How to Get into Product Management from Experience
My friend once asked me if there is a way to break into product management. As I looked back on my experience, I feel that these are suggestions to those looking to switch to product management.
Understand your why.
There are several reasons why you might want to become a product manager. It could be internal: you really want to get involved in all aspects of product development or you might just like the payroll. Regardless, either or both are fine. However, I really encourage you to enjoy the process. Because if you don’t, you will easily burn out and a burnt-out product manager can’t lead a product
Understand the skills needed to get into product management.
In general, there are 3 skills you need to understand: business, technology, and design. As shown in this picture. I will get into more detail in the next post, but in short, you need to know what skills you have in the 3 categories and at what level.
Know your SWOT and make your learning plan.
Once you know your level, you can determine which skill you are already good at and which one you still need improvement on. This way, you will know your SWOT and you can plan which skill you need to learn right away. My suggestion is that you need to strengthen your strength but you should also better your weakness so that you don’t let other people down
Get involved in a project and learn what is happening in a team
No matter how good you are in theories, it doesn’t matter if you can’t apply them in practice. That also works in product management. Even though you have learnt all the skills needed, most of the time it will be different when you work on it in real life. So get involved and apply your work in real life.
To get experience, there are several things you can do such as volunteering or apply as an intern
Get your referral from a company.
When you think you are ready to step up as a product manager, try to get a referral from your dream company. Many say that referral is necessary to get into a company and it’s true. If you get a referral, you will likely to get a job you want
Apply to your dream company.
When everything is done, all you need to do is just apply to your dream company. Hopefully, with all preparation you do, it will boost all of your likelihood to get accepted
Conclusion
Working as a product manager could be a dream or nightmare come true for you. That is why before applying, you really need to know your why and their day-to-day basis. Once you are really sure, plan and learn all skills necessary. Once you do that, try to get your experience into that. It will also help you see a big picture whether you really want to do it or not. If you still want to do it, try to get a referral before applying. It will help boost your probability of being accepted. With all these preparations, hopefully you will get accepted and start your journey as a product manager
