Brief Summary about a PM Job
It is a job like any else, in trends today, may not be tomorrow.
At core, it is about Solving problems, stakeholder handling (better term -> building relationships) and taking ownership.
Supply is way more than demand, but the industry would complain that quality supply is less, as is with every other role. Barriers set by orgs are huge, even if their own PMs are not extra-ordinary. Once you get in, almost all folks do similar things and talk/read similar stuff. Interpersonal skills, behavioural traits will become a differentiator then.
Be conscious of the following:
Entry barrier is higher, post which its all about blending in. Because the entry barrier is high, the effort to cross the entry barrier is the higher than doing good on the job. Thus focus, on crossing the entry barrier.
If you are working hard in your current role, no reason for you to think you won’t be able to do so at a Product Manager role. At the end, you get paid for solving problems. If you are already solving problems in your current role, and taking ownership, you are almost there.
Wherever you work, start assuming if you were a PM, what all things you could do. Start doing some of those things. Start behaving like a PM in terms of problem solving and ownership before you actually become one by title. This may help make your case for internal transition in your org, else, will help during the interview. Some insights/traits to develop here-
High Agency -
Empathy -
Ownership - Easier thought than done in practical. May be uncomfortable, but not skippable if you want a PM role.
If you are a fresher, think about doing stuff which creates a difference to your college/community. Take leadership/ownership and deliver some outcome. Read about the concept of Identity capital. This is created when you have proof of work (and not proof of how well you can think.) Do stuff. Organize events, run communities, try leading an initiative, scale your college clubs, develop your products/websites, do something which shows that you are ready to put in work.
P.S. Most organisations are still figuring out what PMs should do, their interpretation may be different from stuff which got you excited you to become a PM (like readings, hearing folks from larger startups, FAANG etc.). Likely that PMs end up filling any open gaps, so the org/product keeps moving ahead.
Finding a job:
It takes time & persistence. Take ratio of: 50 applications → 5-10 interviews → 1-2 selections.
Assume, you apply today, hear back in a week, then, interview process lasts 10-15 days. So, if you go with one company at a time, almost a month might go before you reach any conclusion. If you are not selected, you wasted your one month on one opportunity. Action point: Apply vigorously. Do not over-rely on anyone, incl. your best friends for referrals. Things may go wrong, and you'd end up wasting time.
There is a third door. This requires proof of work, which grabs attention of your prospective employers. e.g. something like this - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/avkashshah_i-want-to-intern-at-cred-heres-my-application-ugcPost-6806142914800996352-vr4p
This requires creativity, not easy, but may work. We know folks who did a thorough industry analysis, sent the write-ups to relevant folks and secured an interview chance. However, I recommend the former, (50 applications → 5-10 interviews → 1-2 selections.) for consistency.
Title v/s Knowledge
Finding a job vs becoming better at Product: Different ballgames. You can be knowledgable about product, but without hands-on experience you would still be a beginner. If you wait for becoming perfect in your knowledge, jobs will pass you by. The longer it takes to crack that job, fiercer the competition also becomes, and thus, harder it hets. If you hustle for a job and get one, you can continue to learn the remaining stuff on the job.
Now, why is that important? To get into the hustle of cracking that one opportunity. This will require hustle/fight to break into that PM role. It matter less on how expert /knowledgeable you can become at Product right now.
Start behaving like a Product manager before you get that title. If you fantasise advising folks on how to better their product, maybe advise/push yourself first to do all it takes to get a PM role. Consider it like selling your product (i.e. you) to respective customers (i.e. orgs)
Title vs knowledge debate: If you want a PM title, you would have to hustle to find that job. Knowledge never ends, will never be enough. You can acquire PM knowledge without an official PM title, but you would still be a fresher in the space when applying because of lack of hands-on experience. Thus, get your basic concepts right and focus on getting the job, if you long for the PM title. You can learn the rest on your job.
Here's a bunch of resources that may be helpful
Here's a set of PM Exercises (learning material + exercises on the learning material) - https://bit.ly/2LGPnnz
Here are some PM resources you may read. (incl. communities, readings, interview-prep material, folks to follow) https://bit.ly/3qrIaqg
Here's a set of orgs you could write to https://bit.ly/3nUvIhc
Here’s a quick action plan that we suggest, if you do not plan to read ahead.
You should be on a sharp lookout for who is hiring. Be ready with your Resume, cover letter, email body etc. Take 2 days finalise these both and start thinking about where to pitch this. No need to think about becoming a perfect product person before this hustle of finding a PM job. Like any product today wants to grab your attention, figure out how can attract attention to your candidature
Go through the list of orgs shared above- Start writing to PMs in these orgs. Add names of orgs you are aware of and go on a full offensive.
Go through the activity feed in Linkedin profiles/ Slack groups/others. Find out product openings, make connections on Linkedin and check if their org is hiring. If you do not know where this activity is, find out. Let this be a challenge for you.
If you only write to big orgs and do not hear back, do not complaint. If you really want to be a PM, you may have to start with lesser known startups. If you want those big orgs, maybe, be open to other profiles. If you want a PM role in that big company only, good luck!
Attempt PM exercises shared above. Read more exercises from PM School, UX Hack, Product Folks or any other relevant platform
Show your body of work. Continue to develop it, do not wait for perfection, before starting applying.
Action Plan
***(1,2,3 are must do. 4, 5 are optional)
1. [Super IMP] Apply to as many places as you can. It will take time, but be persistent.
Discover opportunities through connections, writing to folks over linkedin or email
Searching on Linkedin for terms “hiring product” or “product associate”/ “APM” etc , which will indicate folks who are working/hiring on these roles.
If you find a Product Associate/APM, these are fresher roles, maybe some of them were freshers like you a year ago. Write to them, ask if there is any opportunity or if they can help you.
