Advice for Aspiring PMs

Last updated: May 12, 2023

Quick advice if you want to break into product management.

Decide what type of PM you want to be

If you're considering a career in product management, the first step is not to look outward, but inward. Consider the type of PM you wish to become:

  1. Consumer/Growth PM: This path is for those fascinated by the nuances of human behavior and psychology. It's about delving into why people do what they do and leveraging that understanding to drive user engagement and growth. Ask yourself: Do you find joy in decoding user data to inform product decisions? Are you the kind of person who thrives on experimenting with different features to see what sticks?
  1. Platform PM: Here, the focus shifts to the backbone of the product – the systems and infrastructure. It suits those who find beauty in the technical side of things, who enjoy collaborating with engineers and love the challenge of managing complex systems.
  1. Technical PM: This role is a blend of technology and management, ideal for those with a technical background or a strong interest in tech. It's about diving deep into APIs, understanding technical documentation, and working closely with developers.
  1. Enterprise PM: If you're drawn to building tools that streamline workflows and enjoy the intricacies of stakeholder management, this might be your calling. It's a role that combines creativity in problem-solving with the discipline of project management.

These categories are not rigid. The best PMs often draw from multiple areas, blending skills to fit the unique challenges they face.

Startups vs. Big Tech

When considering startups versus big tech, think of it as a choice between two very different games:

  • Startups: They are like joining a small, close-knit tribe, where everyone wears multiple hats. The environment is fast-paced, the learning curve steep, and your impact is directly visible. But like all high-reward situations, it comes with its share of risks.
  • Big Tech: It's more like becoming part of a vast, well-oiled machine. You'll likely specialize more, benefit from structured learning, and have access to more resources. It's a more predictable path, often with a clearer trajectory for career advancement.

How to break into your first PM role?

Breaking into your first PM role can seem challenging, but there are multiple paths:

  1. (Easiest) Join a company that aligns with your values and interests. Often, it's easier to transition to a PM role internally where you're already a known quantity.
    1. “If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat!” - Sheryl Sandberg
  1. (Harder) Consider roles adjacent to PM, like product operations or product marketing, especially in startup environments. These can be stepping stones to your desired role.
  1. (Hardest) The more challenging but rewarding route is getting into a big tech rotational program. Yes, the competition is fierce, but it's a solid foundation for a career in PM.
    1. FB RPMs
    1. Uber APM program
    1. Google APM program

Interviewing

PM interviews are hard! They’re a mix of interpersonal skills (do I like this person?), product skills (does this person have a good, intuitive product sense?), and technical/analytical ability (is this person data-driven and uses data to solve problems?).

A big reason the PM interview is so challenging is that the questions asked are very broad. The focus and goal of many of these interviews is to assess how well you can break down complex problems into component pieces and think on your feet. Because of this, you must learn some basic product management frameworks to help you organize your thoughts and approach.

The best resource I have found is Stellar Peers: https://stellarpeers.com/. There are paid features to the site, but you should be able to get by by reading the basic frameworks.

One question you will almost surely get is to name your favorite product. What do you like about it? What would you improve? Preparing for this question is a good starting point to help you understand PM frameworks and what types of things interviewers are looking for.

Other useful websites:

  • Exponent
  • Igotanoffer
  • levels.fyi

The classic book that many recommend is Cracking the PM Interview, however I find this material outdated and not relevant to how PM interviews are conducted (in my experience). If you are looking for a book, I’d recommend The Product Manager Interview by Lewis C. Lin. This is good if you want to interview in Big Tech.

Recommended reading:

General - start here:

  1. Good Product Manager, Bad Product Manager by Ben Horowitz — a famous and enduring essay by Ben Horowitz, describes the contrasting traits of effective and ineffective product managers
  1. The Lean Product Playbook by Dan Olsen - Provides a structured approach to product management through a step-by-step process that will help you understand your customers, identify their problems, and develop a solution that solves those problems.
  1. Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love by Marty Cagan - A practical guide to product management that covers the entire product lifecycle.
  1. The Lean Startup by Eric Reis - A guide to building a successful product by testing and validating ideas quickly and efficiently.
  1. Anything on Steve Blank’s blog - Steve Blank is a serial entrepreneur and academician who has written extensively on product development, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Best for consumer-facing and psychology:

  1. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal - A practical guide to building products that form user habits by understanding user psychology and behavior.

For talking to users:

  1. The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers and Learn If Your Business is a Good Idea When Everyone is Lying to You by Rob Fitzpatrick - A guide to conducting effective customer interviews by asking the right questions and avoiding common pitfalls.

Product School:

  1. Youtube - sort by most viewed.

Good luck!