How to Become a Product Manager?: Role and Responsibilities
Product managers are in greater demand as more businesses adopt a product-centric approach and adopt new technologies. Software companies, consultancies, start-ups, and other firms hire product management professionals actively to promote innovative solutions to upgrade existing product lines and ideate new ones. It is a lucrative industry to work in if you have the specialization, skills, and knowledge.
If you are an organized, detail-oriented, and tech-savvy individual, applying for a product management job is a great career option. It’s a well-paying job. You just need to know the essentials of how to become a successful product manager. Read on to learn the qualifications, skills, responsibilities, and career ladder of a product manager.
Who Is a Product Manager?
A product manager is a central figure who is responsible for the ideation, making, and launch of the product or service. As a liaison between the company’s vision and customers, they work particularly on user design, technical support, marketing, analysis of customer feedback and preferences, and sales. They understand the technical know-how of every product development and management mechanism.
In short, a product manager is someone who leads the production process and makes and offers customer-centric products or services, thereby enabling the business to meet its goals and make profits.
Steps to Become a Product Manager
Becoming a product manager requires a strong foundation in business and technology. Taking an online product management course with placement can equip you with the skills to start your career in this field. Further, here are more details about the educational qualifications and skills required to start your career as a product manager.
1. Education
The following are certain necessary educational qualifications to become eligible to apply for product management jobs:
- A candidate should preferably have studied commerce-related subjects (including economics) in high school.
- A candidate should have a bachelor’s degree in business administration or any other related field, such as marketing, business management, economics, advertising, statistics, and so on.
- A candidate with a graduate degree in B.Tech, B.A., or B.Com can also enter the product management field.
- Post-graduate in the business administration field is a plus.
2. Skills
A product manager must have both technical and soft skills. Let us discuss the essential skills required to be a successful product manager:
i. Technical Skills
A product manager must have the technical know-how of all the processes involved, from research to product building to marketing. For this purpose, they should have proficiency in:
- Performing A/B Testing: It is an important tool for product managers because it allows them to measure the performance of their products and make data-driven decisions. This type of testing helps measure the effectiveness of different features and design elements, identify user preferences, and optimize the product experience.
- Software Development Methodology: Product managers should know software development methodologies to be able to manage and coordinate the development process of a product effectively. They need to understand the different stages of development, the benefits and drawbacks of different approaches, and the technical challenges that need to be addressed.
- Knowledge of Data Analysis and Product Metrics: This can provide insights into user behavior, customer feedback, and market trends, helping product managers better understand the needs of their customers and deliver the right product to the right market.
- Familiarity with MS Excel and Jira Software: This technical skill is the most basic requirement because it helps to easily analyze, interpret data, and assign tasks related to the project. This data can then be used to make informed decisions about product strategies, development plans, etc.
ii. Soft Skills
Here are a few soft skills that a product manager should possess:
- Communication Skills: They should have excellent communication skills to effectively communicate the vision and plan to the product management team and other stakeholders.
- Leadership Skills: They should possess the ability to lead and motivate the team to work together to bring the product to life.
- Problem-Solving Skills: A product manager requires problem-solving skills to develop creative solutions and move the product development process forward.
- Negotiation Skills: They should possess the ability to secure resources and stakeholder alignment for product creation.
- Strategic Thinking: They should have the ability to think strategically to create a product roadmap that aligns with the company’s goals.
Product Manager’s Roles & Responsibilities
Before you apply for product manager jobs, you should be familiar with the responsibilities that come with the position. It is crucial that you read the product manager job description carefully to understand the core duties of the role. Here are some of the important responsibilities of a product manager.
1. Ideate & Design an Effective Product
Product managers prioritize user research to guide the ideation process. This ensures that products and services directly address customer demands, increasing the likelihood of successful product development. Furthermore, product managers conduct market research to confirm the product’s suitability for the target audience and ensure competitive pricing.
2. Conduct Market Analysis & Develop a Competitive Strategy
The product manager needs to identify, understand, and analyze the current competition to assess the product’s positioning in the market. This information can then be used to develop a competitive strategy that will help the enterprise stand out in the market.
3. Translate Business Goals into Successful Outcomes
A product manager’s responsibility for translating business goals to market requirements involves analyzing the business’s objectives and determining how they can be best achieved in the market. This involves analyzing customer needs and preferences, understanding the competition, and developing strategies to create a successful product that meets customer demands.
The product manager must also develop a marketing plan to ensure the product is well-promoted in the market and make strategies to ensure the product is profitable.
Salary Trends in the Product Management Domain
Here is a list of product manager salary figures based on the career experience levels:
| Level | Position | Years of Experience | Average Annual Salary (lakh per annum) |
| Level 1 | Associate Product Manager | 0-1 year | ₹7- 15 LPA |
| Level 2 | Product Manager | 2-3 years | ₹18+ LPA |
| Level 3 | Senior Product Manager | 5+ years | ₹25+ LPA |
| Level 4 | Director of PM | 10+ years | ₹30+ LPA |
| Level 5 | VP of Product | 12+ years | ₹35+ LPA |
| Level 6 | Chief Product Officer | 15+ years | ₹40+ LPA |
Conclusion
In this blog, we have learned how to become a product manager, diving into the details of the role, the responsibilities, skills, qualifications, and career opportunities. It is a good career option if you are interested in combining business acumen with technology. Furthermore, the demand for skilled product managers is high, making it a secure and rewarding career path.
To become a product manager, you will need a combination of technical, business, and communication skills. A degree in engineering, computer science, or business management is usually preferred, but a degree in a related field such as economics or marketing can also be beneficial.
An MBA is not required to become a product manager. However, it can be beneficial for further promotion and career development.
It can be challenging to get into product management. However, it is possible with the right skills and knowledge. You can pursue a product management course to learn the technical aspects of product management. Develop a strong understanding of the industry by reading industry-relevant news and attending networking events.
While a fresher can become a product manager, they would have to demonstrate strong technical and managerial skills to get the job.
Shifting to a career in product management may require specialized knowledge and experience. You may need to gain experience in software development, user experience design, marketing, or data analysis. It may also be beneficial to obtain an MBA or other advanced degree in business or technology.
The minimum average salary of a product manager in India is ₹15 lakh per annum.
