The answer I learned is both. The PM classes are taught by people that do the actual work they teach, data scientist teaches data science, engineers teach engineering etc. And then Rich, Cody and RK do the coaching parallel to the program…and it was problematic for me because nothing they told me made any sense… Until I really got more interviews than I could handle. I did more interviews in a two week span than I had done in the 10+ years I was out of school. And I learned their coaching is a direct response to the recruiting industry and all its inherent biases. You learn exactly, and I mean exactly – down to the word – how to take advantage of this information asymmetry to use to your benefit through PG.

This program requires a little bit of blind faith, no doubt. Where these people shine is that they care about the results. And it shows–another review said how the PG is a bit unrefined and unprofessional. It’s true. They don’t have the fancy template slides, the nice projectors, their email and messages sound like a drill sergeant more than a coach. Rich said it best tho. You’re not signing up for Product Spa. It’s a gym. It gets grimey. And the gains you make are on you. You need to push the weights. Otherwise, why bother paying.

I had a few people in my cohort that took Product School which I was also considering, but I ultimately felt that Product School wouldn’t actually be able to get me a job. I didn’t have confidence that they knew what they were talking about about job acquisition. This was confirmed by the people in my Product Gym cohort. Alot I’d general information but nothing that could be used tactically or what I didn’t already know.

For an already seasoned PM like me, what made me join was actually hearing the students in the cohort talk about their interview experience. These were people with almost no product manager title but got more interviews and rounds than myself. I found that slightly insulting and frankly jealous. For me, these people were taking opportunities away from me but I quickly learned that the program teaches you, forces you to start talking like a PM. I slowly learned how to articulate my experiences in ways that other people could understand and digest. I learned that a first round recruiter call is different than a hiring manager and you have to tailor your pitch to them.

I highly recommend this course to people that are serious about getting the job, whether you have PM experience or not. Just be prepared for the work and their harsh process.

He definitely knows what he is talking about and has successfully pushed people through this process many times.

If you are on the fence, his ability to help negotiate your offer will essentially cover the cost of the course.

My first 30 days on the job, I was crushed though. That time was tough, but I recall I didn’t do so well my first 30 days in banking, college, or anything else I did for the first time. You will make mistakes and that’s okay. I made tons and you know what its fine here. Most people carry with them the baggage they had from their previous careers thinking product is going to be like that, but its not and that’s why you were drawn to the experience anyways. Stop thinking you need to know everything and just trust the process. Take it from me; it took me 8 months to land this job, but I know I could have done it earlier if I wasn’t getting in my own way all the time.