Introduction 

An Associate Product Manager (APM) is the entry-level role for an individual interested in a career in product management. An APM may be used as a stepping stone into a range of product management areas such as analytics, quality assurance, and user experience. To enter the professional life of APM, candidates must develop a strategic plan. Here is a step-by-step description of the many stages of APM recruiting.

Step 1: Preparation

In the preparatory stage of APM recruitment, a candidate needs to categorize the process into three phases:

Resume

A well-crafted and job-based resume is the most effective way to put your candidature across to the recruiters. A resume should make an impact on the recruiter, interviewer, and hiring manager. These people examine your resume at different stages and try to filter out the people based on the information put forth. A recruiter tries to shortlist your resume on the basic job criteria, and an interview tries to determine your ability to manage a product management role and how your experience can be utilized. When it comes to the hiring manager, this person is typically the one who will be your direct manager, and this person looks for relatable experience and how you can add value to his team. Each stage has its importance, and the resume should have important points covering aspects for all the parties on the recruitment table.

You can learn about the important types while preparing a resume.

Cover Letter

A cover letter is not a requirement that all recruiters post, but having a cover letter gives you a chance to convey your product management experiences, internships, projects, etc. to quickly put forth your candidature, even before the recruiter opens your CV.

You can learn to write a cover letter.

Interview Preparation

Many candidates start interview preparation once they get a call about being shortlisted by the recruiter. While it may work for a few, it is not an ideal approach. To make a solid impression in an interview, a candidate should be prepared even before applying for the required job. When you are looking to apply for a position in APM, it is always advised to network with experienced people in the domain, learn about their experience, and how the practical approach in product management differs from that of our college courses.

To prepare for APM roles, it is also suggested that you enroll in specialized courses that enable you to interact with industry experts so that you can learn about current trends and market scenarios.

Step 2: Application

The right mentor can help you in a variety of ways to search for an ideal job fit for you. He/she can also help you with getting referrals in the preparatory stages as well. There are different ways to apply for an APM role. Some of these are:

Job Portal

After the candidates are comfortable with their preparations with the correct courses, projects, internships, and experiences in their portfolio, they should go ahead and start looking for opportunities posted on job portals. There are a variety of job portals available these days. The one that is recognized and trusted should be used for job applications.

Referrals

Another popular way to approach job openings is through referrals through networks. This can be the most effective way to land a job, as the person referring can mentor you about the process of the job application, what to expect and how to manage, etc.

Placement Cells

The majority of college courses and certifications offered by different institutes often incorporate placement assistance programs. These programs can provide direct access to recruiters and generally act as a great way to land an entry-level role.

Step 3: Interview

The APM recruitment interview typically consists of a few stages and can be spread over a few hours to a few days as per the company’s urgency to recruit and the availability of personnel to conduct the process. The phases here are:

Recruiter round

A recruiter round happens once your resume is selected after the initial screening. This round generally encompasses general discussion about the roles and the candidate’s preferences (shift/location/willingness to travel, etc).

Product Management Round/Technical Round

Once the recruiter is satisfied with the candidate’s requirements and their alignment with the company’s job requirements, the candidate’s profile is shared for the technical round. In the technical round, a candidate is tested on his ability to understand and operate product management concepts. These technical rounds may include a practical assessment as well, in which candidates may be given a product line and may be asked to assess the product’s performance and suggest improvements to enhance the user experience. These are done in time-bound scenarios to test your ability to work with deadlines and manage work under pressure.

This round plays a crucial role. Sometimes, even when your assessments are wrong, you are sent to the next round for the way you managed your work.

Product Manager’s Round

The product manager receives resumes and assessments of technical round/s. Typically, this person is the product manager who will be managing the team where the candidate is supposed to work. The person tries to understand your understanding of practical concepts, your ability to work as a team, and even your ability to work under pressure. The Product Manager sometimes grills the candidates just to assess their ability to manage real-life work pressure when working on deadlines and dealing with stakeholders.

Final Panel

When the candidates pass all the rounds with flying colors, they are finally exposed to the negotiation table, which is sometimes referred to as the HR round, when only HR manages the show. But many times, this round happens with a panel, with personnel from HR, Technical, and Product Managers all present.

When all the aspects of the candidate’s requirements and the company’s requirements align in this step, the final offer is made. Sometimes the offer is made on the same day, whereas it can take up to a few days for companies to decide to offer a few among the final round of candidates.

Step 4: Offer Letter

As you receive the offer letter from the company, with their terms and conditions, it is for you to accept the offer. When you agree to offer and accept the same, voila, you become the APM.

Final Thoughts:

The steps for APM recruitment are typically the same as other roles in big firms. The only thing that you, as a candidate, can do is build a portfolio with the help of industry experts, which makes your candidature stand out among different profiles. Seekho is a community of industry professionals that tries to enable candidates to land their dream roles with proper guidance and mentorship. Join the Seekho Select Membership to learn Product Management or download our app today to know more!

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