Madhava Narayanan’s Post

🚀 Rising Above Competition: Tips for Aspiring Product Managers 🚀 Tough competition from experienced candidates in your quest for a Product Management role can be a deal breaker. It's a common hurdle, but one you can overcome with the right strategy! 💡 🎯 When applying for PM positions, it's easy to feel overshadowed by candidates with more experience. But remember, experience isn't the only factor that matters! 💡 Here's how to level the playing field and make your mark: ▶ Leverage Your Strengths: Identify what makes you unique. Whether it's your fresh perspective, adaptability, or innovative ideas, make sure to highlight these qualities in your application and interviews. Tell stories that support your strength. ▶ Highlight Transferable Skills: Even if you haven't been a PM before, emphasize the skills you've gained in other roles that are relevant to product management. Think customer success, project management, market research, problem-solving, stakeholder management, communication, and many more. ▶ Demonstrate Passion and Potential: Show your enthusiasm for PM through side projects, volunteer work, or self-learning endeavors. Let your potential shine by conveying your eagerness to learn and contribute while backing it with your other past experiences. ▶ Network Strategically: Expand your network within the PM community to uncover opportunities and gain insights. Connect with professionals in the field to learn from their experiences and stay updated on industry trends. This can be a game changer for you to get your first Product Management break. ✨ Remember, it's not just about experience – it's about what you bring to the table. Stay focused, showcase your strengths, and soon enough, you'll be landing that PM role you've been dreaming of! #ProductManagement #CareerAdvice #Competition #SuccessTips #LevelUp

Is more experience better? One of my coaches recently spoke to a Senior Product Manager with five years of experience in his current role. This product manager had been planning to switch to a new role for the last two years as she did not see many opportunities in her current job. She had been unsuccessful. But then she said, "What if I just get two more years of experience and then try? Now, with seven years of experience, I will surely qualify as a Principal Product Manager, right?" A general belief is that more experience is always better. But is it? My coach made a point: "Look, you have to look at what story you are telling. From your interviewers' perspective, I learned that you started as a Senior Product Manager who has been in their role for five years without a decent promotion or a huge set of accomplishments as you would like. Yet every day, I see candidates who went from Senior Product Manager to Principal in two years or less. How will adding more experience to your current role make you more competitive?" This discussion changed the perspective of this product manager completely. And I hope it changes your perspective, too. Every single day, we see product managers who believe that to land their next dream role, they just have to put in more work - more years of experience, more features, more certificates, and technical degrees. And more work matters. However, what is more important is understanding and shaping the narrative [or the story] you are building around your experience. This story has the power to reframe your experience and tell it so that the hiring manager and stakeholders are inspired. And it has the potential to come across as confused, uninspiring, and downright "not a fit." Don't just get enamored by more experience. Work on shaping the story around it - you will get much further in your career.

When it comes to progressing as a Product Manager, there are three key things that helped me the most.. ✅ Communication --- As a Product Manager, you need to be able to communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders, including developers, designers and executives. Clear communication is critical to ensure everyone is on the same page and moving towards the same goals. ✅ Execution --- It's not enough to simply have great ideas, you need to be able to execute them effectively. This means being able to break down large projects into smaller, more manageable tasks, and then ensuring those tasks are completed on time and to a high standard. ✅ Prioritization --- As a Product Manager, you'll always have more ideas than time or resources to execute them. Being able to prioritize effectively is crucial to ensure you're working on the most important projects and making the biggest impact. These three things have been instrumental in my own career progression, and I believe they're critical skills for any Product Manager looking to succeed. #productmanagement #careers #success

Hi Product Manager, 👋 Your title as a Product Manager isn't just about certifications or years of experience. It's about the unique blend of skills, knowledge, and passion you bring to the table. Imagine this scenario: Two candidates walk into an interview. Candidate A holds all the certifications in the book, but Candidate B boasts years of hands-on experience in product development, customer research, and market analysis. Who do you think would shine brighter? While certifications are valuable and can certainly bolster your resume, they're not the sole determinant of success in the realm of product management. Experience is the real game-changer. It's about the lessons learned from navigating complex projects, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and making strategic decisions that drive product success. Pairing this experience with the right certifications can truly set you apart in a competitive job market. So, Product Managers, I want to hear from you! How has your experience shaped your journey in product management? And for those who pursued certifications, how did they complement your expertise? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Let's celebrate the diverse paths that lead us to success in product management! ✍ #ProductManagers #Techlife #ProductManagement

