Six months as a Junior Product Manager 📲

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

I started working as a Junior Product Manager remotely in mid-October 2020.

Here are a few of the things I have learnt so far.

1. Learning is eternal / Create a culture of continuous Improvement
   My secondary school’s motto was ‘ a culture of continuous improvement’ This has stuck with me, especially in the world of work. You never stop learning and therefore you should never stop improving!
2. Questions!
   Ask questions and speak up! If you don’t say anything people will assume you know what is happening. I found myself getting very confused with API’s ( basic, I know) but it suddenly occurred to me that I could ask for help and one day I did- now I can explain it to you using a hotel as an analogy ( but don’t ask me)
3. If you don’t like meetings — don’t do it!
   I participate in product strategy meetings, meetings to clarify features/ processes to the developers, standups, customer interviews, meetings with the execs! Name it I am most likely there.
4. Documentation
   Most PM’s find this process to be tiring and I won’t disagree — but it is also necessary! Nothing makes shipping a functional product easier than having proper and clear documentation.
5. Communication is key!
   You will have to explain features, listen to customer feedback, justify why certain things have been prioritised and defend why the product should work like A and not B. Clear communication makes everything easier — Also 70% of the time you need to listen and then speak, this way you are having efficient conversations.

I know I still have so much more to learn but I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn all this and more so far.

Please share any tips you have with me as I navigate this space!

You can connect with me on Linkedin