Hey all,
Thanks for commenting on my LinkedIn post about Google’s APM program (or already being a subscriber!).
I wanted to let you know that full-time APM applications are now open here; the form closes on September 18th. (The page says it’s only for current students, but you can still apply if you’re a few years out of college.)
Below, I’ll share some details about the program, my thoughts, suggested readings, FAQs, and other key links. Feel free to forward this along to any friends who are interested in Google APM (or any PM program, really).
At the Google office in Singapore
My thoughts on the program
Google APM, the original rotational PM program, is a two-year program; you’ll spend one year on each of two teams across the company. The first rotation is assigned, while you get free rein to pick the second (it’s a very rare privilege!). The program encourages you to try two vastly different spheres, including those vastly outside your comfort zone: my first role was a standard consumer-tech gig on Search, while my second was in hardware — something I’d never touched before and never thought I’d work on.
(Another perk of choosing your 2nd role is that you can freely enter pretty much any part of the company, even those that would normally require a lot of industry experience; hardware and Cloud are the top examples. Plus, you can choose to transfer to NYC, Tokyo, London, Zurich, and other spots around the globe.)
Between your two years, you’ll go globetrotting to four tech hubs around the world to learn about the tech industry, culture, startups, and people of these cities. In my year, for instance, we learned about the Japanese tech market (and why startups are so hard to do there) in Tokyo; explored the Taiwanese hardware and semiconductor industries in Taipei; dug into emerging markets in Singapore; and learned about the EU’s tech regulation in Berlin. Getting wined-and-dined by VPs, getting tickets to the top museums and parks, and meeting startup CEOs never gets old either.
A panoramic view of Singapore from the APM trip
There are also two mini-trips, where you’ll visit an American city to learn about a specific sector of tech: video games in LA, biotech in Boston, civic tech in DC, etc.
Finally, there’s the mentorship: you’re assigned an “APM buddy” in the year above you, a veteran PM as your advisor, and a free career coach (they only work with VPs and APMs). The resources you get a truly incredible.
Suggested readings
If I’ve sold you on the job, here are some books you should check out to help you ace your interviews:
Cracking the PM Interview and Decode and Conquer — pretty much standard reading for any PM interviewee.
In the Plex — an informative sweep of Google’s history; it’s a great way to learn about Google culture too.
Swipe to Unlock — case studies and business strategy insights to help you craft great interview answers (and yes, I wrote it).
For strategies to craft a resume, land the interview, and crack important PM interview question types, I recommend the Product Alliance’s trio of interview prep courses. The three-course bundle is 55% off as of the time of writing.
Key links
Learn more about the program (this is the homepage for the program; I have no idea why the application isn’t linked from there)
Types of questions Google asks (from an official Google resource, so read it closely)
A video course with strategy guides for Google PM interviews
FAQs
I have a whole FAQ page, but I wanted to quickly answer the three questions I get the most about the APM program:
Can I apply if I’m a recent grad? I don’t know the official policy, but I think you can apply with up to a few years of industry experience.
Can I apply if I didn’t major in computer science? Yes — I have friends in the program who majored in EE, psychology, and business. You just need to prove that you have a strong technical background.
Can I apply if I’m not a US citizen? I have APM friends from Europe, India, China, and other places, so it’s definitely possible. Again, I don’t know the official policy, so ask a recruiter.
In closing…
I hope this has been useful as you start your APM journey. Feel free to forward it along to your friends.
Remember that the full-time application closes on September 18th. The internship application opens shortly thereafter — stay tuned and I’ll let you know once it’s open. I’ll also send new PM resources along via this Substack. If you haven’t already, subscribe to get these updates:
Best of luck!
Neel
P.S. If you’re new to this newsletter, you might like the list of 140+ PM and business jobs at tech companies that I shared earlier.