Product | Project | Program | Ex - McKinsey, American Express. Currently helping product job aspirants in their job search journey. Not receiving the interview calls? Let’s connect 👇

I'm a product management & project management professional with 16+ years of experience in the development and management of software products and solutions. 

I'm passionate about helping early stage and career-transitioning professionals in their pursuit - through my interview preparation and career development advice. 

Please feel free to connect with me to chat about your career or job aspirations - link is in my profile.

Want to stand out in your next product interview? Ask great questions.

Interviewing is a two-way street. It's not just about answering well, but also about asking thoughtful questions that show you're serious about the role.

One approach that works well for me is to prepare questions based on who I’m speaking to. Here's a simple structure I follow:

If you're speaking with a product leader:

1. What is the strategy of the team and the company? How do this team's goals connect to the larger mission?


2. What are your plans for the team over the next 6 to 12 months?


3. What qualities would make someone in this role stand out?



If you're speaking with a hiring manager:

1. Who are the key people this role will closely collaborate with?


2. How do you define success for this role?


3. Can you share a recent project the team worked on and the impact it created?



Great questions lead to great conversations. And great conversations leave a lasting impression.


#ProductManagement #InterviewTips #CriticalThinking #AspiringPMs #PMInterviews #ProductCareer

Gaurav Pathak

Product | Project | Management Advisor | Ex - McKinsey, American Express

Breaking into product management without prior product experience can feel confusing.

If you’re trying to transition from a non-product role or you’re early in your career without product exposure, it’s normal to wonder: “How do I stand out in interviews?”

One of the best ways is to show how your current skills apply to product management. Even if you’ve never held a product title.


👉 Here are 10 common interview questions that can help you prepare for entry-level product roles or your first product management opportunity.

1. Can you talk about a product (app, website, or service) you use regularly and explain why you like it or what you would improve?


2. Imagine you have several ideas to improve a product. How would you decide which one to work on first?


3. Tell me about a time you worked with people from different departments or backgrounds to complete a project.


4. How would you gather feedback from customers or users before launching something new?


5. How would you handle a situation where your manager wants one thing, but your teammate or client wants something else?


6. Share an example from your current or previous role where you solved a problem creatively, even if it was outside product management.


7. How do you define success for a project or product you worked on in your previous roles?


8. Can you describe a time when you had to make a tough decision with limited information? What did you do?


9. Why do you want to become a product manager, and what from your current experience do you think will help you in this role?


10. If you had to improve a product you’ve used recently, what would be your first step?



Remember - Focus on showing how you approach problem solving, teamwork, and customer understanding. These skills matter more than specific product experience.


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I provide mentorship where I help people transition into product management by preparing for interviews with practical examples and approaches.

If you are looking for help to get started, feel free to reach out.




#ProductManagement #CareerTransition #InterviewPreparation #AspiringPM #PMInterviews

You spend weeks fine-tuning your resume.
You apply to dozens of product roles.
You wait.

Days turn into weeks.
Weeks turn into months.
Still… nothing.

It’s not that you are not good enough.
It’s just that the way you are showing your skills isn’t cutting through.

Sometimes, it’s small things that make the big difference. Like turning “Responsible for managing product roadmap” into
“Drove product roadmap that increased user retention by 18% in 6 months...”

Or replacing a list of duties with clear, measurable wins.

Think about this!

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I help product aspirants to make sure all that effort actually leads to effective positioning to increase their chances to improve their job search journey.

If you need help with your resume/ job search process - https://lnkd.in/gwYBXFpy

#productmanagement #productmanager #careergrowth #jobsearchtips #careerswitch #productmanagementjobs #pmjobs #productaspirants #careeradvice #interviewtips #resumehelp #jobsearchindia #productmanagementcareer #careertransition #productroles

There are 3 things recruiters look for in a product management resume… and most of the applicants miss at least one of them.

1. Clear storytelling in your experience. Not just what you did, but why it mattered.


2. Relevant skills. The ones that truly connect with product management, not a long laundry list.


3. Measurable impact. The numbers, outcomes, and results that show how you made a difference.



Most resumes I review miss at least one of these. And that’s usually the reason strong candidates don’t even make it to the interview stage.

If you’re an aspiring product manager, start by asking yourself:

Does my resume tell a story?

Are my skills relevant and clear?

Have I shown impact with numbers?


These 3 questions can transform the way recruiters read your resume.


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I spend a lot of time helping aspiring PMs get this right and once they do, opportunities start opening up.

If you need help with your resume/ job search process - https://lnkd.in/gwYBXFpy


#productmanagement #productmanager #careergrowth #jobsearchtips #careerswitch #productmanagementjobs

Imagine this…
You have been trying for a product role for months. Finally, you get shortlisted.

You enter the interview discussion.

The interviewer looks at your resume, asks the first question…
…and in less than 5 minutes, you already know this isn’t going well.

This happens more often than you think.
Not because you don’t know product management.
But because you didn’t position yourself right from the start. Your resume, your approach to finding the right jobs, and even how you prepare for those first few months on the job.

I have seen so many smart people lose out on opportunities they actually deserved,
just because they didn’t know how to present and position themselves the right way.

That’s exactly why I work with product aspirants and someone trying to pivot their career into product roles... To help them get their story, their approach, and their confidence in place.

If you’re serious about getting into product,
don’t wait for that one interview to teach you the hard way. Start working on yourself.



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If you need help with your resume/ job search process - https://lnkd.in/gwYBXFpy



#productmanagement #productmanager #careergrowth #jobsearchtips #careerswitch #productmanagementjobs #pmjobs #productaspirants #careeradvice #interviewtips #resumehelp #jobsearchindia #productmanagementcareer #careertransition #productroles

Most people wait for a rejection before they get serious about their product job search.