LinkedIn networking: When approaching folks, either approach with a well researched, specific thing you need help with. Open ended questions are less likely to get response. However, if you have done thorough homework, and need genuine help at, folks may respond and become connections, which may help you later.
e.g. when approaching folks - do not be like "how to get a Product job. Need your guidance", go with something which shows that you have already put in effort - like "Hey, wanted a quick help from you. I have been trying to apply for orgs which fall in XYZ sector. I am ready my basic concepts, Resume, Cover letter etc., but I am facing it tough to secure interview calls despite multiple applications. Figured out XYZ could be concerns I could address, wanted to check from you as a practitioner, if there is anything I am missing" or "I was reading about UI/UX critiques, and took cuts on XYZ. However, I was wondering how to get it reviewed so I know I am on the right track. I tried posting in XYZ communities, but not much help. I thought I would ask you, how to go about this"
Also read the concept of Weak ties. People like to help, provided you give them enough reason and context.
Check openings on Instahyre, Angel.co, Cutshort, Indeed.co, IIMjobs, Linkedin etc..Try playing around their settings to get more opportunities, e.g. in Instahyre, modify your work experience etc. to see more opportunities.. Try getting in touch with someone from these orgs, so either they can send an internal application link, or provide you an email to send your application to. Applying on Linkedin is less useful, direct email has much more conversion chances. <I know folks who consider LinkedIn Easy Apply or even Instahyre, a no-apply, because rarely is it processed.>
Here are more orgs which have Product Management positions. You can to write to them to check for an opening. Find folks working in these orgs, or visit websites to find their relevant openings. - https://bit.ly/3nUvIhc
If you are an undergrad, try finding internships in the same manner.
Where to apply - There are 40+ sectors in which PM roles would be operational. Most PM jobs for which you’d be eligible are in the startup space. PM job in a startup is like a bet. Taking a bet is always better than taking no bets.
If you have a liking for a particular sector, research all the startups in that sector and apply (e.g. edtech, fintech, ecommerce). If you are unsure, and simply want the PM title to start PM work and grow on job (and transition later), you can apply to any startup which provides some signal of the org being decent - Background of founding team, Some level of VC funding (if VC gave funds, likely the VC sees some merit in the startup, better the VC, better the startup is likely to be), Seniority of PMs working in the org, reviews on Linkedin, Playstore (or other sources). On your first job as a PM, you learn from those who are senior to you in the org. Thus, it becomes somewhat important to look for the relevant signals.
2. [IMP]If you want a PM job, prepare yourself assuming you have an interview tomorrow
Continuously prepare for Product interviews.
Use books like Cracking the PM Interview by Jackie Bavaro, Decode & Conquer, The Product Management Interview by Lewis C. Lin [These have more US context, though, but good for range of questions
Solve questions in the exercises link shared above (https://bit.ly/2LGPnnz).
Quick reference for PM questions - https://www.notion.so/Interviews-Commonly-asked-questions-WIP-523b1b160a934afa8609975ebe1b782f
Also see - https://manassaloi.com/2020/02/01/pm-interview-questions.html
3. [IMP] Make a good resume, cover letter
Make a good resume, draft a good cover letter when sending an email, a good email body & title when reaching out to recruiters/ hiring managers. Also prepare a good Linkedin connect message, so it draws attention and seems genuine.
Sample Resume template here - https://www.overleaf.com/latex/templates/deedy-cv/bjryvfsjdyxz
Resume examples - https://www.beamjobs.com/resumes/product-manager-resume-examples
Also refer to this if you are looking for things to add to resume - https://www.upgrad.com/blog/mba-resume-samples/
4. Find ways to showcase what you know
Write about things you learn as Twitter, Linkedin posts, Medium, Substack articles. These can be your own understanding of existing PM concepts.
Maybe create a portfolio website with no code tools like Umso, Bubble, Wix, Wordpress. (find some good examples here - www.personalwebsites.top). Approach your website like a project you would do in Product role. If you can advise others on what their product websites should be like, you should be good enough to plan one for yourself.
Maybe take on side-projects from existing PMs. You would still get a chance to work with them this way, and learn. When relevant opportunity comes, this relationship will help you.
Be creative in finding more ways than 1,2,3 above.
5. Some projects in case you need something to start with
Practice PM case studies and maintain documentations. PM Case studies can be found at UXHack, PMSchool, Product Folks or other places. Take the problem statement and attempt it as if it was to be sent to any major org
Take up a product and do a critique. Maintain documentation, so it helps later to showcase. e.g. a critique on Swiggy (user flows, personas, problems it solves, UI/UX, revenue model, highlights, weaknesses, suggestions etc.)
If you are a non-tech person and unable to move ahead because of lack of tech background, maybe try hands on - Develop no-code projects, if you are unable to find any one to do a relevant project with you. Check this for resources - https://www.nocode.tech/
Sample projects to develop - Calendar/ Note maker, Flashcards, Expense manager, job board. Your personal website if done well would be a good showcase, anyways.
More examples for inspiration here - https://bubble.io/blog/no-code-app-examples/.
You always learn from creation. It is always better to build something than do nothing.
6. Start behaving like the PM you want to be (/develop PM like qualities), even before you get the title
In whatever work you do right now, try developing the required behavioural traits - Ownership, High Agency, User Empathy etc. Go a mile ahead in these areas. These may help during the interview. In internal transition, this may help.
<When applying outside your current org, there is no escaping 1,2,3 mentioned above.>
Try implementing the PM knowledge you gather.
e.g. Ask right questions from your PMs, give informed opinions to stakeholders, find areas where your project/ product/process could be improved for the end customer, start keeping the user at the centre & learn more about them, what could you do to help them more. Start taking ownership of projects you work on. All this will help during the interview stage.