Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Product Managers
For undergraduate students seeking entry-level product management roles, Kanika, a Product Manager at Levi Strauss & Co., recommends exploring "associate product manager roles and rotation programs," such as "RPM and APM programs," which offer a structured path into the field; alternatively, a software engineering role can provide a strong foundation, allowing a transition to product management after gaining product knowledge and demonstrating both "business skills and Engineering skills."
Entry-Level Positions, Product Management, Career Transition, Associate Product Manager Roles, Software Engineering
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kanika Kapoor
Product Manager
Levi Strauss & Co.
Punjab Technical University
UCLA Anderson school of management- MBA
Engineering - Electrical
Apparel, Beauty, Retail & Fashion
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Took Out Loans, Immigrant
Video Highlights
1. Associate Product Manager (APM) roles and rotational programs (RPM) are common entry-level positions for undergraduates.
2. APM/RPM programs often involve working on a product for 10-12 months before moving to a new role, providing valuable experience.
3. A software engineering role can serve as a pathway to product management, allowing for a transition after gaining product knowledge and demonstrating both business and technical skills.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
If you are a STEM candidate, or even if you're not, I highly suggest looking for Associate Product Manager (APM) or Rotation Product Manager (RPM) roles. These are terms widely used for fresh undergrads.
Start applying to companies. I've seen that both Lyft and Instacart have RPM or APM programs. You come in and work on a product for 10 to 12 months, then move on to the next role.
APM is the lowest level you go as a PM. RPMs are still fresh, but they rotate amongst different products within a company, like Facebook or Instagram. I would say that's the easiest way to break into product management right out of school.
Even if you start as a software engineer, that's still a great way to break into product management. If you can show you have both business and engineering skills within your company, you can quickly transition to a PM role after working there for one or two years. Once you know the product well enough, you can transition from an engineer to a PM role.
So, a computer science, engineering, or any STEM degree can help you kick off your career as an APM or a software engineer, and then move into a PM role later.