Free Product Management Learning course
Introducing our free product management resource page – the ultimate guide for anyone looking to learn about product management. Our comprehensive guide is designed to help you learn everything you need to know about product management in a structured and easy-to-follow way, with step-by-step instructions that will take you from beginner to expert. Whether you’re new to product management or an experienced professional, our resource page has everything you need to succeed.
Product Management Basics
You should read these basics before you proceed further.
Product Manager Salary
Product management is a dynamic and rewarding field, attracting professionals with diverse backgrounds and skillsets. If you’re curious about product management salaries in India and USA, you can check out the below given external links.
OK, Lets get started with Product Management resources!
After reading above articles you will now be clear with what to expect from Product Management field. Now lets dig into the the PM preparation. There are 2 parts to this.
- Preparing for the PM Interview
- Preparing to get the PM Interview shortlist
Preparing for the PM Interview
In a PM interview 6 types of questions are generally asked.
- Product case study
- RCA questions
- Guesstimates
- Technical or System related questions
- CV based questions ( exclusively based on your prior experience)
- HR Questions( like why do you want to be a product manager ?…)
CV based questions and HR questions will vary depending on your prior experience. So we will not be covering this as part of the PM preparation resource material. Don’t worry, we will be releasing product bytes on how to tackle these questions soon. All you need to do is subscribe to PCG! You can subscribe by clicking the below given link.
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Ok, now lets focus on how to handle rest of the questions. We will not be reinventing the wheel by writing a brand new article on how to solve these questions. There are enough material available online for free to tackle these questions. We have curated the best material available online for you, all you need to do is follow the instructions given in this page before you read them.
Product Case study
There are 2 types of product case study questions generally asked during the product interview.
- Critique a Feature/Design in a Product
- Design a Feature in a Product
Before you answer this question, you must understand the customer funnel or the customer journey of a product. Best way to understand this is by reading about the AARRR framework.
AARRR Framework
AARRR framework was developed by Dave McClure, a Silicon Valley investor and the founder of 500 Startups. It is an abbreviation of ” Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Referral, and Revenue”. You can check out the below given YouTube video where Firebase(Google) team explains the AARRR framework with a practical example.
Ok. After seeing the above video, you should now be clear with the Product Lifecyle & the Customer Journey.
Best way to prepare for the Product case study questions is by reading this amazing book called “Decode And Conquer” . The author, Lewis C. Lin, provides readers with detailed and structured solutions to each technical problem and offers practical advice on how to approach different types of questions. Moreover, the book includes case studies and examples of real interview questions that candidates have encountered during their job search.
How to read “Decode & Conquer” book efficiently ?
- Familiarize yourself with interview strategies(Like CIRCLES framework) outlined in the first part of the book.
- Work through case study problems systematically in part two, taking notes and practicing as much as possible.
- Use case studies and examples to gain a better understanding of the interview process.
- Supplement your learning with other resources and seek feedback and guidance from mentors and peers.
- Practice, practice, practice to gain confidence and proficiency in technical interviews.
You can skip Chapters 12 -16 while preparing specifically for Product Manager Interview.
Here is the external link to download the free pdf version of the “Decode And Conquer” Book.
Live Product Case Study Boot Camp From PCG
Check out this recorded video from the Live Product Case Study Boot Camp From PCG. To Participate in this boot camp for free register with us by clicking here.
More Product Case Study Example
RCA(Root Cause Analysis) Questions
When answering a root cause analysis product management interview question using a framework, it’s important to structure your response in a clear and concise manner. Here’s an example of how you could answer the question:
- Start by clearly defining the problem you are trying to solve. For example, if the problem is that customer retention is low, state this as your problem statement.
- Categorize the causes of the problem into internal and external causes. Explain why each category is relevant to the problem. For example, internal causes may include issues with product design or marketing strategies, while external causes may include market conditions or competitor actions.
- Analyze the causes by gathering data and customer feedback. Discuss the data sources you would use and explain how you would analyze the data to identify the most likely causes of the problem.
- Prioritize the causes based on their impact on the problem. Explain how you would determine which causes to focus on first and why.
- Develop solutions to address the prioritized causes. Discuss potential solutions and explain how you would implement them. Be sure to include how you would measure the effectiveness of each solution.
- Finally, summarize your approach and emphasize how your framework allows you to systematically approach root cause analysis in a clear and concise way.
By following this approach, you can demonstrate your ability to structure your thinking and systematically approach problem-solving as a product manager.
You can check out this amazing YouTube video from Diego Granadas (Sr Product Manager at LinkedIn) to understand some examples on how to handle this question in a practical manner.
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Guesstimates
Guesstimate is defined as an estimate made without using adequate or complete information, or, more strongly, as an estimate arrived at by guesswork or conjecture.(as per Wiki definition)
- Guesstimates can help product managers in various ways, such as making quick decisions, estimating market potential, prioritizing features, and budgeting and forecasting.
- Guesstimates are not precise and should be used cautiously.
- Product managers should always try to gather as much data and information as possible before making decisions.
- Guesstimates should be used as a tool to complement careful analysis and planning.
- Using guesstimates can help product managers to make informed decisions, but they should not replace thorough analysis and planning.
Here we have added 2 resources to prepare for Guesstimates. First is by using the above mentioned book “Decode And Conquer book”. Chapter 8 of the book specifically talks about how to approach Guesstimates. 2nd resource is given in the external link below.
Guesstimate Solved Examples
- Estimate Market Size of Running shoes in India. Check out the solved example below.
How to handle Technical Questions ?
Handling technical questions in a product manager interview can be challenging, but there are a few strategies that can help.
- First, it’s important to listen carefully to the question and ask clarifying questions if necessary.
- Second, it’s okay to admit if you don’t know the answer, but show your willingness to learn.
- Finally, focus on your problem-solving skills and provide a structured approach to finding a solution.
You wont be able to learn everything under the technical domain. As Product Managers we are not expected to do that as well. Its important to cover the basics. We will be listing down few important technical concepts which you should try to master as part of your product management interview preparation. Click the external link given below to learn about them.
Hear from the Technical Expert- Zeeshan Syed on how to start your Technical Preparation for PM Interview
You can check out this below video where Ravishankar R, the founder of “Product Coffee Group”, will interview Zeeshan Syed, the founder of “Tech Talk for Non-Developers”, as he shares his insights on technical knowledge for product managers and product enthusiasts. In this session, you’ll learn how to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical teams, understand the importance of technical knowledge in product management, and explore ways to stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends.
Free Product Boot Camp!!
Dive into real-world case studies, sharpen your product management skills, and gain invaluable insights to excel in this dynamic field. Join us for a transformative boot camp that will elevate your problem-solving abilities, all at no charge. Click below to know more about the Boot Camp.
Product Mentorship
Congratulations. If you have gone through all the materials given above, you are almost done with the basic preparation for your PM Interview. Now it is time to set up mock interviews to test your preparation. You can avail Free Mentorship from the PCG Mentors by clicking the link below.
FREE MENTORSHIP
Get Mentorship from top Product Professionals to upgrade your Product Career. All the 1-1 Mentorship sessions from these PCG Mentors are absolutely FREE for everyone!!.
Now we are done with the first part of our preparation. Next is to work on getting shortlisted for the product Interviews.
Preparing to get Interview Shortlist – Coming Soon!!!
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Resume Preparation
Product Portfolio
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FAQ
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I am desperately waiting for the cohort… Please make it fast.
Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing
Thanks for the shout out!! Fernando