# Cracking the PM Interview  ## Metadata - Author: [[Gayle Laakmann McDowell, Jackie Bavaro]] - Full Title: Cracking the PM Interview - Category: #books ## Highlights - Product managers are responsible for identifying problems and opportunities, picking which ones to go after, and then making sure the team comes up with great solutions, either by thinking of the solution themselves or by working with the designers and engineers. ([Location 377](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00ISYMUR6&location=377)) - college. They’ve found that passion, intellect, a strong customer focus, and lots of energy can be a winning combination for great PMs. ([Location 391](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00ISYMUR6&location=391)) - Writing a spec is a technique for communicating and moving the project along, but the spec doesn’t have intrinsic value. ([Location 396](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00ISYMUR6&location=396)) - PMs do need to meet with the key stakeholders and understand their opinions and priorities, but then they synthesize those perspectives, lay out the tradeoffs, and come up with a recommendation that will satisfy all of the stakeholders. ([Location 402](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00ISYMUR6&location=402)) - Tags: [[favorite]] - Product managers look beyond what customers say to see the hidden needs and deeper goals. ([Location 408](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00ISYMUR6&location=408)) - PMs influence without authority, building up credibility with the team, communicating clearly, gathering data and research, and being persuasive to lead the team. ([Location 423](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00ISYMUR6&location=423)) - PMs need to understand those choices and the impact they have on the overall experience. ([Location 427](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00ISYMUR6&location=427)) - As a PM, it’s important to take broad ideas and make them tangible and actionable. ([Location 431](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00ISYMUR6&location=431)) - Tags: [[favorite]] - Product managers need to think about the corner cases and figure out all of the little steps that need to happen to make an idea a reality. ([Location 432](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00ISYMUR6&location=432)) - Tags: [[favorite]] - If there’s work that no one wants to do, you need to find a way to get it done, even if that means doing it yourself. ([Location 438](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B00ISYMUR6&location=438))