What is a Product Manager?
A Product Manager is someone who builds products at a company and manages the process of taking an idea for a product feature to an in-market, sellable product, or a new feature. While a Product Manager may not need to know how to write code, have a quantitative background, or know a lot about data, they understand how to initially build and scale products. Product Management refers to the entire field of building products and encompasses the Product Manager role, among others.
What is the typical background of a Product Manager?
Many Product Managers start out in technical engineering roles and move into Product Management after several years of experience. Some begin in the field immediately after receiving their education. While a degree in Engineering or Computer Science can be helpful, it may not be required for all Product Management roles.
What is the typical skills of a Product Manager?
The ability to map and plan product development: A Product Manager should be experienced in building product roadmaps and strategies that move products forward - whether that's creating an MVP, scaling certain features, or entering new markets.
Excellent project management skills: After developing a product roadmap, Product Managers will need to provide reasonable timelines, and set expectations of when milestones will be achieved. Understanding any potential roadblocks or delays that may occur - and being able to come up with solutions around them - is critical for Product Management organizations.
Excellent cross-functional skills: In order to build a product, a Product Manager cannot act alone - and will need to work with cross-functional teams, such as engineering, sales, marketing and customer success (among others) to bring their product to life.
A robust understanding of their customer: A Product Manager should have in-depth knowledge of their customer (or product's end user) and should be constantly looking for ways to make their product solve their customer's problems. You may hear Product Managers refer to a new product or feature they're building as "sticky" - this means that they want users to enjoy using it, and "stick" to using the product.
Excellent project management skills: After developing a product roadmap, Product Managers will need to provide reasonable timelines, and set expectations of when milestones will be achieved. Understanding any potential roadblocks or delays that may occur - and being able to come up with solutions around them - is critical for Product Management organizations.
Excellent cross-functional skills: In order to build a product, a Product Manager cannot act alone - and will need to work with cross-functional teams, such as engineering, sales, marketing and customer success (among others) to bring their product to life.
A robust understanding of their customer: A Product Manager should have in-depth knowledge of their customer (or product's end user) and should be constantly looking for ways to make their product solve their customer's problems. You may hear Product Managers refer to a new product or feature they're building as "sticky" - this means that they want users to enjoy using it, and "stick" to using the product.
What are some of the typical job titles of a Product Manager?
We recruit for a number of product management, product design, product marketing, and marketing positions, including roles like: