Product Gym by Elevate

I can't begin to thank Rich, Cody, Raymond and the rest of the Product Gym team + guest instructors enough for helping me to take that next step in my Product Management career. On this course, unlike other product bootcamps out there, the PG team sticks with you the entire step of the way, even once you get that job, they're checking in on you to see how things are going and if they can help you further. This program is really a MUST for anyone either considering a shift into product management or for those product managers who are looking to move into a more senior role - there are touch points throughout the program that suit anyone from a beginning product manager to someone with 20 years of experience in technology. I wouldn't have gotten my new job this quickly without the entire PG team and my fellow class members - we all pushed each other every step of the way and I'll never forget that. Product Gym family forever!

Product Gym is a hyper-productive, tailored, focused program that enables you to get your first product management job. 

It is very different from other programs which teach you how to be a good PM. While that is covered, the big focus was on how to land that first interview, how to practice and do well and how to get your dream job. 

I had a lot of confidence in Rich, Cody and team given how well structured the program was but it was really welcome to see my first PM job offer 6 weeks into the program. 

The team brings vast experience from seeing PM roles and interviews of all sizes and shapes and provide invaluable, no BS feedback that can really be applied with great effectiveness. 

Although I was remote, the program was equally effective and gave me tons of ammo in getting interview calls and doing my interviews well. 

If you’re someone that is stuck in a catch-22 where you don’t have PM experience but the jobs you’re looking for need PM skills, look no further!

I met Rich end of June last year, started in July cohort. I spent some time working on my resume and learning materials they provided - was all extremely helpful because I started applying end of August and got my first interview that same week. In October (about 30 business days since my first job application went out) I had my first offer.

Rich, Cody and Raymond have been my main points of contact and they offer exceptional guidance and will kick your ass if you mince words with them or are not pushing yourself to your fullest potential. Their level of support is phenomenal.

Product gym is a hard-core gym. If you don't believe it or don't follow exactly what it tells you to do, prepare to waste a ton of time. If you are fortunate enough to get into this program, believe and follow it and put in the hard-work, you will come out successful. You cannot find the same material anywhere else, with the level of support they provide. Product Gym teaches you the entire interviewing process, puts you through hard work that pays off, and gives you the freedom to find the job you love. I cannot recommend it enough.

Product Gym, as others have mentioned, is focused on the outcome. I was very close to doing Product School, but decided to switch after understanding that yes the content is VERY beneficial and no you don't necessarily need prior experience. The fact you can come back and have access for a full year after your cohort was a huge factor as well - it shows the PG team is there for the long haul.

I started on the tail end of a cohort, so technically my cohort had not even started and yet I had my first offer in hand (exactly one month from starting the process). How did that happen, you ask? All the resources are available up front - more than you will ever need. If you need to brush up on a section (as I did many times) it's right there.  If you have a question, the PG team is available.

I honestly thought I'd be slow since I'm coming from a marketing background and definitely did not think I would be trying to decide between companies one month in. All in  all this program basically gives you the confidence to start the application process, nail the interviews, and get the job. Be ready for a roller coaster of emotions though - it's not easy. Last thing I'd say -- this really isn't for people who are considering the PM role. Rephrased -- only join if you PM is THE next career move. The PG team  the most helpful if you're all in.

P.S. I've been in the new PM role for a month - SO. WORTH. IT.

I first met Richard when I joined a Product Management Resume Building webinar a few weeks prior. I quite honestly had very little expectations about the seminar, but was pleasantly surprised with how much guidance I received from Richard in that one-hour session. Subsequently, we also were able to set up a 30-minute consult to discuss our resume and LinkedIn profiles in more depth (as part of the webinar). Yet again, I went in anticipating that I'd receive a few nuggets of knowledge at best. But... that was far from what actually happened. Not only was I provided a WEALTH of information in that Zoom chat, I also received an astounding amount of tangible data and feedback that I can act on. Say that to say, that I am appreciative of the content that Richard and the Product Gym team have curated, and I highly suggest that anyone on the PM job hun consider it to give you that extra UMPF across the finish line!

I joined Product Gym hoping to propel my career into product management.  2 months later, I have 3 offers with more interviews to come.  This was not a cakewalk.  Product Gym teaches you how to approach interviews differently.  Just like learning anything new in life,  it takes time and a lot of effort to internalize the strategy so it can be applied during interviews.  In my case, I had to rebrand my entire background while thinking and interviewing like a product manager.  Within the first week of applying for jobs, I was already hearing back from 4-5 companies. For anyone who is interested in getting a product management job, put in 100% energy on the Product Gym system and you will be rewarded.  

Product Gym, where do I start? These guys care about you as a candidate, as an interviewee and as a person who is searching a job. They understand the Product Manager job market very well and take serious pride in making sure as a candidate you are equipped with the knowledge, tactics & the experience to succeed in interviews. Their teaching staff is very good and help you prepare for one of the most demanding jobs in the tech industry. Product Gym supports you right from rebranding your resume & cover letter, application strategy, interviewing tactics, take home assignments & offer negotiations. I have received multiple offers, all thanks to PG. To be clear, as a candidate you need to put in the hard work and follow their strategies to be successful. If you are serious about getting a PM role, don’t think too much & just enrol with Product Gym. These guys will take care of you in your journey of becoming a PM.

Prior to joining Product Gym, I had started my search for new roles.  I was already a product manager by title but after getting rejected from countless roles, I knew I needed to talk the talk more than I was currently doing.  I was pretty heavily interviewing before joining PG  but when 3 final round (multi hour in-persons) failed to convert to offers, I knew I needed some coaching.  Product Gym stood out from the other PM options like GA and PS because of the immediate focus on the interviewing process, LinkedIn optimization, and Resume feedback.  After sitting down with Rich, I realized that his “take no prisoners” attitude and insider recruiter knowledge was tremendously valuable and I was sold on the program.  Within days of optimizing my LinkedIn profile, I started seeing results with increased views of my profile.  Over the next few weeks the amount of LinkedIn traction I was getting was unreal.  I successfully landed a new PM role, after a few coaching sessions and case study review thanks to the PG process.  PG was a really solid investment as I was able to get a tremendous increase in my salary with my new gig.  Thanks Rich, Cody and the rest of the team at PG!

Product Gym is a fantastic program for those looking to land a Product Manager job in any industry – especially for those people who don’t have previous PM experience.  They have developed a unique approach where they assist you with both aspects of landing a PM job – 1) Having all the skills necessary to be a PM and 2) Being able to successful secure interview calls and perform well with companies across the nation. They help you from scratch by revising and optimizing your cover letter, resume, and LinkedIn profile which positions you perfectly for the job application process. Simultaneously, their coursework covers a variety of different topics ranging from interview skills to technical PM skills required for the job. This combination empowers you to successfully apply and interview through all the various rounds that one encounters during the PM interviewing process. They are not the typical organization that will just provide you with the content and expect you to land a job on your own. They are with you through every step of the process right up to the point where you receive and accept an offer from a company. I am extremely happy with my time spent with Product Gym and what they did for me, no other organization has been able to offer / accomplish since I started looking for PM roles over a year ago. Thank you to Rich, Cody, and the entire Product Gym team for empowering me to secure a career in Product Management.

My primary feedback to the Product Gym team is that the online experience needs to improve so that people who are viewing the classes remotely have the same experience / value as those who are viewing the lectures on-site. I believe this is a work-in-progress and the PG team is continuously trying to improve the experience.

