Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Product Managers
While junior product manager roles exist, Addy, a Head of Product, suggests a different entry path for undergraduates; gaining experience in operations, customer service, engineering, or design first allows one to approach product management "in a much more holistic way," bringing valuable skills and perspective to the role.
Product Management, Operations, Customer Service, Engineering, Design
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Addy Spiller
Head of Product
Independent Consultant
UC Berkeley
MBA from NYU Stern School of Business
Economics
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing), Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Scholarship Recipient
Video Highlights
1. Gain experience in related fields like operations, customer service, engineering, or design before directly applying for product management roles.
2. Understanding a specific industry or business beforehand provides a more holistic approach to product management.
3. Bringing diverse experience to the table makes you a more valuable asset to a product management team.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
There are probably plenty of junior product manager roles out there, and you can find them anywhere. But candidly, I'd say do something else first.
I've worked with amazing product managers who were in operations or customer service roles, and incredible PMs with backgrounds in engineering or design. So if you're eager or curious about being a product manager, learn a little bit about an industry or business first.
You'll not only approach product management in a more holistic way, but you'll also bring a lot more to your team and to the table.