How to Become a

Product Manager
in 2023

The non-traditional way,

that works!
If I was looking to start from scratch

in product management today

(no connections, no background,

no decent alma mater)

here is what I would do. 👉🏽

Step 0:

Understand why I want to

become a product manager.

Absolutely essential step.

This "Why" will keep you moving

during the hard times.

Step 1:

Make my product fundamentals strong:

I will learn about Product Sense, User

psychology, Business Sense, Analytics, and

Essential Technologies and Talk to multiple

product managers to build strong

fundamentals.

(Find 50+ free resources to learn in the post

description)
Step 2:

Now I will choose a list of 5-8 companies,

these companies would be startups or mid-

sized companies so that I get to learn as much

as I can.

These companies would be related or in one

common domain (ideally from the one I have

experience/deep interest in).

(You can use YourStory.com, Inc42.com, Y

combinator's startup directory to pick

companies. Link in post)

Step 3:

For each company, I will imagine that I have

already become a PM there. Now what would I

do in the first 6 months?

While the answer would depend on your

learnings & company context, consider these

things:

1. Identify opportunities for product improvement.

2. Categorize the users of the product and find

their problems.

3. Brainstorm some solutions to capture the

opportunities & solve user problems.

Step 3: (continued)

(40+ cases attached in the post)

Articulate all of this and put it together in a

well designed and crisp slide/notion doc.

Step 4:

Now I will send this document to decision-

makers in the company like founders, Senior

PMs, Hiring Managers, etc.

Use tools like:

RocketReach.

EasyLeadz.
Step 5:

Follow-up at least three times before calling it

quit (People are genuinely busy!).

Step 6:

Iterate the same process for other companies.

Step 7:

Prepare well for the interview: Use the

attached interview prep guide in the post

This process works because:

1. Creating something for the company, compels

you to learn product management well and identify

your gaps quickly.

2. Employers are more likely to see your work about

their own company rather than a random

portfolio/case study or resume without any strong

background.

3. It showcases your passion for the

company/industry/product. You have shown

ownership by actually doing work and not entirely

depending on your resume to work for you.

Drawbacks of this process:

1. Company selection could be hard: Make sure

you select the company you genuinely are

interested in, ideally from the same industry,

you've been working in, and are startups to

increase your chances.

2. It takes time and patience: Even after doing so

much work, some companies might never get

back to you. However, the conversion rates

would be better than just submitting your resume

and you'll become better with each and every

outreach.
 GET ALL THE GUIDE
& RESOURCES

hellopm.co/resources

How to become
HELLOPM.CO
a PM in 2023