I have noticed this pattern again and again:

Aspirants apply casually to 10–15 roles

Rejections start coming in...

Only then they think, “Maybe I should improve my resume or sharpen my story”


By then, weeks or even months are lost. And honestly, it’s disheartening.

The truth is that positioning yourself well before you apply saves you time, effort, and discourgament.

✅ A resume that clearly shows your skills

✅ A story that highlights your product thinking

✅ Confidence in interviews because you prepared early

Think of it like preparing for competitive entrance tests. Nobody would want to wait for a failed attempt to start studying properly. You start early and position yourself to win. The same mindset applies here.



If you’re serious about a product career, don’t wait for rejection to push you.
Start early. Position yourself right.

In the last 10 months, I’ve spoken with over 500 product job aspirants, all talented folks putting in serious effort.

One question kept coming up:
Why do so many resumes fail to get attention from hiring teams, even when the person has solid experience?

I went back through my notes and here are 10 things I heard from real aspirants, in their own words (paraphrased):

1. “I realised I just listed my job duties without explaining what I actually accomplished.”


2. “My resume was packed with jargon but had no clear stories about how I solved problems.”


3. “I thought just naming tools and frameworks would be enough but no one seemed to care.”


4. “I kept writing ‘worked on X feature’ without saying how it made any difference to the user or business.”


5. “I never thought about showing results — I just described tasks, like a to-do list.”


6. “Most of my resume was just copied from my company’s internal documentation.”


7. “I assumed recruiters knew what I meant by ‘managed end-to-end delivery’ but I never spelled out what value I created.”


8. “I had zero mention of impact metrics and never explained ‘why’ behind what I did.”


9. “I focused so much on sounding smart that I forgot to sound useful.”


10. “My resume was too generic — could’ve belonged to any product person anywhere, nothing personal stood out.”



Lesson?

If you don’t tell your story, hiring teams won’t create it for you.

Your resume isn’t just a record of employment. It’s proof that you know how to create value.

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Want help to revamp your resume content which is relevant to your aspirantion to become a product manager? -> DM me or connect with me.

#productmanagement #careeradvice #resumetips #jobsearch #productjobs #productmanager #careergrowth #pmjobs

Struggling to give concise yet impactful answers in product interviews?

You're not alone. Many aspiring PMs know what to say, but end up rambling, losing structure, or skipping the key point.

This is how you can get sharper and more structured in your responses:

1. Structure your thoughts clearly
Prepare and practice by trying the PREP method (Point, Reason, Example, Point again).
For deeper answers, use What, Why, How.
Overtime this will become part of your thinking and articulation approach.


2. Stick to your top 3 points
Don’t overload. Focus on what truly matters to the question


3. Be simple and direct
Cut the fluff. Avoid filler words like um, like, or you know


4. Pause after key points
Give the interviewer time to absorb. You can always expand if they ask


5. Listen actively
Tailor your answer to what’s actually being asked


6. Rehearse frequently asked questions
Can you answer "Tell me about a product you admire" in 2 crisp sentences?


7. Use analogies or visuals
They help simplify complex ideas and make them memorable



Mastering product interviews is not just about what you know
It’s about how well you communicate it

So the next time you prepare, don’t just revise answers. Practice how you say them




#ProductManagement #InterviewTips #CriticalThinking #AspiringPMs #PMInterviews #ProductCareer

Want to become a Product Manager but unsure if that’s the only path for you?”
Here are 3 careers that build similar skills and could be your stepping stones into product or even better fits for your strengths.

If you are aiming to be a Product Manager but curious about other roles that use similar skills, this post will be interesting to read...

Here are three options to consider:



1. Project Manager

Skills Needed

Organization, managing timelines and budgets, good communication, and leadership.


Example

Think of a Project Manager as a wedding planner. They ensure everything is ready on time, within budget, and everyone knows their roles to make the big day perfect.




2. Business Analyst

Skills Needed

Analyzing data, good communication, and understanding business processes.


Example

A Business Analyst is like a translator. They listen to what the business needs and translate it into a plan that the tech team can build.




3. Product Marketing Manager

Skills Needed

Understanding product lifecycle, market research, and strong communication.


Example

Imagine a Product Marketing Manager as a tour guide. They know the best places (features) to show travelers (customers) and create an itinerary (marketing plan) that ensures everyone has a great experience.




Takeaway 

These roles need strategic thinking, teamwork, and a focus on delivering value to customers. If you’re looking to build similar skills, these careers are a great start...





#ProductManagement #CareerAdvice #ProjectManager #BusinessAnalyst #ProductMarketing

Are you aspiring to be a product professional and wonder about the language product managers use?

If you are aiming for a product role, you have probably heard terms like MVP, sprint, or backlog thrown around. But what do they actually mean in day-to-day work?

Here is a simple explanation of common terms you will hear in product conversations.

1. MVP
The simplest version of a product that helps test an idea with the least effort


2. User stories
Short explanations of what a user wants to do and why, helping teams build what actually matters


3. Backlog
A running list of work that needs to be done, including features, fixes, and improvements


4. Roadmap
A timeline view of where the product is going and what will be worked on in the future


5. KPIs
Numbers that show if the product is doing well or not


6. Stakeholders
People who care about the product or are affected by it, like customers, team members, or business leaders


7. Sprint
A short cycle, usually a week or two, where the team focuses on specific tasks


8. Scrum
A method of working in small teams to quickly build and improve products



Learning these basics will make your product journey feel a lot less overwhelming


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Feel free to share this with anyone starting out in the product.

#productmanagement #careergrowth #learning #productterms

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