How to Become a Technology-Literate Product Manager?

Top 6 free tech courses that will help you land a new job (or keep the existing one). Updated: 8/9/2023.

Recently I spoke with a few Product Managers from my network. They do not have a technical background. And they struggle with many technical terms and concepts.

The Product Manager doesn’t have to be a tech expert, but she has to be a technology-literate person.

Here are the top 6 free tech courses that will help you land a new job (or keep the existing one):

1. SQL by SQLBolt

Quickly learn SQL in your browser using a set of interactive lessons and exercises.

Completing this course will help you understand:

• What relational databases are

• How to write SQL queries

• How to filter and sort data

• How to use aggregates

• How to manipulate database rows

Details:

• Price: Free

• Level: Beginner

• Time: 4-8 hours (18 lessons)

• Certificate: No

Course: https://sqlbolt.com/

2. Programming for Everybody by the University of Michigan

This course will help you understand basic concepts.

You will:

• Write your first application in Python

• Understand the basics of Python

• Use variables to store, retrieve and calculate data

• Utilize functions and loops

Details:

• Price: Free

• Level: Beginner

• Time: 19 hours

• Certificate: Yes

Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/python?specialization=python

3. HTML5 & CSS3

Everything you need to know about two pillars of web apps: HTML and CSS.

This course will help you understand:

• How to define the content of web apps

• How to add paragraphs, images, lists

• How to nest elements

• How to change colors, fonts, text size, and borders

Details:

• Price: Free

• Level: Beginner

• Time: 3h 5m video

• Certificate: Paid

Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/master-the-basics-of-html5-css3-beginner-web-development/

4. JavaScript

A short but powerful introductory course.

An experienced developer explains basic concepts like:

• Conditions

• Loops

• Functions

• Objects

• Arrays

Details:

• Price: Free

• Level: Beginner

• Time: 1h 40m video

• Certificate: No

Course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdI2bqOjy3c

5. Algorithms and Data Structures

A fantastic course on Algorithms and Data Structures.

After completing the first part, you will:

• Have an overview of data structures

• Learn terms like list, stack, queue, binary tree, and hash table

• Know algorithms like binary search, quicksort, and mergesort

Details:

• Price: Free

• Level: Beginner (required basic programming skills)

• Time: 5h 37m video

• Certificate: Paid

Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/data-structures-part-1-lognacademy/

6. Generative AI learning path by Google Cloud

An eye-opening course on what AI is. I recommend taking the first seven modules:

1. Introduction to Generative AI

2. Introduction to Large Language Models

3. Introduction to Responsible AI

4. Generative AI Fundamentals

5. Introduction to Image Generation

6. Encoder-Decoder Architecture

7. Attention Mechanism

8. Transformer Models and BERT Model

9. Create Image Captioning Models

10. Introduction to Generative AI Studio

Details:

• Price: Free

• Level: Beginner

• Time: 2 days (realistically)

• Certificate: Free

Course: https://www.cloudskillsboost.google/journeys/118

7. BONUS

Here are a few additional terms every PM should understand:

• XML: https://www.w3schools.com/xml/xml_whatis.asp

• JSON: https://youtu.be/iiADhChRriM

• Webhooks: https://zapier.com/blog/what-are-webhooks + free video course

• Microservices: https://www.atlassian.com/microservices/microservices-architecture/microservices-vs-monolith

• Design Patterns: https://refactoring.guru/design-patterns

• Cloud Computing: https://youtu.be/eZLcyTxi8ZI

• DevOps and CI/CD: https://jfrog.com/devops-tools/what-is-devops/

• WebService vs. API: https://blog.hubspot.com/website/web-services-vs-api

• Business Intelligence: https://youtu.be/l98-BcB3UIE + free certification course

• 25 functional testing types: https://shiftsync.tricentis.com/testing-strategies-methodologies-42/25-functional-testing-types-examples-tips-more-274

• Test Driven Development (TDD): https://www.guru99.com/test-driven-development.html

• YouTube hack: Technologies explained < 100 seconds: https://www.youtube.com/@Fireship/videos