If you’re looking to get into a career in product marketing, it can be hard to land your dream job. That’s because there’s a limited number of product marketing manager positions available and competition for them is fierce.
But don’t worry: if you know what to do, then getting your dream job as a product marketing manager is within reach! So how exactly can an aspiring PMM land their perfect position?
| Takeaways |
|---|
| – Understand the role: Gain a clear understanding of the responsibilities and expectations of a product marketing manager. |
| – Develop your marketing skills: Enhance your marketing knowledge and skills, including market research, product positioning, and messaging. |
| – Build a strong product foundation: Familiarize yourself with the product or industry you’ll be working in to effectively market and communicate its value. |
| – Collaborate cross-functionally: Develop strong collaboration skills to work closely with product managers, sales teams, and other stakeholders. |
| – Showcase your results: Highlight your past successes and measurable outcomes in marketing campaigns or product launches. |
| – Stay updated on industry trends: Continuously learn and adapt to new marketing strategies, technologies, and industry best practices. |
| – Network and build relationships: Connect with professionals in the product marketing field through networking events, conferences, and online communities. |
| – Continuously improve: Seek feedback, embrace learning opportunities, and strive for professional growth in your product marketing career. |
Create A Plan For Yourself
This might be the single best piece of advice I can give you. Your career is your life’s work, and it will take up most of your waking hours and energy. It’s important to think about what you want out of this career, and then write it down as a goal (or a series of goals).
You don’t need to make it complicated it doesn’t have to be an elaborate diagram with arrows going everywhere, but rather just some bullet points that outline what you want your day-to-day life at work to look like over the next three years or so: What does success look like?
How do we measure success? Who are our customers? Are there certain metrics we need to hit? Is it more important for us to grow revenue quickly than profit margins in Year One?
Who will be leading these initiatives? Why should they care about our products/services/businesses/products/etc.?
You can also consider creating a plan for every other aspect of your life as well (e.g., family, health), but let’s focus on product marketing managers specifically here!
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Realize That You Don’t Know Everything
One of the most important things you can do, especially when you’re just starting out as a product marketing manager, is realize that you don’t know everything. You’ve never done this job before and there are many things that can go wrong or right in your work life.
For example, if a customer asks for something and it turns out they don’t need it, that can break their trust in your company. Or maybe your team will decide to change their messaging strategy but then realize later on down the line that they were wrong all along.
These are just two examples of the many ways people make mistakes at work (and even outside of work).
And while we want to avoid making mistakes as much as possible because they may cause problems later on down the road, we also know there will always be some mistakes made along the way!
So what does this mean for someone who wants a career as product marketing manager? It means that having confidence enough not only in yourself but also around others will help keep those negative feelings away from happening too often throughout each day/month/year etc.
It’s important because it shows confidence within yourself but also helps build trust between coworkers/customers based on how open-minded someone tends towards being willing to learn new knowledge from peers or mentors alike.
Whether through reading books together over coffee breaks between meetings during lunch hours (which should still happen even though technology makes us less connected).
Talking about subjects such as psychology studies conducted by researchers across disciplines including sociology anthropology psychology economics etc…
Read The News, Especially About Product Marketing
As you read, pay attention to what other companies are doing and how they’re doing it. What trends do you see?
Are there any new products or services that could be helpful for your company? Take notes on things that catch your eye and make it a habit of reading these articles at least once a week.*
Read about product management in general and learn as much as you can about the role before applying for jobs.
Product managers usually have an MBA or similar degree (though some have advanced degrees). They use their knowledge of marketing strategy to analyze what customers want, then build innovative solutions from scratch.
Read about your competitors and try to find out more about how they operate and what kind of products/services they provide. What makes them unique? When was their last major release? Who are some of their top clients?
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Learn How To Sell Your Ideas
So, you have the right qualifications and experience to be a product manager. You’ve read all the books, written your resume and cover letter to perfection, and even booked that interview at the company you want to work for.