The leaders and teachers of Product Gym are dedicated to finding you the right positions at great companies across the country. Many qualified individuals have the abilities to apply their knowledge and abilities to be a Product Manager. The curriculum and teachers understand the underlying processes to obtain the best positions and how to brand yourself. They will get you through the process much quicker than on you would on your own, given the immense resources and advice they can provide. Their main goal is to get you a position you love. You can learn the basics for free online, but actually landing the right job can be very wasteful and time consuming with a bad process. I was able to pivot industries and obtain interviews within the first month of the program. The program is a solid investment and benefits the hard-working students.

For me, it completely upended 20 some years of conventional wisdom of how to go about the job search process.  In one $12.24 informational session in early October 2018 I learned more about the current job search landscape and what it would take to get a product management job than I had in the previous 12 months going to meetups and networking with people in industry and HR roles as I searched for my next role.

I bought in, within 10 days of that initial informational session I had a call with Rich (our scheduled 30-minute call almost reached the 90-minute mark), joined the November 2018 Cohort, modified my resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn Profile and by the first week of November, I started applying in scale.  The Product Gym Community built by Rich and Cody is a gold mine, I used some piece of knowledge or insight from every interaction with the Product Gym instructors, Alumni and Cohort participants.

Highly recommend this program to anyone looking to land their first product management job, whether new to product management or career changers.  Also, recommend to current product managers that are looking to level up and land more senior product management roles.

This review is long over due and I really want to give Rich and Cody along with the entire team at Product Gym a huge shout out. I couldn’t be happier at my current job right now and I owe this position to PG. These guys know what they are talking about and they mean business. I met Rich years ago at a talk and chose to not enroll immediately, because I believed I had the network, skills, and most importantly time to figure this out on my own. I made a huge mistake doing so and after watching PG grow I decided to take the leap of faith 8 months after my first meeting with Rich. I don’t regret my decision at all. The coaching that his team offers is absolutely invaluable. 

My game plan before was simply to flex my Stanford MBA and expect to get any PM job that I wanted. It didn’t work. Much to my dismay I wasn’t able to garner many interviews through the Stanford network either. I made all the textbook mistakes by targeting only the companies I wanted to work at without accounting for the fact that other people also wanted to work there (just like Rich is always saying). Product Gym provided me with a much better foundation for success. 7 days into to program, my resume was already revamped along with my linkedin, and cover letter than communicated a story of how my background was a value add. In less than 22 days after my first installment, I had more phone screens than I could attend. They even helped me with my case studies and Rich personally coached me himself on how to conduct the offer negotiation. Even now, I still reach out to Rich from time to time to plan out my next career moves and he has never EVER not picked up the phone when I ring him. 

Nobody was ever taught how to job hunt effectively, especially for a PM position which has become the most desired title. If you are planning your next job hunt you need Product Gym. The $3,500 I made was worth more than my entire time at Stanford, because although I learned a lot there; the intention was always to land my dream job. Go and schedule the call today! 

There are many good resources available for learning how to be a good product manager but none that come close to Product Gym's niche: how to LAND the product manager role. Below are some of the many unique aspects of Product Gym that ultimately gave me the confidence to choose Product Gym over the numerous resources available regarding Product Management. I was part of the remote/online cohort.

1. Rich (Founder)'s "rich" background in technical recruiting
This is incredibly valuable because he knows what it takes for a candidate to be successfully hired and that's what the whole Product Gym course is all about. He came up with a process that optimizes the job application + interviewing process, which is critical for those that are time-limited and want to see results right away.

2. Accountability
In addition to great instructors, Product Gym is a community of current/aspiring Product Managers and everyone is open to sharing resources/perspectives & growing together during the interviewing process. Everyone is gunning for the same purpose and staff will keep you accountable in your job searching process.

3. Coaching
Knowing principles isn't enough to get hired. You have to be likable so individual coaching and Q&A sessions help to sharpen your pitch/interview responses so you can continue to iterate. Interviewing no longer was scary; I started spending only 10-15 min prepping because I knew exactly what kind of 'flavor' I needed to deliver.  

