Need Advice: Hear me out ( Product Managers)
I work as a product analyst in a start-up. Here are few things you should know
- Tier 1 college 2024 graduate
- campus offer got revoked (14LPA)
- joined a startup 8LPA base
Now here is the story it's been 4 months in this company, I feel like I am doing shitty work which any noob can do. I wanted to go into Product Management field so started applying for companies who were hiring for APM roles.
Got shortlisted for few companies
All of them were high paying roles with base 15LPA + I did got to the final round and fucked it up. I feel pathetic now, how can someone miss gem opportunities.
What feels bad is in one of the final round a interviewer made me feel like I am doing shitty work which is of no worth.
I feel bad, coming to office again and working feels terrible now, my manager in the morning asked me if everything is alright, drink some water because he felt like I am trembling at work. Good person he is :)
TIA
One interview, 1000+ job opportunities
Take a 10-min AI interview to qualify for numerous real jobs auto-matched to your profile 🔑
Bhai chill mar, not the end of the world.
Tier 1 college, got placed at 12 LPA, got fired from my 1st 2 jobs, at 40 LPA at my current job, 6y work ex.
Hustle karo, life sort ho jayegi
What were your certifications?
If you do shitty work. Product Management is even shittier. Whoever sold you the the idea of driving Impact in a PM role is lying. I went from Engineering to PM. fml.
Similar misconception - lot of MBA students think, Investment Analyst and working at a VC fund is a “prestigious” job. I know people who quit their IA role to become a marketer or growth strategy, something with actual skill and less pressure.
You might ask why you giving these examples. Don’t get trapped, while you have the time.
You getting rejected in interviews is not your fault bcoz the PM job market is Red Ocean now. Best avoid it.
I think you should just focus on 2 things right now
-
Build interview skills : Do a lot of case preps and mock interviews to get your basics right. Also, considering that you are doing intellectually unchallenging work, make sure you have a strong grasp on current product trends and innovations happening outside your company. Might be a little early in your career but Lenny’s podcast is a good start for trends, while exponent videos on YouTube are good PM interview prep resources.
-
Learn how to spin your work into something meaningful : I think a problem with you could be that you become under confident in the last round because you think you have not done meaningful work and then sell it that way in the culture fit rounds. If the work is not impactful, spin it off into a learning experience where you have built strong foundations on how to conduct analysis, use various tools and build insights, even if they don’t lead to an outcome.
I liked your insight into this. Can you please guide me who wants to transition from HR to PM. Also I haven't done an MBA though I am an engineer
You are already in the product field (Product Analyst) so this experience is not wasted for future PM roles.
Don't take these rejections personally. There's a lot of demand for product management jobs nowadays especially for entry levels roles. Play the long game.
If you feel your current work is not meaningful/impactful and you don't see a way to internally transition or get promoted to APM/PM - start learning & doing pet projects in domains that are in demand or the ones where you'd want to work.
This expertise combined with 1-2 years of product analyst experience would make you a better candidate for PM roles down the line. All the best!
Hi bro, I can connect you with some people hiring for good pm roles.
Some points that will help:
*Use whatever time you have in the current org to learn more about business and how customers feels about your product. Business knowledge is as appreciated as the product outcomes
*Be a devout learner. Weekends, learn/brush up on statistics, sql etc. the journey begins at data and ends at storytelling. Enrolling in something like Reforge wont hurt.
*Use linkedin to send a well crafted messages to recruiters across, shoot 1000 arrows, you have unlimited jn your quiver and you need 1 to hit.
Bottom line, control what you can.
When you start giving honest/right inputs, a lot of worries about outcomes etc just fade away man. I have been there, and can related to the feeling.
Cheers, come back with a success story in 6 months.
Don’t get fixated on one company, keep applying to as many companies as you can. Treat them as interview practice (in case you don’t want to join).
And don’t take anything the interviewer says to heart. It’s not your work, it’s the way you represent it. May be your disdain about your current work is evident in the way you talk about it in the interview.
universe has a plan. work hard and keep going :) congratulations for making the cut until the final round