But wait there’s one thing missing: You don’t know how to sell your ideas.
You need to be able to sell your ideas before you can sell your product. In fact, this ability is one of the biggest contributors toward getting hired as a PM.
Because it has everything do with being successful in this role. Here are some examples of how selling your ideas will help you land your dream job:
Selling an idea at work helps build rapport with others in leadership roles who could become mentors or allies later on in their careers (e.g., when applying for a promotion).
Selling an idea at home helps build trust from family members so they understand what goes into making decisions as part of an organization’s leadership team (which includes spouses!).
Study Product Management, Not Just Marketing
The product marketing manager role is a big one, and it’s important to understand how your work ties into the other teams that are involved in the development and launch of your product.
In order to do this, you should study both marketing and product management the latter being a key component of the former.
While we’re on the topic of studying, let’s take some time to learn about what your job will entail.
Product managers are responsible for creating a vision for their products and ensure that it aligns with their company’s goals as well as those of their customers; they also outline strategies for achieving these goals through research and testing phases.
Then, they work closely with engineers who design prototypes based on these strategies before presenting them internally or externally (depending on whether it’s pre-release).
Finally, they prioritize features within each new release by analyzing user feedback from pilots or beta testers while also considering business needs such as revenue goals or timelines set by higher-ups at headquarters.”
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Find A Mentor And Then Shadow Them
A good mentor will teach you how to think, not what to think. They’ll give you the tools and framework for determining your own way of doing things.
This is where it helps to ask questions a lot of them! Asking questions shows that you’re engaged in the conversation and want to learn more about what they do or how they do something specific, so don’t be afraid (or embarrassed) to ask!
Build Relationships Based On Trust
The first key to selling your skills as a product manager is building relationships. Your network is the sum total of people you know, and every relationship will be different.
For example, your neighbor might only be useful in helping you figure out where to buy a new lawnmower, but your coworker might have valuable insight about an upcoming project that requires outside help.
A relationship based on trust can take time to build and it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s important that both sides feel comfortable with each other before sharing confidential information (like salary or job openings) or asking for favors (like unpaid work).
Asking questions like “How do I get paid?” or “Where can I find internships?” before establishing a rapport with someone’s company could make them uncomfortable and cause them to shut down any further conversation before it starts.
Understand The Business Model Of Your Company
When you’re looking at a job opening, it’s important to understand how your company makes money. If you can’t figure out how your product is adding value for the customer, then there’s no reason why they would buy it.
You should also be familiar with the value of the product that’s being sold, as well as what kind of budgeting goes into developing and marketing it.
This will help you determine if there are opportunities available within this particular industry or company that could benefit from your experience and expertise in product management.
It’s useful to know what kinds of goals and visions this business has set out for itself and whether they align with yours.
So that when making decisions about which direction(s) will lead them closer to their goals (or not), both parties can make an informed decision about what needs changing in order for success to occur sooner rather than later.
Understanding a company’s mission statement will help guide employees through times when decisions need making.
Because it reminds them where their focus should lie: on doing whatever is necessary so that customers remain happy with their purchases; providing excellent service after purchase; improving upon existing products; etcetera ad nauseam!
Lastly but very importantly… knowledge about culture within an organization is crucial because “culture” influences every aspect of life within its walls (including hiring).
If working within one type culture feels like too much change all at once or if working under another feels like too much pressure then perhaps neither option would be ideal!
Research Your Customers And Understand Their Needs
Researching your customers and understanding their needs will help you craft a product that’s relevant to them. Research can be done in many ways, but it’s especially important to make sure that the information you’re basing decisions on is coming from a reliable source.
- Who are your customers? Do they have specific pain points? What do they need to be solved?
- What do they value most in life? Why are they choosing to spend money on this particular solution instead of another one?
- Are there other solutions that could help solve the same problem without spending as much money (or any at all)? If so, why don’t people use those solutions instead of yours?
