Are you thinking about pursuing a career as a product manager? In this blog post, we’ll summarise what product managers do, the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, and some helpful resources for learning more. We’ll also discuss the challenges that product managers face and how they solve those problems.
What is a Product Manager?
A product manager is responsible for defining, building, and launching new products or features. This involves working closely with a team of designers, developers, and other stakeholders to identify customer needs and create solutions that meet those needs.
Product managers are strategic thinkers who are able to see the big picture and understand how their products fit into the overall market. They are also strong communicators who can clearly articulate their vision and persuade others to buy into it.
What Skills do Product Managers Need?
Product managers need a variety of skills to be successful in their roles. Some of the most important skills include:
Strategic thinking: Product managers see the big picture and understand how their products fit into the overall market.
Communication: Product managers carefully articulate their vision and persuade others to buy in.
Leadership: Product managers motivate and manage their team to achieve the teams goals.
Problem-solving: Product managers respond to issues that arise during product development by coordinating the team and communicating the plan.
Collaboration: Product managers work effectively with a wide range of people, including designers, developers, executives, sales teams, and more.
Challenges Faced by Product Managers and How to Solve Them
Product managers often face a variety of challenges in their roles. Some of the common challenges include:
Prioritising features: Product managers need to prioritise which features to include in their products, and this can be a difficult decision. To solve this problem, product managers can use a variety of techniques, such as customer research, market analysis, and experimentation.
Balancing stakeholders: Product managers need to balance the needs and interests of a wide range of stakeholders, including customers, users, and the business. To solve this problem, product managers can use communication and collaboration skills to align stakeholders and find solutions that meet everyone’s needs.
Managing resources: Product managers need to manage their team’s time and resources effectively to ensure that their products are delivered on time and on budget. To solve this problem, product managers can use project management tools and techniques, such as agile methodologies, to plan and track progress.
Making tough decisions: Product managers often need to make difficult decisions, such as whether to pivot a product or cut features. To solve this problem, product managers can use their strategic thinking skills to weigh the pros and cons and make the best decision for the product and the business.
Step-by-step guide
1. Learn about the role
The first step to becoming a product manager is to learn more about what the role entails. This will help you understand the skills and knowledge you need to succeed. Some helpful resources include:
The Product Book by Carlos González de Villaumbrosia is a great resource for learning about the role of a product manager and the skills and knowledge you need to succeed.
The Product Manager Interview by Lewis C. Lin is also a helpful guide that provides insights and tips for acing your product manager interviews.
2. Acquire the necessary skills
Once you have a good understanding of the role, the next step is to acquire the skills and knowledge you need to be successful. This may involve taking courses or workshops, reading books and articles, and getting hands-on experience through internships or side projects.
3. Gain relevant experience
To become a product manager, you need to have relevant experience in product development or management. This may involve working in a related field, such as project management or design, or completing internships or side projects where you can apply your product management skills.
4. Network and build connections
Networking and building connections in the product management industry is an important step to finding job opportunities and advancing in your career. This can involve attending conferences and events, joining professional organisations, and connecting with other product managers on social media or online forums.
5. Apply for product manager positions
Once you have the necessary skills and experience, you can start applying for product manager positions. Consider carefully the skills required to be a PM and demonstrate those in your resume and cover letter. Describe your past experiences through the lense of “what problem existing”, “what was my role”, “how did I solve it”, “what was the impact of my solution”.
Pursuing a career as a product manager can be rewarding and challenging. To become a product manager, you need to have the right skills, knowledge, and experience, and be able to overcome the challenges that arise in the role. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can take the first steps towards a successful career as a product manager.