For most people, Product Management bootcamps are a great investment.
A Product Management bootcamp is a great way to build skills, expand your network and learn more about the Product Management field.
The right Product Management bootcamp can help you begin a rewarding career managing products and the hardworking employees who make them. If you’re trying to earn a promotion or deepen your career, a Product Management bootcamp can also teach you new skills that make you even more valuable to your employer.
While Product Management bootcamps aren’t the right fit for everyone, there’s a high chance that this is the right next step for your career.
What are the benefits of a Product Management bootcamp?
If you’re looking to learn valuable Product Management skills without quitting your job or committing full-time to a university degree program, a Product Management bootcamp is a great fit.
Here are some of the benefits you can expect from a Product Management bootcamp:
- Enjoy hands-on experience in the Product Management industry
- Participate in flexible, learn-at-your-own-pace lessons
- Build a career-ready portfolio
- Access a mentor network for one-on-one education
- Join a network of fellow Product Management professionals
Product Management bootcamps have become an increasingly popular choice for students who don’t want to wait four years for a university diploma. These and other benefits help thousands of students every year achieve a meaningful Product Management career.
What should I look for in a Product Management bootcamp?
Not all Product Management bootcamps are created equal. While some Product Management bootcamps provide individualized training and career support, others are more generic.
Start your search for a Product Management bootcamp by considering three factors: job placement, customized programs and ongoing support.
1. Job placement
The best Product Management bootcamps usually have one thing in common: they help to place you in a rewarding career after you graduate. Most students enroll in a Product Management bootcamp to find that rewarding career. If the bootcamp can’t help you do that, it likely isn’t the right fit for you.
Measuring a bootcamps’ job placement rate is a little tricky, since it’s almost impossible to calculate. Instead, take a look at the testimonials or reviews for the Product Management bootcamp. Do students seem to enjoy the program? Do any students mention job placement after graduation? Where did graduates work after completing their Product Management bootcamp?
The answers to these questions can help you determine how well a Product Management bootcamp can help you achieve your dream job.
2. Student-specific training
Great Product Management bootcamps should help students succeed. When comparing one Product Management bootcamp to another, pay attention to how they customize their programs for students. A “blanket” approach to Product Management, where every student receives the exact same education, isn’t usually the best.
Instead, look for bootcamp options that consider your needs. For example, a Product Management bootcamp might offer remote classes, to allow you to learn from the comfort of your home. Another bootcamp option might offer both live and on-demand classes, allowing you to learn on your own time.
3. Ongoing support
Your preferred Product Management bootcamp should also offer support. The support department helps to answer any questions you might have, while helping you understand your options as a student.
Ongoing support is helpful in a number of ways. For example, some students might have questions about the curriculum. Other students might need more time to complete a particular lesson. Perhaps you have questions about financial aid options, your graduation date or post-graduation career choices. The right support department will be able to provide the answers — and the confidence — you need at every stage of the education process.
To put it another way: look for a Product Management bootcamp that cares as much about your success as you do.
What should I avoid in a Product Management bootcamp?
Many Product Management bootcamps help students learn, succeed and achieve their career goals. In other cases, however, you might come across a Product Management bootcamp that doesn’t impress you.
In particular, try to avoid Product Management bootcamps with a one-size-fits all program, outdated teaching methods or a large number of negative reviews.
1. Negative reviews
While one negative review isn’t overly concerning, try to stay away from Product Management bootcamp with a large number of negative reviews. Repetitive, negative reviews indicate that a particular Product Management bootcamp isn't going to help you succeed.
Be sure to read through reviews to learn more about the program. If the reviews are negative, it’;s important to learn why learners disliked the program. Did the bootcamp make promises it couldn't keep? Were lessons too difficult, or too easy? Were educators difficult to understand?
The more you read reviews, the more you’ll learn about different Product Management bootcamp programs. Reading reviews — positive or negative — is also a great way to identify which features of a Product Management bootcamp you prefer.
2. One-size-fits-all programs
When a Product Management bootcamp offers the exact same education to every student, it doesn’t usually succeed. By contrast, the best Product Management bootcamps usually offer different learning options — allowing you to choose your education pace and style.
The Product Management bootcamp you choose should satisfy your needs. If it doesn’t, it won’t really be able to help you succeed. Even if you graduate from that program, you likely won’t learn enough to become a useful Product Management professional.
3. Outdated training methods
Different Product Management bootcamps will use different training methods. For example, some bootcamps might record video lessons, and make the recordings available whenever students want to view them. Other Product Management bootcamp providers might use a more of a traditional approach, educating students through a combination of written lessons, exams and other assignments.
Look for Product Management bootcamps that regularly update their training methods. Feel free to ask the bootcamp’s support department for updates on the curriculum. For example, you might ask when on-demand videos were last updated — or when teachers last refreshed their lessons.
If the bootcamp uses more traditional, text-based learning, look to see when textbooks were written or when websites were updated. If a Product Management bootcamp is using outdated teaching methods, you can’t trust that their curriculums will actually help you succeed.
Should I take a Product Management bootcamp?
Whether you’re a student or a working professional, a Product Management bootcamp can help you improve your skills in weeks. Without a four-year university degree — or college debt — you can develop basic skills that help you succeed in the Product Management field.
If you prefer to earn a university diploma, or you want to learn in-person, a Product Management bootcamp likely isn’t the right choice for you.
However, if you’re the type of person who wants to take their career into their own hands, you can’t do better than a Product Management bootcamp. You’ll learn how to build product prototypes, create feedback loops and work with engineers to make your product dreams a reality — all in a cost-friendly bootcamp format with multiple payment options.
At Pace, your future career is our #1 priority. That’s why our Product Management Bootcamp is 14 weeks of inspiring education, taught by the world’s best Product Management experts. In less than four months, you’ll have the tools, the training and the confidence you need to land a rewarding Product Management position.
We’ll even help you qualify for access to our Tech Fellowship Program (TFP), where you’ll learn and earn as a fellow to an industry-leading employer.
Connect with our Admissions team to speak with a live Admissions Advisor, to start your Product Management career today.