The Ultimate Guide to the Facebook RPM Program

Did you know that Facebook annually hires what they call Rotational Product Managers (RPM) through their Facebook RPM Program? RPMs have to go through an 18-month learning experience but at the end of it, they will take on a full-time role as a Facebook Product Manager (PM). 

Anyone can apply, even those who are fresh graduates, have no prior experience as a Product Manager (PM), and are from different fields of work.

It’s an enticing opportunity that’s compensated for, with great perks and an even better mentorship. Newbie PMs get to earn and learn which is why candidates flock to apply to the program in the hopes of landing their dream PM job on Facebook. 

If you think that the RPM role is for you and would like to apply to the program, use this guide to understand as much as you can about the program.

What is the Facebook RPM Program?

The Facebook Rotational Product Management Program runs for 18 months and is a program for individuals with less than one year of PM experience. Through this learning initiative, RPMs get the chance to rotate through three different teams within the company over the designated period, with 6 months dedicated to each team.

The program is designed for RPMs to learn about the different products that Facebook offers and how to develop them. It’s quite a responsibility since Facebook products are being used by billions of people across the globe. An RPM could have his or her hand in positively affecting the lives of these users.

Facebook RPM Program Basics

Start Date and Duration

Facebook/Meta hires RPMs once a year for two start dates in the following calendar year. Upon writing this article, the following dates were posted on the official Facebook RPM website:

Application timeline for 2023 start dates:

• July 18, 2022: Applications available (US and London locations)
• August 12, 2022: Applications close (US and London locations)
• Coming Soon: Applications available (Tel Aviv location)

It is suggested that those interested to apply should sign up to Meta Careers to get notifications when the applications go live.

The 18-month program is composed of three parts:

• Product Bootcamp training for one month
• Three rotations within 16 months
• Global research trip which involves visiting different countries in 2 weeks

Mentorship

Throughout the program, an RPM will receive plenty of support including (but not limited to):

• A PM Manager who will stay with the RPM for 18 months
• Each rotation will have a PM mentor to guide them with tactical aspects of the job
• Learning and developmental classes will be available as well as other resources

RPM Responsibilities

Just like any Product Manager, there is no specific task list that will define an RPM’s day. Especially because he or she is going to be rotated, there will hardly be a routine to the work to be done. However, there are core responsibilities that an RPM is expected to deliver:

• Lead the ideation, technical development, and launch of innovative products
• Establish a shared vision across the company by building consensus on priorities leading to product execution
• Engage in all stages of a product’s lifecycle and drive product development
• Work with engineers and designers from ideation, technical design, and development to the testing, production, and/or release of the product
• Design, develop, and modify product specifications to ensure our products are successful

Who can apply to the program?

The RPM program is designed for those who have less than one year of PM experience. Tech experience is not required and anyone from any educational background can apply. To give you a better idea of the qualifications of the program, we’ve listed the minimum and preferred requirements:

Minimum

• Obtain work authorization in the country of employment at the time of hire and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment
• Experience building connections with team members through effective communication and collaboration and in delivering results in a goal-oriented environment
• Experience breaking down problems and making decisions based on data

Preferred 

• Experience learning and adapting to changing environments
• Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining, a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or applicable experience

Program Locations

Five Facebook primary offices cater to the program: 

• Menlo Park, California (Headquarters)
• Seattle, Washington
• New York City, New York
• London, United Kingdom
• Tel Aviv, Israel

There is also a remote setup available for the program. However, RPMs hired as remote employees must reside in the United States or can relocate to the United States by their start date.

Pay and Perks

Although this learning program is similar to that of an internship, the RPM role is going to be a paid role. Based on data found on the Glassdoor website, a popular platform that enables former and current employees to leave reviews on their companies, a Facebook RPM could earn about $91,168 annually (estimation). 

Aside from the salary, the program also comes with a few perks:

Starting point for your PM Career

The RPM program brings in candidates from various backgrounds and allows them to work on significant projects. If a candidate wants to pursue a career in tech, the program is one of the best launching pads for it.

Research Trip and Community Events

The 2-week research trip is part of the 18-month RPM program. You’ll be visiting different countries within the two weeks which is a great opportunity to experience a new place and a new culture, with paid expenses.

Aside from this, the company organizes community events for current and former RPMs so there’s a consistent gathering of like-minds.

Solid Network

Through your 18-month rotation, you’ll be paired with at least 4 Product Manager mentors. You’ll get to know other RPMs, and you’ll meet and work with several different teams on Facebook. Going through the program is, perhaps, one of the best ways to meet interesting people, make new friendships, and build professional relationships.

RPM Application and Interview Overview

You’ll be required to pass in your resume and respond to short answer questions. The questions should take no longer than 1 hour to complete. Applicants must answer these questions before they may submit their application to the program so the deadline must be well noted. Late applications will not be accepted.

