Comprehensive Guide to PM Recruitment: From Resume to Interview
Handpicked Resources and Insider Insights from P@CMU's Board
🚀 Welcome to the newest edition of your go-to P@CMU biweekly newsletter. As the second day of class dawns, we're here to help you kickstart your preparation for the upcoming recruiting season. Each week, we explore groundbreaking happenings in the tech and startup universe, diving into product innovations and thought-provoking insights.
🐿️ TLDR
In this special issue, we'll guide you through each stage of the PM recruiting season. Our aim is to equip you with relevant information, resources, and tips to help you ace your PM interviews. Let's dive in!
Understanding Different types of PMs
Crafting the Perfect Resume
Navigating the Application Timeline
Applying to PM Roles
Preparing for PM Interviews
Engaging in Mock Interviews
Researching the Company
Acing the Interview
1. 👇 Understanding Different types of PMs
Before you embark on your PM journey, it's crucial to understand the various roles available and which one aligns best with your skills and aspirations.
APM (Associate Product Manager):
Program Structure: The APM role is specifically designed for recent graduates. It has a set duration and involves rotations across different product teams.
Mentorship & Training: APMs benefit from intensive mentorship and are often paired with senior Product Managers. Their training regimen includes:
Regular training sessions
Workshops
Opportunities to attend industry conferences
Scope & Responsibility: APMs have a rotational exposure to various product aspects, but they typically handle projects with a narrower scope.
Eligibility: This role targets recent graduates, with companies often prioritizing technical or leadership skills, though the exact criteria can vary by company.
TPM (Technical Product Manager):
Program Structure: TPMs occupy a standard role within product teams, with a special emphasis on the technical aspects of products.
Mentorship & Training: The training for TPMs is technically intensive, covering:
A deep dive into the technical aspects of products, platforms, and tools
Cross-functional collaboration sessions to ensure effective teamwork across departments
Scope & Responsibility: TPMs focus on the technical feasibility and implementation of products. They collaborate closely with engineers to ensure the technical success of the product.
Eligibility: TPMs typically come from backgrounds in engineering, computer science, or related fields.
Other Entry-Level PMs:
Program Structure: These Product Managers have a standard role within product teams. Unlike APMs, they don't have a fixed duration and don't rotate across teams.
Mentorship & Training: Their training is characterized by:
On-the-job learning, which involves direct immersion into day-to-day responsibilities
A less structured mentorship compared to APMs
Scope & Responsibility: They have defined responsibilities for specific products or features and generally handle a broader scope than APMs.
Eligibility: The criteria for these roles can vary. Some positions might require minimal PM experience, and they're open to candidates from related fields like marketing and engineering.
2. ✍️ Crafting the Perfect Resume
The first step in the PM recruiting journey is to create a compelling resume.
Utilize resources such as the Step-by-Step Resume Guide by CMU CPDC and guides from other renowned universities like Stanford, Harvard, and Michigan.
🔗：https://www.cmu.edu/career/documents/resources-by-college/scs/scs-resume-guide-2022.pdf
Consider using strong action words in your resume as suggested by Michigan Ross's guide, “Action Words to Use in your Résumé and Interview Answers”.
🔗：https://michiganross.umich.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/Newsroom/pdfs/action_words.pdf
For a more streamlined approach, leverage AI tools like Rezi, which can automate the writing, editing, and formatting of your resume.
🔗：Rezi - The Leading AI Resume Builder trusted by 1,008,416 users
3. 📅 Navigating the Application Timeline
Timelines can vary, especially outside of big tech. For instance, startups might even initiate PM internships or interviews in the spring. Always be on the look out 👀
With that being said, here’s a general timeline for your reference:
🪴 For APMs:
Application Window: Mid-July to Early September
Interviews: Mainly in September and October
🌿 For Other Entry-Level PMs:
Application Window: Starts in September's first week
Interviews: Primarily in November's initial fortnight
🌱 For PM Internships:
Application Window: Kicks off in August's second week
Interviews: Mainly in September and October
If you missed some deadline, don’t worry. There are a lot of programs coming afterwards.
💡 Always apply as soon as positions open. Some companies may close applications within days due to the sheer volume of applicants.
4. 📬 Applying to PM Roles
Stay updated with job openings and ensure timely submissions.
Track open APM programs and internships with resources like APM List and APM Season.
Simplify your application process with tools like Simplify, which offers a one-click Autofill extension.
Track your applications using tools like the Notion job application tracker by iykyk.
💡 Remember: Networking can be invaluable, especially with startups that might not have posted job openings.
5. 📚 Preparing for PM Interviews
This semester, Product@CMU introduces Product Groups! Join groups of 3-5 peers with similar product interests. Each week, we'll provide topics and prompts for discussion, all while receiving guidance from Product@CMU mentors. By semester's end, you'll have enhanced your product knowledge and built lasting connections!
To learn and prepare for PM interviews outside of Product Groups:
Online Course: Exponent
Online Course: PM Alliance
Book: Decode and Conquer
6. 💻 Engaging in Mock Interviews
While understanding PM interviews is vital, mock interviews are the quickest way to hone your skills.
Join communities like Product@CMU on Slack for mock interview opportunities and networking events.
You can also join Lewis Lin’s Interview Community on Slack for more mock interview opportunities and PM insights.
PM Interview Question Bank
🔗：𝐋𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐧'𝐬 𝐏𝐌 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 To add a question: bit.ly/add-pm-ques
7. 🔍 Researching the Company
Once you secure an interview, delve deep into the company's recent news, developer blogs, and financial statements.
Demonstrating your knowledge about the company's strategic directions, tech stack, and financial performance can set you apart during the interview.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to company research for interviews by Tanay Agrawal
8. 🌟 Acing the Interview
With all the preparation and resources at your disposal, you're now ready to excel in your PM interview. Best of luck!
That wraps up this issue! We hope you've found nuggets of wisdom to aid your PM interview preparations. Given the current economic climate, competition will be fierce. But with the right tools and mindset, you're primed to stand out.
Forge ahead with confidence. We're rooting for you!
🥷 Made with Love by the Team
Thanks for reading this week’s Delve-In by P@CMU!
The editor behind this work is Head of Newsletter at P@CMU Alina Fang.
A heartfelt shoutout to our board members Tilly Zuo, Anna Li, Cathryn Lin, and Yize Shen for their invaluable contributions 🌟
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