How to Become a Product Manager

A product manager usually oversees the development and maintenance of a specific item or line that a company offers throughout the entire cycle of its production. As part of a product management team, you will nurture the product through its planning stages and development, ensure that it is properly positioned on the open market, and oversee the manufacturing processes. This position may include planning, marketing, engineering, resource management and even public relations as well.

Things You'll Need

• Business degree, preferably an MBA (Masters in Business Administration) for more high-profile companies

Instructions

Become a Product Manager

1. Complete the necessary education you will need to become a product manager in today's job market. Most companies will require at least a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, while a high-profile company will probably prefer an MBA (Masters of Business Administration).

2. Focus on the type of products that interest you, and pursue a career with a company that manufactures and sells those types of products. Having a natural enthusiasm for a certain product line will certainly give you a creative edge when it comes to marketing and nurturing something through its production cycle.

3. Gain experience in the field by becoming a member of a product management team before moving on to a management role. Other members of a product management team may include product planners, product marketers, sales engineers and marketing communications managers. Many product managers have worked in these other positions before becoming a product manager.

4. Enhance your degree with further certification from the Association of International Product Marketing and Management (AIp.m.M), which offers several programs designed to give product managers an edge in this highly competitive field. Visit the AIp.m.M website to learn more about the materials they offer, and the seminars and conferences they sponsor (see Resources below).

5. Become a product manager by finding a position through traditional employment methods, such as classified advertisements in a newspaper, or use online resources to locate a job convenient to you. Some online employment services specialize in specific types of jobs, such as Productmanager.com (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• The title of product manager can mean many different things to a particular company, requiring a differing combination of marketing, planning and even engineering skills. Make sure you get a specific job description before you pursue a particular position.

Resources

• Read this Article in Portuguese
• Jobs at ProductManager.com
• Association of International Product Marketing and Management website