Seeking Product Management Careers

This is a recording and material from a 1-hour workshop hosted for aspiring product managers seeking a career in product management.

The content is organized around the following principles:

1. Craft > Title

Rather than seek a specific role or title, it is often relevant to understand the outcomes and areas of impact in the context of the organization you want to work for.

2. Product Management is Messy For a Reason

The product manager role is nebulous because of the fallacy to equate title (product manager) with discipline (product management). The former is born when the latter ceases to be a shared responsibility. A product manager should preferably adopt an "either help or do no harm" approach.

3. The "Why" Matters Before "How"

One approach to finding tactical direction in a product management role is to organize the impact of your role in terms of seeking answers to these two questions

Are we building the right product? 

Are we building the product right?

4. There Are No Gospels

As a product manager in the making, grow a healthy skepticism to "best practices", including the contents of this workshop. A lot of what you will read in this document is based on patterns that work in most contexts. There is always an exception to everything.

Contents:

Based on a survey seeking questions from candidates, the material includes discussion on the following topics:

• What is the absolute nitty-gritty of product management?
• Which skills are required for a product management career?
• How to begin a career in product management?
• How can I leverage my existing experience to become a product manager?
• How does one get into product management without prior work experience?

• 10 technology topics every PM should have a working understanding of
• 10 design topics every PM should have a working understanding of
• References for online PM communities
• References for how to approach interview process to explore a fit