Product Gym by Elevate

I was really struggling taking the next step in my product manager career when I discovered Product Gym. I  interviewed for a lot of product roles in the past, however was not able to convert those interviews into offers.  I had studied on my own, joined product communities as well as read many product manager interview books, however none of these produced results.

When I started Product Gym, I was nervous that this approach would not work either, however I was wrong. They really set you up for success for every step of the product manager interview process, giving you the tools and support you need. This includes resume optimization, FAQs, and even how to build confidence (this was a big one for me). Product Management interviewing is a journey and they provided me with the stamina I needed.  Through this process I have interviewed with companies that I never thought would be options and ultimately landed a job offer that was better than I could have imagined. I am very excited to start my new journey. 

Thank you Rich, Cody and the entire team!

Even though I already was a Product Manager at my current role, I never had to interview for the job.  Trying to change jobs, for over a year, I was bombing every single second round interview.  My pitch was not conveying my experience, and I was interviewing so rarely that it was hard to understand where I was making a mistake. The second week at Product Gym I had 5  interviews lined up, and 8 weeks later I had and offer.  I was able to build up my confidence by interviewing and improving constantly.  At the same time, attending Product Gym classes I was filling in my Product Management knowledge gaps, I started to speak, think and walk like PM.  Rich, Cody and PG instructors are so open to share knowledge and so eager to help you achieve your goal of finding the right PM role for you.  That being said, nobody will do the work for you.  It is hard and painful, but in the process you’ll get the training and backbone to become a better Product Manager.. and that is the point!

Out of all the programs that I’ve taken before, this is by far the best. Rich, Cody, and the team really care about all their students and do their best to help you get the job. Can it be rough sometimes? Yes. Is it easy? No. But if you’re willing to put in the work and follow their process, you will get the job. What I like the most about this program is that they literally walk you through every part of the process and are there to help you and answer any questions. There is no extra fee for coaching or anything stupid like that. Once you sign up for the program, they will do their part in helping you. Also, when I was first considering this program and comparing it to others like General Assembly, I liked that this one actually helps you get the job which is why I signed up. But it’s important to remember that it’s not just job search help, they also teach you all the fundamentals of product management that you need to know to do the job well once you’re hired.

This is a long due review that I personally felt the need to write. I met Rich at one of his events where he introduced the pm career. Shortly after the event we had our consultation call and I was convinced that Rich is the kind of person I needed to make the biggest jump in my career.

Here’s a little bit about me – me before Product Gym. I worked for a big bank as an Equity Analyst with a degree in finance and absolutely had no knowledge of anything technical or managerial. I wanted to get into the tech scene and have a job that would grow me and give me the opportunity to make my voice heard. I knew what I wanted but I didn’t know where to start and here’s where Rich and the PG community stepped in.

After sharing these concerns, Rich told me to attend a full day of class for free (!) and observe the level of knowledge I gained in a day. He was right; 6 hours of class and I was basically halfway through a traditional MBA curriculum. I attended Allison Whaley’s “Product Marketing vs. Product” class and was so inspired to see that I could become a kick-ass woman like her one day if I put in the hard work and showed dedication. After the course, I enrolled in the program. Along with the great content, I also learned how to apply, how to get more interviews and how to DOMINATE those interviews. The first few weeks were tough but after that initial period, you gain incredible momentum. The PG community, which consists of PG members who have either graduated the program and now are in PM roles or people who are in the process of interviewing and job hunting, keep you motivated 24/7. Nobody leaves this program without a pm job and this community empowers you to reach your goals. I gained very valuable knowledge about interviewing, company specifics as well as very specialized technical information as there was always someone to answer my questions. Trust me, Product Gym is an MBA and a Master’s Degree on steroids!

Two months after this marathon, I finally landed a pm job at a fast-growing company and said goodbye forever to my corporate job. I am extremely thankful that I now work at a role where the work I do has an impact and my opinions are valued. The PG community has been giving me the strength to put myself out there and to fight for the career that I dreamt of. So do yourself a favor and instead of incurring debt in pursuit of a nonsense MBA or a Master’s Degree, join the Product Gym community today. You’ll NOT REGRET IT!

I now manage a team of ten (I initially was managing three engineers) and just negotiated a raise and a new title. None of this would have been possible if I got stuck in my old career and didn’t meet with Rich.

