Bijan Shahrokhi 
Hey there! Want to land your dream product manager job? We’ve got you covered.
Check out our 2,500+ product manager interview questions database with answers from expert product managers.
Article Contents
There’s no shortage of companies hiring for the position of product manager. They range from small start-ups with big visions to leading tech companies that are trying to maintain their spot at the top.
Some candidates aren’t picky. They’re willing to take on almost any job that comes their way. Others, however, are much more selective. These are the candidates who want to score an interview at their dream company.
Which group do you fit into? If you’re looking to get an interview for a PM job at your dream employer, this blog post is for you. It explains the steps you can take to improve your odds of success. And of course, what you should do once you have an interview scheduled.
1. Understand Everything About the Company
This is priority number one. No two companies are the same and you shouldn’t treat them as such in your search for a product manager position. You need to know everything about your dream company, especially the details that apply to product management. Here are some things to focus on:
- Company structure.
- Product manager responsibilities.
- Top competitors.
- Competitor products, including how the company stacks up against them.
- Company size and stage.
- Product growth.
From there, if you secure an interview, you can expand your research to the interview process if you are invited for an interview. We have a handful of guides to help with this:
- Microsoft Program Manager Interview Guide
- The Google Product Manager Interview
- The Amazon Product Manager Interview
Within each guide, you’ll find information and guidance to help you prepare. Let’s look at Amazon as an example:
- What does an Amazon Product Manager do?
- What is the Amazon interview process like?
- How much can you expect to make as an Amazon Product Manager?
- Interview process structure.
- Evaluation process
- Amazon leadership principles
- Amazon product manager interview questions
By the time you reach the end of the guide, you’ll have more knowledge than ever about how to land a job offer at that specific company.
2. Pinpoint Something to Talk About with the Company
As you research your dream company, pinpoint a problem or two that you can use to strike up a conversation. For instance, find a gap that a product manager would notice. Maybe an area where a product falls short and a competitor is taking advantage. Just make sure you highlight an impactful strategic problem, not a small bug or “nice to have” feature.
Once you have this, contact the proper person on LinkedIn (or via email) to share your findings. A quick search should lead you toward the person who is responsible for the product. Send them a brief note. Something like this will do:
I am a big fan of your product and I think it would be valuable for your users if they were able to do [x]. Here’s how I would build it: [y}.
If the person responds back and you start talking to them about the idea, you can say you’re interested in meeting. Something along the lines of:
By the way, I’d love to apply for a PM job on your team if there are any openings. I love what you guys are doing. Happy to hop on a 15 min call and share more about myself.
This is your chance to ask if the company is hiring and who you can speak with about any open opportunities.
3. Define the Next Steps
Maybe you do this on the phone with the person you contacted. Or perhaps you have to dig deeper once you hang up. Either way, don’t wait to define the next steps. Examples include:
- Schedule a follow-up call with your initial contact.
- Complete an online application.
- Contact the hiring manager at the suggestion of your contact.
At this point, you should have an idea of what it takes to stand out as an applicant for a PM job at your dream company. From there, it’s all about preparing accordingly and knocking your interview out of the park.
Other Points of Consideration
Along with the above, there are some additional points of consideration that can help shape your approach.
First, company size is a big indicator of how easy it will be to connect with a hiring manager or other team members that could have an influence on your application. At smaller companies, it’s easier to get in touch directly with the person you’re targeting. We discuss this in detail here and here’s an important excerpt:
Reach out to the CEO or product team to introduce yourself, share your thoughts on their product, and learn more about their vision. You can make a strong impression by having an intellectual conversation about the product and product strategy. There’s no guarantee it will result in a job offer, but you show that you’re knowledgeable, capable, and possibly even qualified for a position with the company.
This is much more challenging with larger companies. With defined processes, it’s more difficult for them to take your special approach into consideration.
Finally, consider that you may not be ready for your dream company just yet. Maybe you want to become a PM at Google or Amazon. It’s a great goal and there’s a good chance you’d fall in love with the role. However, you may need to gain experience at a smaller company before setting your sights on the top.
Final Thoughts
An interview at your dream company is the first step in your journey of landing a product manager position. With the guidance above, you’re in a better position to make this happen.
As you’re working toward an interview, spend the rest of your time preparing for it. Read through our list of common PM interview questions and answers. Sign up for mock interviews and group practice. And of course, complete our PM prep course (100+ hours of coursework).
You don’t want to be caught off guard when you finally land an interview at your dream company. Proper preparation will ensure that you’re ready to dive into the interview process and excel at every stop along the way.
