What do you do if you're an entry-level Product Manager seeking growth opportunities?

- Continuous Learning about the product management tools and methodologies (you can check them online). Tools are built based on defined processes so being familiar with a tool will help you understand the product management process better as well as the product lifecycle. - Take on challenges, and go ahead for challenging projects whenever you have the chance. This will make you more expert and bring more fun to your daily work.

- Own key projects: Actively take on projects with measurable impact to demonstrate initiative and leadership. - Seek varied experience: Get involved in collaborating with design, engineering, and marketing teams to broaden your understanding of the product journey. - Commit to learning: Ongoing investment in yourself through webinars, certifications, and communities related to product management is important. - Seek out mentoring: Connect with seasoned PMs to help with guidance, career advice, and feedback. - Be an advocate for user needs: Advocate for user insights and ensure user needs impact product decisions, further demonstrating your value and commitment to user-growth strategies.

As an entry-level Product Manager, He should be dedicated to seizing growth opportunities through continuous learning, cross-functional collaboration, and data-driven decision-making. Also, he takes ownership of his projects, seeks mentorship, and aims to demonstrate tangible impact through setting clear goals and delivering results. By embracing these principles, He can commit to advancing his career and contributing to organisational success.

The question of what constitutes the basics needs to not only include product management methods and tools but also commercial or financial awareness, stakeholder engagement across the business and development some domain knowledge to better work with product engineering teams.

They say, "A strong foundation is a stepping stone to success." Investing time to learn the basics, especially the concepts of UX and software Development that the stakeholders you work with will employ to build products, will help a lot. You'll have a common language to communicate. Trust me, this will unblock many negotiations that a seasoned PM will face daily. By definition, PMs are jacks of all trades. In the product lifecycle, pick the phase your background most closely relates to and master it with iterations. Mastering one of these trades will help gain confidence and narrow the scope of learning in these initial stages. Prioritization is our bread & butter. Don't hold back and get your hands dirty. It's okay to fail.

Seek mentorship within Product Management and other related functions such as sales, marketing, digital marketing, Engineering, SIOP, etc. Look for mentors who you would aspire to be - their energy should match yours for a successful partnership. Setup meeting cadence that works for both and prepare well for most effective use of time.

Connect with like minded Product folk eg on Linkedin Join product groups Attend product events The more you network and connect the more you learn

Product leadership isn’t just about managing products; it’s about continually evolving as a professional. One of the most effective ways to catalyze this growth is through mentorship. If you’re aspiring to expand your capabilities in product management, I encourage you to seek out mentors who resonate with your career goals. Whether your focus is on refining technical skills or advancing your strategic and leadership capabilities, the right mentor can provide invaluable insights and open doors to new opportunities. When approaching potential mentors, ensure clarity about your objectives and what you bring to the table. Remember, a successful mentorship relationship is built on mutual respect and learning.

Seek mentorship for professional advancement. Find experienced Product Managers who can offer guidance, feedback, and career advice. Mentors aid in navigating the role's complexities, sharing industry best practices, and pinpointing areas for growth. They also expand networks and uncover new opportunities.

Find a Mentor to Supercharge Your Growth Don't underestimate the power of mentorship! Seek out experienced product managers (PMs) within your company or network. These mentors can be your secret weapon for growth. They'll provide guidance, feedback, and career advice to help you navigate the complexities of the PM role. Think of them as your PM gurus, offering insights into industry best practices and pinpointing areas where you can shine even brighter. But the benefits go beyond just honing your skills. Mentors can also connect you with valuable contacts, expanding your network and potentially opening doors to exciting new opportunities. So, take the initiative and find a mentor who can truly elevate your product management journey.

Being able to work well with tech team is a crucial skill for product managers. Get basic understanding of the tech stack and architecture of the product you are managing would help you to progress in the career of product management. Stay updated on how to effectively measure product success, and explore how data and AI can help you to better understand user behavior, these are “new” skills that are crucial for product managers to pick up to make you a more all-rounded contributor to your team.

I propose categorizing skill sets to help prioritize your development: (1) technology (software stack or hardware design) (2) domain expertise in specific industry verticals, e.g. FinTech, (3) business function (finance, marketing, sales, even UX design), and finally (4) core Product Mgmt - product requirements, VOC interviews, competitive intelligence, prioritizing features and product roadmap, business cases, etc. Master (4) first, as that’s where you will add the most value. Find colleagues who can complement your weaknesses across the other three so you are effective at your position. Then over time you can pick one category to focus and develop your differentiating strength, and that can become what you are known for.

As Product Management is becoming a highly competitive space, it’s getting more & more difficult to break in. My suggestion would be a simple 3 step process- 1. Draw a learning path for you. Google it or Talk to some experienced PM & see what topics should you know before diving into PM role. And then find the best quality resource for that topic & go through the same. Eg-Product School has an great repository. 2. ⁠Spend time in doing mocks, dissect multiple popular products in your own way & keep it in your portfolio as a way to showcase your work. Do Product tear down, write PRD based on hypothetical case 3. Network as much as you can. Connect with like minded folks & learn from their experience.

At this stage in the career, having diversity in scope and exposure to different challenges and different style of leadership allows an entry level manager to learn quickly, and be immersed in a range of different situations that will put they in a position to learn & do more and therefore increase their chances to be able to grow faster, that will also allow they to have a better view of the areas they will want to continue to build depth of knowledge seeking more experience, mentorship and focus.

Expand your skill set in product management beyond core competencies. Learn UX design principles, delve into data analysis, or enhance technical knowledge to communicate better with developers. Take online courses or certifications related to product management to add value to your expertise. Stay updated on industry trends and technologies to become a more versatile team member.