   

I just want to start off by saying THANK YOU to Rich, Cody, and everybody else at Product Gym!! I went from an RN who sadly wasn’t making as much as I would’ve like to landing Product Manager offers of almost TWICE my old salary. A friend of mine got a recent job as a PM after attending Product Gym, and I asked her how the bootcamp was. She actually recommended the bootcamp to me, because she thought I would like Product Management. So, I went to go look at what Product Management was, and it sounded interesting. So I figured changing my career, and I enrolled in Product Gym. Rich was a bit harsh, but I could tell the things he said were definitely truthful and he KNEW what he was talking about. Not THINK, but KNEW what he was saying. Cody was amazingly helpful, and helped me land interviews, and work on my resume. I didn’t even know my resume needed so much improvements until they told me about all of my flaws, and the stuff that I could and should add. Anyways, I couldn’t have landed my current PM job if it weren’t for the great coaches Rich and Cody, and everyone else at Product Gym!! 

 

I was hesitant to spend my money on a bootcamp where I wasn't even sure if I was going to get a return. But I've been applying non-stop and haven't heard back from anywhere at all. And the places that did an interview with did not last past the third round interview. So I decided to take the risk and signed up for Product Gym. Right on the first day, they fixed my resume cover letter and linkedin for me. They gave me the support and knowledge I needed to continue applying to more positions and eventually pass the interviews. All I can say is that there is no need to be hesitant with this bootcamp. The only thing you need to do is listen to their instructions and advice and you will land that job.

 

If you’re considering being a Product Manager, I suggest you sign up for this class. It was super helpful, insightful, and the smartest decision I made. I was so worried when first trying to transition into Product Management because I wasn’t getting interviews at all, but that all changed when I went to Product Gym. Rich and Cody kept it real with me and told me they can help me every step of the way only if I worked hard. I did and it really paid off! They helped me every step of the way of the process from preparing my resume and cover letter to negotiating offers. After taking the classes and applying to several hundred PM roles, I ended up with 3 offers! If you’re seriously considering transitioning into Product Management, don’t even think about it, just do it!

One thing you should know is that your background doesn’t matter. Product Gym teaches you how to sell yourself and your background in a way that showcases that you have the skills to be a Product Manager. If you’re skeptical about joining, they actually set you up with other alumni that you can talk to about the program.

The Product Gym team knows what they’re talking about. Rich comes from a tech recruiting background, so he knows exactly what companies are looking for, and the lecturers are current Product Managers in different companies who can talk about the field how it is today. Their advice is always up to date and relevant. 

In the future cohorts, I hope that they improve the experience for students watching the classes online since the audio quality isn’t the greatest sometimes. However, it’s worth mentioning that Cody and the rest of the PG team troubleshoots it right away!

When I first started with Product Gym, I thought that it would be structured like any other curriculum. I was attending every class session that Product Gym provided, but realized that learning about Product Management is simply not enough, since I was barely applying and interviewing.

I started attending the weekly coaching sessions that Rich hosts, and learned that my fellow peers were applying to 30+ A DAY and were landing 10+ interviews A WEEK! Rich kept it real with me, and told me that I’m not showing that I really wanted the PM position, and he was right, I was way too passive in this program.

Afterwards, I started applying to 40+ positions a day, and begun to get some call backs for interviews. Within a month, I had converted half of my interviews to on-sites and got 3 offers!

Thank you to Rich for his no BS mentality and the rest of the team for their continued support!

I decided to join Product Gym after attending one of their events. The amount of resources and coaching you receive from the team is honestly incredible, though at first a little intimidating. You can’t find what they teach you online like some other PM courses. Getting to personally speak to Rich and Cody, the founders of Product Gym, was another bonus. I was never left hanging with my questions unanswered. This isn’t an easy course where you can slack off and still expect to get a job at the end of it. They don’t hand out jobs. You have to really dedicate time to it and the results you get will represent your efforts. 

 

Prior to enrolling with Product Gym, I was working as an Associate at a well-known investment company for 5 years. I decided it was time for a career change since the work I was doing wasn’t giving me any more satisfaction. Soon after,  I came across an article about Product Management, and started to do more research on the field. The Product Manager role started to peak my interest and I decided to look into Product Management bootcamps.

I scheduled a consultation with Product Gym and spoke their co-founder, Rich. I was skeptical at first, thinking that it was just a typical sales pitch. However, Rich threw some interesting statistics at me about landing Product Manager positions, and connected me with a couple of previous students that had the same background as me.

After speaking with Product Gym’s alumni, I decided to take the risk and enroll. The work was not easy! There was a lot of reading I had to do, but ultimately, I had to apply and interview with as many companies as possible. Rich, Cody, and their team was there every step of the way, but I had to hold myself accountable to keep applying.

After more than 50 interviews, I finally managed to land an offer with a sizable increase to my income! Thank you to the Product Gym team for this successful (not smooth) transition to Product Management!