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Understand And Respect Your Competitors
Understanding the competition and customer is key to understanding how you can be different. To do this, you need to make sure that your product is as good or better than what’s currently on the market.
You want to know your competitors’ strengths, weaknesses and their customer base so that you can see where there are gaps in the market for an improved product.
You’ll also need to understand how your clients will use your services (e.g., whether they’re going to be using it personally or professionally) so that you can tailor marketing efforts accordingly.
Understand That Product Is All About Empathy
Product marketing managers are the ones who have to understand the product and the business, and then communicate that understanding to others.
It’s their job to understand what the customer wants and needs from their experience with a product. They need to know what’s working, where it’s not working, and why.
Product marketing managers must be able to translate complex information into something that someone outside of tech can understand.
A good PMM will know how each feature of your product solves an issue for your users/customers and also what makes you stand out from competitors’ products in terms of value proposition (or VP), positioning statement, go-to-market strategy, etc.
So they can communicate all this clearly while telling a story worth telling about both you and your business’s mission.
Learn How To Listen Better
It’s one of the most important skills a product marketing manager can have: listening. It sounds simple, but it’s not. Listening is about understanding your customers and their needs better than they do.
It’s about understanding your team and its goals so that you can help them achieve those goals in a way that supports what the company needs to achieve as well.
And of course, it also means listening closely to your boss not just when he or she gives orders or feedback, but also when he or she talks about things like strategy, industry trends, and new technologies.
It may sound intimidating to be responsible for all that listening, but once you start doing it consistently (and keep practicing), it will become second nature, and as a bonus? It will make everyone around you feel heard too!
Attend Trade Shows And Read Industry Blogs
The first thing you can do to land your dream job as a product marketing manager is to attend trade shows and read industry blogs.
Trade shows are great places to learn about trends in your industry, get inspired by new products, and meet people who are experts in your field. They’re also a good way to understand what’s happening with the competition, so pay attention when you’re at these events!
Reading industry blogs will help you stay up-to-date on everything happening in your space from important news stories that affect companies like yours to how other brands are marketing their products.
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Conclusion
If you’re new to product marketing, or if you’re just looking for some advice on how to break into the industry, we hope this guide has been helpful.
We know that sometimes it can feel like there are too many steps involved in achieving your dream job, but if you follow it step by step and keep focused on the big picture then you will get there eventually!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:
The Ultimate Guide to Landing a Marketing Job: Discover essential tips and strategies for securing your dream marketing job. Learn about resume writing, interview preparation, and more.
How to Prepare for a Marketing Interview: Get ready to ace your marketing interview with this comprehensive guide. Learn about common interview questions, effective interview techniques, and how to showcase your skills and experience.
Starting a Career in Product Marketing: If you’re interested in pursuing a career in product marketing, this resource provides valuable insights into the role and offers guidance on building the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the topic:
What qualifications do I need for a marketing job?
To land a marketing job, a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or a related field is often preferred. However, relevant experience, certifications, and a strong skill set can also make you a competitive candidate.
How do I stand out in a marketing interview?
To stand out in a marketing interview, research the company and its target audience, prepare specific examples of your past marketing successes, demonstrate your creativity and problem-solving skills, and showcase your knowledge of current marketing trends and strategies.
What is product marketing?
Product marketing involves promoting and positioning a product in the market. It focuses on understanding the target audience, creating compelling messaging and positioning, and collaborating with various teams to drive product awareness, adoption, and success.
How can I start a career in product marketing?
To start a career in product marketing, gain a solid foundation in marketing principles, develop strong communication and analytical skills, gain hands-on experience with product management, and consider earning relevant certifications or pursuing specialized training.
What are the key skills needed for a successful marketing career?
Some key skills for a successful marketing career include strategic thinking, creativity, data analysis, communication, project management, and digital marketing proficiency. It’s also important to stay updated on industry trends and continuously develop your skills.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.