How to Become a Product Manager

Becoming a Product Manager may seem like a difficult feat. It requires learning myriad skills and methodologies in software, applications, and other digital tools as well as interpersonal skills like effective communication and critical thinking. Before embarking on this career path, you should understand the position deeply and learn the steps to make your professional dreams a reality. This involves taking active measures to learn product management skills, juggling the complexities of the role, and taking a developmental approach to your learning experience. With the right training and a proper mindset, you can grow to thrive as a professional, employed Product Manager.

What is a Product Manager?

A Product Manager handles product development throughout each stage of the product’s creation process, from the initial ideation to finalization. The average Product Manager is responsible for ensuring the project is up to standards for the stakeholders, such as customers, investors, developers, and other executives, but also aligns with the company’s brand identity, meets the user’s needs, and fulfills the purpose of the product. Product Managers are skilled in such a wide variety of skills that all play a crucial role in the product’s success once it hits the market.

These professionals often conduct market research and consumer outreach before planning the products. They will work closely with other professionals, like those employed in engineering, marketing, web development, data analysis, sales, finance, and other teams relevant to the product’s creation and production. Product Managers also work with various software and technologies, which can vary depending on the industry they work in and the product they are creating. They will also utilize Agile methodologies to ensure the product develops with the consumer needs in mind.

Product Managers can typically find positions in any industry, including healthcare, finance, technology, retail, and telecommunications. They are highly useful team players who are both creatively adept and technologically skilled. Despite Product Managers having such a critical role, they can work on-site, remotely, or as freelance professionals, so the role still provides some flexibility to those who prefer a different work style. Overall, this position involves working in an active, ever-changing environment with many other collaborators to end with the best product results.

What Tools Do I Need To Get Started?

Data Analytics and Visualization Tools

As a Product Manager, you may need to learn essential data visualization tools. This helps when gaining insights from consumer interactions and market research in the beginning stages of the product’s creation. You may learn Tableau, Google Analytics, or Microsoft Power BI, some of the most widely used data visualization and analytics tools. In addition, you’ll likely learn how to use Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.

Project Management Software

Additionally, product and project management often go hand-in-hand. It will be useful to learn relevant project management software such as Microsoft Project. This is a powerful tool that helps with scheduling, budgeting, timelines, and different planning elements. In addition, you may use Asana or Trello, which helps with delegating tasks and overseeing project success. You may use Jira if you work as a product or project management specialist in the technology industry, such as in a software development field. Some software, like Asana, is free to use, whereas others like Microsoft Project require a subscription. Regardless, each can be easily downloaded to your laptop or computer.

Web Development and Design Applications

Some Product Managers learn web development and design applications. This may include visual design tools like Sketch, Figma, and Adobe XD, which are useful for collaboration, UX/UI design, prototyping, and creating web and mobile interfaces. Additionally, they may use WordPress to develop and build websites or Git and GitHub to manage the code changes. This will vary depending on the specialization but these are all useful web applications to know as a Product Manager. Adobe applications will require a subscription, but Figma is entirely free to use.

Coding Languages, Frameworks, and Libraries

Although it’s not necessarily required, many Product Managers learn coding languages, especially if they work in a tech-centric field. They will predominately learn the most common and beginner-friendly coding languages, such as Python and SQL. In addition, they’ll often learn JavaScript and HTML & CSS. Particularly, they will use JavaScript as well as its React library and the Bootstrap framework for CSS. Programming skills are useful for a variety of purposes in product management, 

Steps to Become a Product Manager

To start your career as a Product Manager, you’ll need to follow a few key steps. The first step (aside from simply becoming familiar with what a Product Manager is and does) is enrolling in an official training program for product management and the required tools. Classes like certificate classes, bootcamps, and short courses will help prepare a solid base for your product management skills and help you grow as a professional. Training helps you develop more advanced skills once you lay the foundation in the popular tools used in the field.

Moreover, you’ll want a training method that aligns with your goals. If you want to become a Product Manager, you will want an immersive learning experience as opposed to a more hands-off method. You’ll want to explore engaging and in-depth classes that value career development through different hands-on projects and activities. This allows you to more readily transfer your product management skills from the classroom to the workplace.

Lastly, once you have received a comprehensive education in product management, you’ll want to continually develop and build upon your skills. You can do so by continuing to network with peers and others in your community, developing a well-organized and diverse professional portfolio, and continually updating your relevant skills. Not only will doing this solidify your skills and capabilities, but it will show potential employers that you are competent and dedicated.