 

I had taken other PM courses, but none compare to Product Gym. Instead of just teaching their students about Product Management, they actually help them land jobs. I didn’t see any results after taking other courses so I was hesitant at first, but I’m so glad I did it. Rich and Cody coach you through the whole process in a personalized manner that fits you and your unique situation. They are there every step of the way. From applying and getting interviews, to acing said interviews, and negotiating job offers. This individualized attention is what is lacking with other PM courses.

 

Before Product Gym, I had been applying to PM roles for months and not hearing anything back, or only ever getting past the first round. Since I wasn’t seeing any progress in my job search, I decided to bite the bullet and join Product Gym. After optimizing my LinkedIn and reviewing my resume, they really emphasized on applying to as many positions as possible. Their strategies helped me land more interviews and receive more offers than ever before. They helped me negotiate job offers and secure the job that was best for me. If it wasn’t for Product Gym, I would still be applying to jobs and not hearing anything back!

The only suggestion I have is to tweak the student portal. There is an overwhelming amount of information, so making the portal more user friendly would make it easier to navigate through.

The best part about this program is that Rich and Cody focus on developing your PM interviewing skills and landing offers. Knowing the foundations of being a Product Manager is one thing, but landing an actual offer is a totally different ball game! 

Right off the bat, the PG staff provides feedback for your resume, LinkedIn and cover letter. Once you make the changes, you are told to start applying to positions IMMEDIATELY! The more you apply, the more interviews you land. As Rich always says, “It’s a number’s game!” Within 2 months of enrolling, I landed 40+ interviews and 3 offers. 

To those that are considering this program, you HAVE to put in the time and work in order to succeed. Product Gym provides a crap ton of material and resources, so make sure to go through all of them. On top of that, make sure to reach out to instructors and staff if you have any questions. They do a phenomenal job of providing support!

Product Gym was by far the best investment I’ve made in my life!

Product Gym gave me both the strategy and tactics to land my PM role. I've taken many courses and books and hands down PG is by far different. PG is the only place that gives you the specific tactics you need, every single step of the way, to actually get interviews. Beyond that, the coaches give you CONFIDENCE and the whole community gives you SUPPORT. Even though I took my course online, I felt connected to the coaches and team. In just 3 months I went from zero ideas and confidence in what to do to multiple job offers at brand name companies in NY, Boston, SF, and Amsterdam! I just took a job offer that pays me 50% more than I make today, and my entire career is on a new path. Look, stop wasting your time thinking you can do it yourself. If you could have, you would have by now. I'm smart and have a great network, but why struggle when PG will just teach you all the skills to win the game. Just invest in yourself and take this program and you'll get 10x return (in my case more) on your money, and a lifelong skillset and network.

Rich, Cody, RK, and the rest Product Gym team are the REAL DEAL. The product management space is a VERY competitive one and Product Gym is ready to help you put in the work to fight for what you want.

The PG team is so incredibly committed to helping every student succeed in getting the PM job. Interviewing for any job is a full-time commitment and they have built a process and calendar that sets you up for success. Interviewing on top of a full time job isn't easy, but if you're fully committed to getting a PM role No excuses, no students left behind - these guys make sure to check in with everyone on their progress and dedicate hours of calls if you want/need the help. I attended remotely in SF and everything worked out great thanks to the team's commitment to recording important content or being accessible via email/messaging around the clock.

Prior to Product Gym, I had a finance/consulting background and had a good amount of experience working with PM's and engineers at a startup myself. I was always interested in the PM role and had even attended Product School (thank god on my company's dime) a year before. All that said, I will call out that I was personally a skeptic when I first got on the phone with Rich. It seemed too good to be true! After hearing Rich's expertise and admittedly impressive energy over a few calls, I decided to take the plunge and never looked back. I can personally attest that the expertise regarding the PM interview process and commitment to success that Product Gym offers to its students is incomparable to anything else that's out there, including Product School, which ironically doesn't help you get the job.

Rich, Cody, and RK - I can't thank you guys enough for all your timely help, no-bullshit attitude, and thoughtful advice through and through. You guys really have everyone's best interest at heart when coaching your students. Thank you so much for getting me an exciting new role and a considerable pay bump! Couldn't have done it without you guys!

I was very impressed when I spoke with Rich from Product Gym.  His knowledge and insight of the current job search market is 100% on target.  His knowledge of the industry seems to be beyond his years.  Compared to others I have spoken to who claim to know how to assist job seekers in navigating their job search, Rich is light years ahead.

After speaking with Rich during our first conversation, he gave me a few tips.  I applied them during my next interview and received positive comments from the interviewer/hiring manager, including “that is a great question”, and “very detailed reply”.   

I would recommend working with Rich and his team.