We get this question quite often - How to switch to a Product Management career? Summarizing the answer in a PPT 🖥️. Hope this helps 🤝 ----------- 👉 Before we get started, ask yourself - Why do you want to become a product manager? 🎯 Switch to product management for right reasons... ➡️ You love solving problems ➡️ You love spotlight  ➡️ You like to be in driving seat ➡️ You like working with data  ➡️ You want to create impact for the company/around  ➡️ You like making decisions ➡️ Higher earning potential in the role 👉 Here are options to switch to a product management career... ➡️ Lateral Movement If you work in a product company, the easiest way to proceed is to showcase your product manager skills ➡️ Start as a Associate Product Manager / Product Specialist Ideal for professionals already working in a product based company ➡️ Join as a domain expert PM If you have an industry specific skill, good chances that you may start as an domain expert PM ➡️ Start UP If you are passionate about solving a problem, you may start a company and manage product. Though it is a riskier and most effort intensive option. Earn Good karma !! Like ❤️ and share 🤝 so that this post can reach others #productmanagement #productmanager #career #PMHelp #PM #job #learning #growth #careergrowth

I frequently get this question asked - How to switch to a Product Management career? I am summarizing my answer in a PPT 🖥️. Hope this helps 🤝 ----------- 👉 Before we get started, ask yourself - Why do you want to become a product manager? 🎯 Switch to product management for right reasons... ➡️ You love solving problems ➡️ You love spotlight  ➡️ You like to be in driving seat ➡️ You like working with data  ➡️ You want to create impact for the company/around  ➡️ You like making decisions ➡️ Higher earning potential in the role 👉 Here are options to switch to a product management career... ➡️ Lateral Movement If you work in a product company, the easiest way to proceed is to showcase your product manager skills ➡️ Start as a Associate Product Manager / Product Specialist Ideal for professionals already working in a product based company ➡️ Join as a domain expert PM If you have an industry specific skill, good chances that you may start as an domain expert PM ➡️ Start UP If you are passionate about solving a problem, you may start a company and manage product. Though it is a riskier and most effort intensive option. Earn Good karma !! Like ❤️ and share 🤝 so that this post can reach others #productmanagement #productmanager #career #PMHelp #PM #job #learning #growth #careergrowth

"What type of product manager do you want to be?" my colleague asked me. Type? I asked looking confused... Are there types? "Yes" she responded Then I went on Google and found out that there are different types of product managers So I did a self-assessment exercise to determine which type would better suit me I identified my skills and strengths. I considered my analytical, creative, and technical skills. Then I matched those skills to a suitable role. I also considered what I'm passionate about, and it guided me toward industries or product types that excite me. The result of the self-assessment exercise helped to shape my product management career decisions and how far I have come. If you're feeling lost in your transition journey, you can start by doing a self assessment exercise. Remember that this is an ongoing process. As you learn more, your preferences may evolve. Don't be afraid to start in a general product manager role and then specialize later. xoxo. #Linkedin100 #Productmanager #productmanagement #evafunsho

The Top 12 Product Manager Skills to Master ✨ Here is a list of the 12 most important skills that a Product Manager should master ✅ - Product Manager Skills for Resume: What Employers Seek https://lnkd.in/g9numGhk - Skills Required For A Product Manager: Unveiling Core Competencies https://lnkd.in/giRbkv4x --------------------------------------------- Follow The Product Folks for all things Product Management! #productmanagement #productmanager

3 best pieces of advice I’ve received as a Product Manager. 1️⃣ Build Capacity This cannot be overemphasized. To continuously develop your skill set, focus on becoming better at communicating, collaborating, and leading. "The best product managers I know are true students of their craft. They’re constantly learning, iterating, and adapting. They understand that their job is not just about building features but about solving customer problems in a way that works for the business." – Marty Cagan 2️⃣ Listen As you advance in your career, prioritize listening to your team and stakeholders. The feedback you receive can guide your decisions and help when necessary. "As a product manager, you should be the best listener in the company. Your ability to actively listen to customers, stakeholders, and your team is crucial to building products that truly meet user needs and align with business goals." – Ken Norton 3️⃣ Remain Curious Cultivate the habit of being curious.  Adopting curiosity to continuously learn and adapt to the fast-paced changes in technology and market dynamics.  Curiosity fuels the exploration of new ideas and challenges assumptions. "The best product managers I know are intensely curious. They constantly ask 'why?' and 'what if?' This curiosity drives them to dig deeper, understand the root causes, and explore new possibilities that others might overlook." – Brian Balfour What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received? P.S. Are you looking to build a career in product management? Repost and follow me for more insights from my 12+ years of experience. #ProductManagement #ProductManagers #Careeradvice

"How to" content is great. But sometimes you need "How I" advice, too — it can be easier to relate to real-life experiences, especially in the context of career choices. That is why we asked product managers at Aha! to share the most meaningful decisions they ever made. Get their stories: https://bit.ly/4efMotO #ProductManagement #Careers #Hiring