Product Manager Career Path

The path to becoming a Product Manager typically begins with training in different subjects such as business, marketing, sales, data analysis, and managerial skills. The main responsibility of a Product Manager is to collaborate with others, provide a clear timeline, manage expectations, and ensure a well-developed and effective product. They oversee the entire production and process of developing a product, which means their required skills will vary depending on the type of product or the industry their company resides.

As a Product Manager, you can typically expect to earn a lucrative salary. This will differ depending on seniority, location, experience, and the company, but most reports are anywhere from $75,000 to well into six figures. In addition, Product Managers can find work in virtually any industry related to tech, including finance, healthcare, and retail. Plus, if you live in a rural area, you’ll be happy to know that many Product Managers work remotely or at least in a hybrid setting.

There are also freelance opportunities where Product Managers can work on a contract basis. If you have considered freelancing as a Product Manager, you can work on specific products or just for a set timeframe. In addition, although a degree is useful, you can easily become a Product Manager without a degree. A Product Manager will typically have a varied educational background instead of a degree in one specific field. With this in mind, it is easy to see why the Product Manager career path is so preferred.

Why Become A Product Manager?

Most Product Managers enjoy an ever-evolving environment where the tasks change every day. Typically, they’ll collaborate with others on a team, combine their creative and technical skills in the creation of the product, and solve problems should they arise. Their lifestyle can vary, especially depending on their work style (in-person, remotely, or hybrid) as well as whether they work as freelancers or permanent employees.

As previously mentioned, Product Managers earn a fairly profitable salary. Most importantly, there is plenty of room for growth as a Product Manager, so even if you earn less than expected, you will be able to develop more skills and climb the ranks. Because the role provides so much variety, it’s easier to find your work engaging. Plus, many Product Managers feel proud knowing they were a pivotal part of the creation of many useful, sometimes life-altering, products.

All in all, pursuing a product management career is one that offers personal and professional growth. Because Product Managers have exceedingly strong interpersonal and technological skills, they are well-rounded and practically invaluable to the company. In addition, a successful Product Manager is a strong leader who is not only relied on but respected and trusted. The role can lead to advancements and give you an opportunity to branch off into a different field, which keeps things interesting. Truly, Product Managers have the best of both worlds when it comes to this job position.

Learn the Skills to Become a Product Manager at Noble Desktop

Many Product Managers work in the technology industry, particularly in web and software development. Understanding the basics and beyond of software engineering will be pivotal in ensuring you are a successful Product Manager. You can explore a wide array of classes at Noble Desktop, particularly software engineering courses. For instance, the Software Engineering Certificate teaches both front and back end development with various coding languages, libraries, and frameworks. Students will use HTML & CSS for webpage markups and stylistic elements as well as JavaScript for the webpage layout. In addition, the instructor will guide students through Python development and instruct students on how to query databases with SQL. Through various portfolio projects, you will gain hands-on experience and develop your portfolio, prepare for interviews, and revamp your resume. Certificate courses at Noble Desktop offer students many additional benefits. For instance, in this course, students will receive a free course in either SQL or WordPress as well as a free retake of the certificate course within a year of their original enrollment. Plus, students have their choice of payment plan, can benefit from additional mentoring sessions, and will receive a certificate of completion.

Noble Desktop offers a Project Management Bootcamp where you will learn the practical methods and strategies behind effective project management. This field is incredibly similar to product management but focuses on different aspects of the entire process. Specifically, this bootcamp teaches students the five main phases of any project and how to navigate the complexities of each project. This may include handling timelines and costs, assessing resources, and managing risk. Students will also learn Agile Project Management frameworks like Scrum, Kansan, and Extreme Programming. In this bootcamp, Noble Desktop offers a free retake, class recordings, and setup assistance. In addition, students will receive a certificate to display all their hard work and acquired skills.

Lastly, the Excel for Data Analytics course equips students with essential Excel skills for data analysis. Product Managers often use data analytics skills to determine the next steps in their production process to optimize the workspace and increase efficiency. The instructor will show students how to summarize data with Pivot Tables, use common database functions, apply statistical analysis, and sort through data sets. In addition, they will create basic macros for data analysis and learn tricks to speed up the entire process. Students will benefit greatly from the hands-on instruction, free retakes, class recordings, and certificate of completion included at the end of the course.