framework is followed. While this course is geared towards program management roles, it may be helpful for scrum masters who may be interested in gaining a broader understanding of program management. Specifically, the course covers program manager roles within organizations, and how to drive progress across multiple teams. The course might help scrum masters understand how their role fits into a larger organizational context.

See salaries and explore the career path for Scrum Master

Change Management Specialist

Change management specialists focus on the human aspects of change within organizations, helping employees adapt to new processes or structures. This course briefly covers change management, a core component of program management, and could be useful for those looking to understand how to lead organizations through transition. The course offers an overview of change management that could help those interested in this role. In particular, the ability to work cross-functionally, as mentioned in the program management description, is a core tenet of this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Change Management Specialist

Recruiter

Recruiters are responsible for finding and attracting talent for various roles within a company. This course includes content on how tech companies recruit program managers, which may be useful for recruiters looking to understand how to evaluate candidate experience and fit. While the course is primarily focused on helping candidates prepare, it includes material on interview strategy and how to interview with the recruiter. Recruiters may gain a perspective of what candidates are looking for in interviews.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recruiter

Business Development Manager

Business development managers focus on identifying and pursuing new opportunities for growth, and often work cross-functionally across multiple teams. This course, though focused on program management, highlights how program managers navigate cross-functional projects and drive progress, which are useful skills for any business development manager. The material on interview practice, and answering behavioral and situational interview questions, may be helpful for success in the corporate world. The course may provide business development managers a high-level view of what businesses value.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Technical Writer

Technical writers create documentation for technical products or processes. While this course does not directly focus on writing, the content on program and project management may help technical writers understand the context behind the products and processes they document. Though not a direct fit, a broad understanding of business is useful for a technical writer. The course may provide some insight into how product development works, as per its mentions of product sense.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Business Owner

A business owner is responsible for all aspects of running a company, including strategy and operations. While this course focuses on program management, the themes of adaptability and navigating change are useful for any business owner. The course may offer insights into how to prioritize work, as the program manager is described as someone who can pivot quickly. This may be useful for a business owner who is focused on the details of day to day activity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Owner

Program Management Interview Course

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses