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How to Become a Technology-Literate Product Manager?

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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.

Paweł Huryn
Nov 26, 2022
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How to Become a Technology-Literate Product Manager?

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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

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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

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How to Become a Technology-Literate Product Manager?

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How to Become a Technology-Literate Product Manager?

huryn.substack.com
Asher Kaplan-Dailey
Dec 5, 2022Liked by Paweł Huryn

Great post Pawel. Just a heads up, the link for the WebService vs. API - hubspot article is missing the "i" in "API" at the end of the URL.

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

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