Best Resources for Associate Product Managers

Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise, stay updated with industry trends, or find practical tools to enhance your workflow, the right resources are essential for continuous growth and success.

This guide will introduce you to the best resources available for associate product managers, providing you with a curated selection of valuable materials to enhance your skills and knowledge.

Let’s get started!

TL;DR

- This is an entry-level position for individuals starting their journey in product management, handling smaller projects or contributing to larger ones under experienced product managers.
- An associate product manager focuses on understanding customer needs, analyzing market trends, and aiding in developing and improving product features. They collaborate with various teams, create user stories, and ensure product features align with user expectations and business goals.
- To excel, leverage resources like books (e.g., “Inspired: How To Create Products Customers Love”), webinars (Userpilot Webinar Series on Product Management), blogs (Userpilot Blog, Mind the Product), podcasts (“This is Product Management”), and certifications (AIPMM Certified Product Manager®, Certified Product Manager (CPM)).
- Essential tools for associate product managers include Userpilot for user product management, Monday for project management, Zendesk for CX, etc.
- Looking to kickstart your product management journey? Consider Userpilot for its product analytics and user engagement features. Book a demo today!

What is an associate product manager?

An associate product manager, or a junior product manager, is an entry-level position for people who are starting out in product management.

What does an associate product manager do?

Associate Product Managers (APMs) handle smaller projects or contribute to larger ones, working under experienced product managers.

They focus on understanding customer needs, analyzing market trends, and aiding in developing and improving product features.

Their responsibilities include collaborating with engineering, design, and marketing teams, creating user stories, and ensuring product features align with user expectations and business goals.

APMs also track and report on product performance, providing insights into successes and areas for improvement.

Associate product manager’s main responsibilities

As an Associate Product Manager, you play a crucial role in the product lifecycle. Here’s a breakdown of your core responsibilities:

Product Strategy Development: Assist in crafting and executing product strategies aligned with company goals and market needs. Read more on product strategy.
Market Research and Analysis: Conduct thorough market research to identify opportunities, customer needs, and competitor activities. Learn how to conduct effective market research.
Feature Prioritization: Collaborate with senior product managers to prioritize product features and backlog items based on customer feedback and business value. Discover best practices in feature prioritization.
Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with engineering, design, and marketing teams to ensure seamless product development and launch processes. Check out strategies for effective collaboration.
Customer Feedback Integration: Gather and analyze customer feedback to inform product improvements and new feature development. Explore methods for integrating customer feedback.
Product Roadmap Management: Help create and maintain a detailed product roadmap that aligns with the strategic vision and market demands. Learn more about product roadmapping.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Use analytics tools to track product performance and user engagement and identify areas for improvement. Leverage insights from data analytics.
User Experience Optimization: Collaborate with UX/UI designers to ensure the product offers an intuitive and engaging user experience and gain insights into user experience optimization.
Stakeholder Communication: Regularly update stakeholders on product progress, challenges, and future plans to ensure alignment and support. Learn effective stakeholder communication techniques.

Below, we have compiled a comprehensive list of books, webinars, podcasts, and blogs specifically tailored to enhance the knowledge and skills of Associate Product Managers.

Best books for associate product managers

Starting a career in product management can be daunting, but having the right resources can make a world of difference. These books offer valuable guidance, frameworks, and real-world examples to help aspiring product managers build a strong foundation:

“Inspired: How To Create Products Customers Love” by Marty Cagan: Practical insights on building successful products by understanding customer needs.
“Lean Product and Lean Analytics” by Ben Yoskovitz and Alistair Croll: A guide to using data for informed product decisions.
“The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries: Lean methodology principles for product management.
“Cracking the PM Interview” by Gayle Laakmann McDowell and Jackie Bavaro: Advice on landing a product management role.
“Product Management in Practice” by Matt LeMay: Practical advice on the daily responsibilities of a product manager.

Best webinars for associate product managers

Webinars provide an engaging and convenient way to learn from industry experts and stay up-to-date on the latest product management trends and techniques. Here are some of the best webinars tailored for associate product managers:

Userpilot Webinar Series on Product Management: Industry expert-led webinars on product management.
“Building Better Products” by Product School: Best practices in product management from experts.
“Mastering Product Roadmaps” by Mind the Product: Strategies for effective product roadmaps.
“Product Analytics for Better Decisions” by Mixpanel: Effective use of product analytics tools.
“Product-Led Growth Strategies” by Userpilot: Webinars on driving growth through product-led strategies.

Best blogs for associate product managers

Blogs offer a wealth of information, from how-to guides to opinion pieces and industry news. These blogs are a great resource for associate product managers seeking to expand their knowledge and stay informed:

Userpilot Blog: Articles on user experience and product management best practices.
Mind the Product Blog: Insights, tips, and trends in product management.
Product Talk by Teresa Torres: Advice on continuous discovery and customer insights.
Product Coalition: Community-driven blog with articles on all aspects of product management.
Roman Pichler’s Blog: Insights and advice from a leading product management expert.

Best podcasts for associate product managers

Podcasts are a fantastic way to learn while on the go, offering a wealth of knowledge and insights from experienced product professionals. Here are some of the best podcasts for associate product managers:

“This is Product Management”: Interviews with product managers and industry leaders.
“The Product Podcast” by Product School: Insights from top product managers and entrepreneurs.
Userpilot’s “Product-Led Growth” Podcast: Episodes on creating customer-centric products.
“The Product Experience”: Stories and tips from product management professionals.
“Rocketship.fm”: Insights on startups, product management, and growth strategies.

Best certifications for associate product managers

Earning a product management certification can validate your knowledge, enhance your skills, and give you an advantage in the job market. However, when choosing which certification to pursue, consider your current experience level and career goals.

Here’s a curated list of top certifications to consider for product managers:

AIPMM Certified Product Manager®: Offered by the Association of International Product Marketing and Management (AIPMM), this certification validates a candidate’s core product management knowledge and skills. The program covers areas like product strategy, market research, product development, product launch, and product lifecycle management.
Certified Product Manager (CPM): Bestowed by the Product Management Institute (PMI), this industry-recognized certification validates a candidate’s core product management competencies across the entire product lifecycle. It covers topics like product strategy, user experience, market analysis, and go-to-market planning.
Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO): Offered by Scrum.org, this certification focuses on the role of a product owner within the Scrum framework, a popular Agile methodology for product development. The PSPO curriculum delves into product backlog management, user story creation, sprint planning and retrospectives, and effectively collaborating with Scrum development teams.
Certified SAFe® 5 Product Owner/Product Manager (PO/PM): This certification, offered by Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), caters to product managers and owners working within the SAFe enterprise framework for large-scale product development. The curriculum covers topics like SAFe principles, product vision and backlog management, continuous delivery value streams, and navigating dependencies across multiple teams.
New Product Development Professional (NPDP) by PDMA: This certification is geared towards professionals who want to develop and launch new products successfully. The Product Development and Management Association (PDMA) offers this certification, and it covers the entire new product development process, from ideation and concept development to product launch and post-launch review.
Product Management with Lean, Agile, and System Design Thinking by EdX and Boston University: This MicroMasters program provides a well-rounded introduction to product management through the lens of Lean, Agile, and Design Thinking methodologies. You’ll gain a strong foundation in product strategy, user research, product development, and product launch. This program is a great option for those who want to earn a recognized credential while learning from a prestigious university. EdX offers this program in collaboration with Boston University.

Best tools for associate product managers

Leveraging the right tools is essential to excel as an Associate Product Manager. Here are some top tools tailored to your needs:

Best tool for user product management – Userpilot: Enables you to track product usage, analyze user behavior, collect user feedback, and create data-driven in-app experiences.
Best tool for project management – Monday: Facilitates task organization, progress tracking, and timely project delivery, ensuring seamless collaboration.
Best tool for CX – Zendesk: It provides robust support and feedback management features, helping you address customer concerns promptly and enhance satisfaction.
Best tool for customer success – ClientSuccess: It tracks customer health metrics and engagement, helping you proactively improve customer retention.
Best tool for UX/UI design – Figma: Allows collaborative design and prototyping, ensuring intuitive and user-friendly interfaces.
Best tool for data analytics – Tableau: It offers powerful visualization and analysis capabilities, enabling you to derive actionable insights from data.
Best tool for collaborative documentation – Confluence: It enhances team collaboration and knowledge sharing, keeping everyone aligned on strategies and updates.

Conclusion

Professional growth is a continuous journey, and investing in your development is key to staying competitive in the field.

We hope this guide has equipped you with the tools and knowledge needed to excel in your role.

Looking into tools for associate product managers? Userpilot is an all-in-one product platform with engagement features and powerful analytics capabilities. Book a demo to see it in action!

Best Resources for Associate Product Managers

TL;DR

Product Teams Can Use Userpilot to:

What is an associate product manager?

What does an associate product manager do?

Associate product manager’s main responsibilities