Product management is a highly competitive field. There's no specific degree, and APM initiatives are limited. As a result, many starters find themselves needing to pave their own path. I personally believe in taking initiative to showcase the value I can bring to a company. This includes working on personal projects, obtaining certifications, and creating an online presence such as a website. While these actions don't guarantee immediate success, they contribute to a cumulative impact over time. Becoming a successful product manager isn't straightforward. It requires a mix of skills, experience, and networking. Demonstrating initiative and tangible contributions consistently boosts one's chances in this competitive field.

Stand out by taking initiative! Volunteer for challenging projects that stretch your skills and show your willingness to go the extra mile. Propose innovative ideas to improve your product or streamline team processes. By demonstrating a proactive, "can-do" attitude and a focus on product success, you'll gain the trust and respect of your colleagues and superiors. This paves the way for exciting growth opportunities within product management.

- Actively seek out additional responsibilities beyond your current role. - Volunteer for cross-functional projects to broaden your skillset. - Take ownership of small projects or tasks to showcase your ability to deliver results. - Seek mentorship from senior product managers or other professionals in your field. - Continuously educate yourself on product management best practices through online courses, books, or workshops. - Network with professionals in your industry to explore potential growth opportunities. - Proactively identify areas for improvement within the product or team and propose solutions.

Actively list your areas of interests and skills, and take on some stretch projects. Ask if you are able to contribute something right off the bat? Once you achieve some wins, express your interest in taking on additional responsibilities, seek out collaborators outside of your immediate area of skills - perhaps engineering, marketing or GTM. Take notes on the challenges or lessons you encounter, reflect on them, plan for any areas of future growth & development. Most growth comes from going beyond the comfort zone first. All companies exist to solve the problems for their product users and customers. Employees are looking for the right tools & skills to do that. What can you help solve or improve? You grow when the company grows.

Taking initiative is great but communicating the vision and bringing people on the journey is what differentiates good product managers

I changed careers and went into Product Management based on my work ethic, my knowledge, and who I know. It is so important to have a great network at your finger tips. The main key is to always love problem solving. If you don’t love problem solving, product management may be a challenge for you. However, do not give up! Product Operations is another area under the product management pillar that is creating a lot of noise and energy right now.

What worked for me is building network through cohort programs and events. - Cohort programs will help you understand the functions, give you a structure and reflect on where you stand. - I still attend events and join product communities to build my network. The network can get you 2 things; Opportunity and Industry updates. - Reflecting on where you stand is also important because that’s the reality you have to accept take your steps. - Find a mentor from your network who can help you with your professional growth.

Building a strong professional network is vital for your growth as an entry-level Product Manager. Attend industry events, join relevant groups, and engage in online forums to connect with peers and leaders. Networking can lead to mentorship, partnerships, and job opportunities, while also keeping you updated on industry trends.

- Attend industry events, conferences, and meetups to connect with professionals in the field. - Engage with online communities and forums relevant to product management. - Seek mentorship from experienced product managers within or outside your organization. - Volunteer for cross-functional projects to broaden your skill set and visibility. - Pursue additional education or certifications in product management or related fields. - Stay updated on industry trends and best practices through continuous learning and reading.

Networking is great because it will give you perspective. Product management is vast: in every domain, sector, form factor, technology/non-technology, and more. I think people build products in their own way and we should learn from others but don't get set in someone else's way: make your own path. My networking is about learning from people smarter than me, but also because they are in different fields or more experienced, I learn more from them than by reading an article or even this post, or by attending a conference.

Most important is to develop mindset where we understand how customer thinks.Its very important to understand the problems faced by customer to design the product or feature accordingly.

One of the things I would recommend and it's more on the prep for PM, is to have a prep partner so there's constant feedback. It will tell you whether you are heading in the right direction or not. It will also keep you motivated to strive for more and learn more.

- Seek feedback from peers, managers, and stakeholders to identify areas for improvement. - Actively participate in cross-functional projects to gain exposure to different aspects of the business. - Engage in continuous learning by attending workshops, webinars, and online courses related to product management. - Network with experienced professionals in the field to gain insights and mentorship. - Take on additional responsibilities or special projects to demonstrate leadership potential. - Stay updated on industry trends and best practices through reading relevant articles and publications. - Set clear goals and track progress regularly to measure growth and identify areas for further development.

Reflection is a map. Just like you need a map / navigator in a city that you don't know. You need time for reflection. Otherwise, you will just get lost in the process. As a result, it feels like you are not making any progress or going towards a wrong direction.

Become a Subject Matter Expert. The role of a product manager is often defined as one in the intersection of Tech, Design (UX) and Users (Community). But that's like saying the Karnataka is something that is surrounded by Maharashtra, Kerala and Goa. Product Managers are subject matter experts of the product and products are solutions to problems. So basically product managers are subject matter (problem/ industry) experts. And the more time you spend understanding the problem and industry, the better you will grow. Context and experience therefore really helps in this field. You level up as a PM when you start focusing more on the problem and industry, beyond frameworks and spreadsheets.

Ongoing learning is a must for beginners, you should have new knowledge everyday to sum up with basic knowledge of different aspects of product management

Why blend in when you can stand out? Identify your niche. Focus on sectors in high-demand like AI, green technology, or fintech. This not only sets you apart, but also greatly enhances your value.

Industry Benchmarking - Stay informed about industry best practices and trends by benchmarking against leading companies. This strategic approach helps you align your strategies with industry standards, giving you a competitive edge and guiding you in the right direction efficiently.

Stay agile, be open to learning, adapting, and seizing new opportunities as they arise, seek feedback from managers and peers, create step by step achievable goals for your career growth.