Because the responsibilities and contributions of an RPM will be significant, the interview process is selective. There are three stages and the structure would be something like this:

Phone Screen

This stage deals with non-technical questions. Interviewers are likely going to find out if a candidate has great communication skills and is a good fit for the program during this stage.

Execution and Product Sense Technical Interview via Video Call

During this round, the interviewer will focus on product sense and execution questions that will test a candidate’s prioritization, project management, analytic thinking, and client empathy. There could be a second round of this if the first interview results in an unclear decision.

Execution, Product Sense and Leadership, and Drive Onsite interview 

The same kinds of PM Interview questions will be asked during this stage of the interview but with added questions about leadership and drive. Commonly, interviewers will ask questions that will help Facebook make the final decision. After the last stage, finalists are selected for the program. 

How to Prepare for the Facebook RPM Program

The core of the program is mentorship. You are not expected to come in as an expert. You’ll learn all of the necessary skills in the next 18 months. However, what you need to prepare for is the RPM interview to better your chances of getting accepted. How do you prepare for the Facebook RPM interview?

Create a Solid Resume

Ordinary resumes will not work for this position. You need to build an impressive resume to get the attention of the hiring manager. A good tip would be to have people review your resume, then make changes based on their feedback.

Put only the relevant information on your resume. No need to include information that doesn’t relate to becoming an RPM.

Practice Your Narrative

Create a narrative for your background. It’s going to be asked multiple times during the interview process so having a template for it would be ideal. If you have no previous experience, it’s best to mention side projects or courses that you have completed that are relevant to being an RPM.

Include Side Projects

As much as you can, work on side projects especially if you have no PM experience. It is stated that experience is not required but working on a project with others shows that you are proactive, involved, willing to learn, and open to working with a team. 

Go Through a PM Interview Course if Needed

This tip is specific to your RPM interview. There are a lot of PM Interview questions that newbies in Product Management may not understand fully. A course will be the best way to guide you through the practice and have you thinking like a full-pledged Product Manager.

Check out the course available at PM Exercises. The PM Interview Prep Course has more than 100 video hours and online lessons available. You’ll hear from more experienced PMs about how their own interviews went and read company guides (Facebook included) that could be beneficial to your interview process.

Practice Answering PM Interview Questions

After going through the PM Interview prep course, what you can do next is practice answering as many PM interview questions as you can. This way you’ll better understand how to structure and compose your answers.

So where can you find sample PM interview questions with practice answers? Try the PM Exercises questions database where you will find more than 2000 interview questions for PMs.

You can sort the list according to the type of questions you want to focus on. For example, if you want to focus on:

• Execution
• Product Sense
• Behavioral
• Leadership and Development

You can do so by filtering the questions by category.

Continue Practicing

Practicing one time won’t be enough. To ace your RPM interview, you would have to practice several times. You have to be patient, persistent, and consistent. You can even go through the same PM interview prep course several times until you feel comfortable and confident.

Facebook RPM Program Conclusion

The Facebook RPM program is one of the best launching pads you can have for your PM career. It’s a paid program that will run for 18 months. Within that period, an RPM will be able to learn the ropes, participate in different projects, and develop various Facebook products with several guides, mentors, and teams.

Every year, several applicants try their luck but less than 1% of the total candidates get accepted. Yes, it’s very competitive to get into the program which is why applicants need to stand out from the crowd.

The way to do that would be to work on your resume, work on side projects, take a course, practice answering PM interview questions, and then practice some more. Despite its competitiveness, when an RPM reaches the end, a full-time position at Facebook will be waiting. It’ll make all the efforts worth it to land your dream job of becoming a Product Manager in Facebook.

FAQ

How hard is it to get into the Facebook RPM program?

The acceptance rate of the program is very low. Facebook is selective with candidates so the rate is less than 1% every year. Yes, it’s going to be a challenge to get in but if you work smart and cover all your basis, you have a good chance.

How do you prepare yourself to be eligible for the interviews?

Preparing for the interview is like learning how to become a Product Manager. You would have to build a product in order to make a resume that will impress the interviewer, for starters. Read this to know more about how to become a Product Manager.

Does Facebook RPM sponsor a visa?

Unfortunately, no. Candidates should be able to secure their own Visas on or before their start date.

If I have more than 1 year of PM experience, can I apply to the RPM program?

Individuals with more than 1 year of PM experience, which includes Product Management internships, should apply for Product Manager roles listed at Meta Careers. The RPM program is only for those who have no Product Management experience.

Can anyone pass a referral?

No, referrals are not accepted for this position. 

How long should I wait before I hear back?

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The recruiter encourages applicants to be patient in hearing back about the next steps.