“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island.” ― Walt Disney

Contrary to popular belief, I was not a fan of reading books while growing up. This was probably because I could not discipline myself to sit down, block off an hour of my time just to read tens or hundreds of pages at a go. Perhaps this could also be because I'm more of a visual learner - preferring to learn from either pictures or videos as they are often easier to visualise in your head when picking up new concepts. Nonetheless, reading books was an essential habit which I eventually picked up in university, knowing how important it was to learn large amounts of content in a short period of time.

But of course time is often finite - with the advancements in technology and gradual changes in life phases, it is now difficult to learn new things in a method that suits everyone. Nonetheless, books are reliable offline sources to gain knowledge from, without the need to download or stream them in other formats with an internet connection. 

The same can be said for individuals aiming to enter product management as a prospective career. Whether you are an aspiring student or a working professional aiming to make a career switch, there are many resources available both online and offline for you to refer to, including the widely-renowned books that we will be recommending later in this article!

Earlier this semester, our club launched its very own podcast, featuring student guests sharing on various experiences - including topics on starting a student club, preparing for interviews as well as life as a product management intern. With each episode having its own merits in their own right, we'll be focusing on a small topic that was highlighted particularly in Episode 2 and 5 - resources to learn more about entering product management.

As briefly mentioned by Arnav in his episode of "Lorong Product" (13:40), "Cracking the PM Interview" was originally published in 2013, with the intention to guide readers in landing a product management role at a tech start-up or larger firms. The book provides detailed advice on how to prepare for and excel in product management interviews, particularly those conducted by major tech companies such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon.

Essentially the book covers several key areas:

• Understanding the Role of a Product Manager: It explains what product managers do, the skills they need, and how their roles can vary across different companies and industries.

• Preparing for the Interview: This includes understanding the interview process, what interviewers are looking for, and how to demonstrate the necessary skills and qualities during the interview. There's a strong emphasis on the importance of both technical and behavioral questions.

• Interview Questions and Answers: The book offers detailed sections on how to tackle typical interview questions, providing examples of good answers and explaining what makes them effective.

• Resume and Application Advice: Tips on crafting a resume that stands out, writing impactful cover letters, and preparing your application to have the best chance of leading to an interview.

• Career Planning: Guidance on choosing the right companies to apply to, negotiating offers, and planning your career path in product management.

Overall, the book is a thorough resource for anyone looking to start or advance their career in product management within the tech industry, providing insights not only into the interview process but also into long-term career planning.

Similar to Arnav, Jay shares his recommendation (14:35) during his episode - "Decode and Conquer", which is the world's first book focused exclusively on product management (PM) interview preparation. The author gives an industry insider's perspective on how to conquer the most difficult PM interview questions. In Jay's words, the wide array of "acronyms used to cover their various frameworks were easy to remember", and could help readers to tackle an extensive range of case interviews. The book is widely recognised for introducing the CIRCLES Method™, a structured approach to tackling product design questions during interviews.

Here’s a brief overview of what the book covers:

• Frameworks for Answering Questions: Lin introduces several frameworks, including the aforementioned CIRCLES Method™ for product design, AARM Method™ for questions related to product metrics, and DIGS Method™ for behavioural questions. These frameworks are designed to help candidates structure their responses in a clear and effective way.

• Common Interview Questions: The book delves into typical questions that candidates might face, such as designing a new product, improving an existing product, and favourite product critiques. Lin provides detailed examples of good answers for these types of questions.

• Insight into What Interviewers Seek: Lin offers insights into what interviewers are looking for in a candidate, including the ability to think critically and demonstrate creativity, leadership, and an analytical mindset.

• Practice Questions and Answers: There are numerous practice questions included to help candidates prepare and practice on their own. Lin also provides sample answers to these questions, demonstrating how to apply his frameworks.

• Real Interview Scenarios: The book includes analyses of real interview scenarios, detailing common mistakes candidates make and how to avoid them.

"Decode and Conquer" is highly regarded for its practical approach and has been recommended by hiring managers and interview coaches. It's particularly useful for anyone applying for product management roles at competitive tech companies where interviews can be challenging and demanding.

Another resource highlighted by Jay, "Lenny's Podcast" - hosted by Lenny Rachitsky, focuses on providing valuable insights into product management, startups, and growth strategies. In the podcast, Lenny interviews successful entrepreneurs, product managers, and other industry experts, diving deep into their experiences and lessons learned. Topics frequently covered include how to achieve product-market fit, strategies for scaling businesses, and personal development for professionals in tech. Each episode aims to offer practical advice and thoughtful perspectives that listeners can apply to their own careers and projects.

On top of this podcast, Lenny also has his own blog - in the form of "Lenny's Newsletter" - a popular resource among tech professionals, particularly those interested in product management, startups, and business growth. Each edition of the newsletter delves into key topics like achieving product-market fit, strategies for growth, and best practices in leadership and management. Lenny often includes insights from his own experiences as well as interviews with industry experts and successful entrepreneurs. The newsletter is known for its actionable advice and in-depth analysis, making it a valuable tool for anyone looking to excel in the tech industry.

Here are some links to get you started:

• The Best of Lenny's Newsletter 2022

• The Best of Lenny's Newsletter 2023

Besides the above-mentioned, listed below are a few other popular recommendations that could help you get started in your PM journey:

• Product Hunt: A website where users discover and share new technology products, mobile apps, and websites. Users can upvote products they like, which helps these products gain more visibility and traction among tech enthusiasts, investors and journalists. The site features a daily leaderboard showcasing the most popular new entries.

• Hacker News: Operated by Y Combinator, it's a social news website focusing on computer science and entrepreneurship. Users can post content and participate in discussions, particularly about startups and technology.

• BetaList: This site provides an early look at upcoming startups before they launch. It's a great place for discovering innovative products in their beta stage and offers startups an opportunity to build an initial user base.

• Indie Hackers: A community where independent developers and entrepreneurs share their products and stories. It's particularly focused on solo founders and small startups, providing insights into building and growing businesses.

These platforms provide various angles on discovering and launching new tech products, each with its unique focus and community.

It is often said that "knowledge is power" - with these recommended books and resources, we hope that these will help you gain a perspective on how a product management role should be envisioned to be like. With the ever-changing business landscape, it is important to be well-equipped with updated knowledge required to adjust to these changes in the industry.