Cracking the PM Interview: How to Land a Product Manager Job in Technology Author: Gayle Laakmann McDowell | Language: English | ISBN:
B00ISYMUR6 | Format: PDF
Cracking the PM Interview: How to Land a Product Manager Job in Technology Description
How many pizzas are delivered in Manhattan? How do you design an alarm clock for the blind? What is your favorite piece of software and why? How would you launch a video rental service in India? This book will teach you how to answer these questions and more.
Cracking the PM Interview is a comprehensive book about landing a product management role in a startup or bigger tech company. Learn how the ambiguously-named "PM" (product manager / program manager) role varies across companies, what experience you need, how to make your existing experience translate, what a great PM resume and cover letter look like, and finally, how to master the PM interview questions (estimation questions, behavioral questions, case questions, product questions, technical questions, and the super important "pitch").
CONTENTS:
The Product Manager Role
What is a PM?
Functions of a PM
Top Myths about Product Management
Project Managers and Program Managers
Companies
How the PM Role Varies
Google
Microsoft
Apple
Facebook
Amazon
Yahoo
Twitter
Startups
Getting the Right Experience
New Grads
Making the Most of Career Fairs
Do you need an MBA?
Why Technical Experience Matters
Transitioning from Engineer to Product Manager
Transitioning from Designer to Product Manager
Transitioning from Other Roles
What Makes a Good Side Project?
Career Advancement
Tips and Tricks for Career Advancement
Q & A: Fernando Delgado, Sr. Director, Product Management at Yahoo
Q & A: Ashley Carroll, Senior Director of Product Management, DocuSign
Q & A: Brandon Bray, Principal Group Program Manager, Microsoft
Q & A: Thomas Arend, International Product Lead, Airbnb
Q & A: Johanna Wright, VP at Google
Q & A: Lisa Kostova Ogata, VP of Product at Bright.com
Behind the Interview Scenes
Google
Microsoft
Facebook
Apple
Amazon
Yahoo
Twitter
Dropbox
Resumes
The 15 Second Rule
The Rules
Attributes of a Good PM Resume
What to Include
Real Resumes: Before & After
Cover Letters
Elements of a Good PM Cover Letter
The Cover Letter Template
A Great Cover Letter
Company Research
The Product
The Strategy
The Culture
The Role
The Questions
Define Yourself
"Tell Me About Yourself" (The Pitch)
"Why do you want to work here?"
"Why should we hire you?"
"Why are you leaving your current job?"
"What do you like to do in your spare time?"
"Where do you see yourself in five years?"
"What are your strengths and weaknesses?"
Sample Strengths and Weaknesses
Behavioral Questions
Why These Questions Are Asked
Preparation
Follow-Up Questions
Types of Behavioral Questions
Estimation Questions
Approach
Numbers Cheat Sheet
Tips and Tricks
Example Interview
Sample Questions
Product Questions
About the Product Question
Type 1: Designing a Product
Type 2: Improving a Product
Type 3: Favorite Product
Preparation
Tips and Tricks
Sample Questions
Case Questions
The Case Question: Consultants vs. PMs
What Interviewers Look For
Useful Frameworks
Product Metrics
Interview Questions
Coding Questions
Who Needs To Code
What You Need To Know
How You Are Evaluated
How To Approach
Developing an Algorithm
Additional Questions & Solutions
Appendix
Top 1% PMs vs. Top 10% PMs
Be a Great Product Leader
The Inputs to a Great Product Roadmap
How to Hire a Product Manager
- File Size: 780 KB
- Print Length: 366 pages
- Publisher: CareerCup (March 4, 2014)
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00ISYMUR6
- Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray:
- Lending: Enabled
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,208 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #2
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Computers & Technology > Programming > Software Design > Software Project Management - #4
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Business & Money > Job Hunting & Careers > Job Hunting - #7
in Books > Computers & Technology > Business & Management > Project Management
- #2
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Computers & Technology > Programming > Software Design > Software Project Management - #4
in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Business & Money > Job Hunting & Careers > Job Hunting - #7
in Books > Computers & Technology > Business & Management > Project Management
I have never written an Amazon review. Like, literally never. That fact alone speaks volumes (book pun intended) as to my feelings about this book. If you are expecting to go on a PM interview, or even thinking about switching to a PM role, buy this book.
I currently work at, have worked at, or have immediate friends that work at, all of the large companies listed in the book, and I can say that their observations about the differences in corporate culture and desired skills are spot on. If you're interested in what Google/Amazon/Apple/Microsoft/etc. are looking for - this book is for you.
As far as the book's approach to interview prep, it is thorough, clear, and useful. Is there anything in this book that is utterly groundbreaking? The answer is no, you could probably get a lot of this information online. But why would you spend all that time finding, collecting, vetting, and analyzing a bunch of random internet opinions when you can have Jackie and Gayle do it for you? Spend your time prepping for the interview, not figuring out what you should prep!
Oh yeah, did I mention that 2 days after reading and applying the principles of this book I got an offer for an awesome PM job? Obviously I know that I haven't mentioned this because immediately above this paragraph is a written record of what I've said so far. Nonetheless, this book is great, I'm giving a copy to a friend that is in the process of interviewing for a PM role, and I would highly recommend it.
By danalt
I've just completed my first full read of the book and would recommend this to anyone interested in Product Management. I say first because I know I will return to the book several times in the coming months.
The USP of this book is that it answers questions you hadn't thought to ask. Having researched PM roles for a while now, I believed I had a good sense of it. But the book does away with a lot of dangerous assumptions. If you don't know what you don't know about Product Management, definitely read this book.
The second USP is how practical and applicable it is. All the advice given is very pertinent, and fits well with what I've learned from other practitioners. A lot of good information about specific companies, that isn't easily available, is distilled in this book.
Finally, the book also gives a good introduction to the art of product management. It is a valuable resource to not just getting the job, but also to what the job means and how to do it well.
Gayle's 'Cracking the Coding Interview' helped me get my first real programming job, and this book is a great starting point for the still evolving Product Manager role.
By Shailesh Tainwala
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