I landed a role in the exact timeframe I had in mind. Don't even bother looking anywhere else- trust in Product Gym. Trust the Process.

Product gym focuses a lot on helping you land your dream product manager job. Rich and Cody work very hard to keep us on track in job search and motivate us to get out of our comfort zone. They are very inspirational and gave me advice on within days starting the program. Before the program, I was frustrated with the search and did not get any interviews at all. Not only was I able to learn the knowledge and skills needed as a PM from the courses, I was able to get 5-10 interviews a week within days after I started the program. Rich and Cody's methodology really works, and you just have to keep up with the program even though it takes a lot of effort! I highly recommend this program if you want to land your PM job.

Before Product Gym, I was barely applying for product manager jobs; I was very intimidated by all of the PM interview practice materials out there that was geared toward people trying to get into Facebook, Google, and Amazon (I had no ambition for any of those companies). I thought I'd have to spend years mastering all of that material, but that wasn't an option for me. I needed to find a hack to get a new PM job. When I came across Product Gym after they advertised their event on how to nail the PM process and interview game, I attended and was immediately intrigued by their whole methodology of playing the interview numbers game. I felt that their approach was fresh and different from what I had heard and read, and they actually had a couple of their PG alums at the event who could vouch for the fact that they got jobs by going through the program. I very shortly signed up; I knew the program would force me to stop dragging my feet with interviewing (you have to let the program know how many jobs you've applied to and how many interviews you got, also for the amount of money that you're paying, you better follow through), I'd have access to Rich and Cody to provide answers to questions you just can't get on the internet, and I would be going through the whole crazy process with a bunch of people whom I could learn from and commiserate with. 

In the end, I got a higher PM title and my salary grew by leaps and bounds  in my new PM role,  so I was happy with the results. 

Some areas for improvement: 

Curriculum: Overall, I liked the idea of learning product management material from different subject matter experts. That is how Product Gym is set up so that in one session you may be learning UX research from an actual UX researcher and the next session you may be learning product marketing from an actual product marketer. However, if you're not already familiar with the entire product development life cycle, learning all of this material in not quite the same order as that life cycle can be a little disorienting. This un-ordered learning may have been due to Product Gym having to work with the trainers' schedules. For this reason, it's important for a student to read the pre-work prior to attending all of the sessions.

Onboarding: I was told that Product Gym would assist me with my cover letter, resume, and LinkedIn optimization -- meaning they would physically help out in these areas. Even though they did do some resume optimization for me, I would say that I mostly optimized my cover letter and LinkedIn profile on my own using the guidance of their teaching materials. It wasn't that big of a deal as I did see results from my efforts, but I think they oversold that part of their program.  

Culture: The culture of the staff at Product Gym can be pretty brash and in your face. I often had a good laugh at this, but I think the staff needs to be mindful that not everyone will warm up to that level of brashness. Sometimes you need to tone it down in order to create a safe environment for people to freely express themselves. I will say that what you get in return is full throttle transparency and honesty from the staff, but you may have to learn to have a tough skin. 

I was grandfathered into my current PM and learned quite a bit on the job and through self-guided learning, but never felt validated due to only working for a single company. I lacked confidence because I couldn’t compare my own product experience to anything other than what I read, which often created an endless loop of over-analysis. Participating in Product Gym helped me understand how to properly organize my thoughts through a PM framework which added consistency and organization to my approach. Suddenly I felt authenticated and empowered to take control of my interviews and exponentially improved my performance. PG not only filled holes in my knowledge but to me meta-skills that I will forever apply to my job hunt for the rest of my life. Completely worth the investment. Beyond the classes themselves, you receive personalized coaching, access to a network of fellow PMs. The support of the students of my cohort and our knowledge sharing have been paramount. Highly recommended. Would do again.

In the words of Tim Ferriss, the most efficient form of skill acquisition comes from studying the techniques of masters and creating a feedback loop so that you're constantly improving and cutting through the noise. That's what Product Gym does.