Also check out our guides on how to get PMP certification and CAPM certification requirements. Bootcamps are tech training centers with courses that generally last between three and nine months. You can learn software engineering, data science, cyber security, and other topics at these schools. One of the things that makes product management so unique is that it’s never the same. It means that you’ll find it easier to set feasible and more accurate deadlines for product delivery.
Here’s what learners are saying regarding our programs:
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that industrial product managers—a category that excludes product managers in software—earned a median annual wage of $116,970 in 2023.
- These courses not only cover the theoretical aspects of the role but also provide practical, hands-on training through case studies, group projects, and interactive sessions with seasoned product managers.
- A course specifically designed for aspiring product managers might be a good place to start.
- Enhance your project management skills, particularly in agile methodologies suited to AI projects.
- Product managers may find it advantageous to hold an MBA for several reasons.
- For instance, you might not require an MBA to progress your career if you are currently employed in the product management industry.
Product managers will need to obtain two or more years of experience in product management, product development or similar roles. Knowledge in the areas of market research, product roadmapping, product strategy development, economics, project management and effective communication are also recommended. But in some ways, your role has already prepared you for a lot of the responsibilities facing product managers. And you’ve become skilled at building chemistry among teams that don’t usually work together. Those are talents that give you a real advantage as you start your product management career.
How to Master Product Discovery in 3 Steps: an Intro Guide
A product manager oversees all of the moving parts within a product’s life cycle, including its initial conception, development, testing, launch and even later iterations of the product. According to Glassdoor, the median annual salary for a product manager is around $196,000 as of 2024. Glassdoor identifies the top-paying industries for this occupation as energy, mining and utilities; agriculture; pharmaceuticals and biotechnology; financial services; and information technology. If you’re curious about how to become a product manager, the good news is that the job doesn’t require an advanced degree. CareerFoundry is an online school for people looking to switch to a rewarding career in tech.
How much does certification cost?
If you’re unsure where to direct your efforts as a beginner in the field, consider your location. If you’re in close proximity to a major city, you’ll most likely be within reach of a larger tech hub—offering more jobs per capita. If you’re in a more rural area, perhaps you’ll enjoy the remote lifestyle. According to Built In, the average base salary for a remote product manager is around $150,000 per year. As you explore different industries, you’ll gain a better understanding of what a product manager’s salary might look like in your area.
Step 4: Understand Key Product Management Tools
Networking plays a critical role in the path to becoming a product manager. Attend industry conferences, join product management groups, and connect with current product managers to gain insights and advice and potentially open doors to opportunities. Exploring opportunities like enrolling in a product management certification or securing a certification from reputable organizations can Project Product Manager job greatly enhance your journey. A bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or a similar discipline is typically held by product managers. However, relevant experience and certifications frequently have greater weight than particular credentials.
- Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.
- If you already have a product manager job, I wouldn’t generally be recommended to stop and go back to school.
- Hiring trends indicate that organizations are actively seeking individuals who can manage departments effectively and drive product development and strategy to stay competitive in the market.
- One of the best ways to become a product manager is to have an impressive portfolio.
- In this section, we’ll dive into the key skills required, the latest hiring trends for 2024, and a step-by-step guide on how to make a successful transition into product management.
- If you have the technical skills, try to land a job as a software engineer for an AI project.
However, there are several proven strategies to help you get your foot in the door. If you are already working at a company, the first thing you should do is look within your existing company to see if there are any opportunities to shift into a product role. This tends to be a Coding lot easier at smaller startups where you are getting direct access to the founding product team and/or executive management. We also wrote about how we might quantitatively / qualitatively measure the ROI of rolling out product development of this feature and what would determine feature success. We e-mailed this to the hiring manager and got a lot of positive reception from their team for this work.
