Careers in Product Management

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Looking for an entry level job or internship in product management? Here's an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have entry level and internship opportunities that will interest you.

See companies with product management careers or search the latest product management jobs and internships.

I think one of the most fascinating products out today is the Makerbot’s Thingomatic. Basically it’s a 3D printer, meaning it crafts material into a physical shape that you select. How cool is that!? This awesome product would never have come into existence without a product manager guiding it from concept to creation. Basically a product manager analyzes the environment, investigates, selects, and develops products throughout many stages of iteration for their company.

Product Management Careers

Photo Credit: Flickr user bre pettis

Product Management Career Guide Overview

  1. What a Product Manager Does
  2. A Typical Day for a Product Manager
  3. Salary and Career Progression for a Product Manager
  4. Best Locations for Product Management
  5. Pros and Cons of Being a Product Manager
  6. What You Need to Know for a Career in Product Management
  7. Product Management Resources
  8. Careers Related to Product Management
  9. Companies with Jobs and Internships in Product Management

What a Product Manager Does

A product manager investigates, selects, and develops products. To do this, a product manager considers factors like the intended demographic, the products offered by the competition, and how well the product fits with their company’s business model. However, due to tradition and intuitive interpretations by different individuals, the product manager title is used in many ways to describe drastically different duties and responsibilities.

For example, in the financial services industry, product managers manage products and their profit and loss while determining the business development strategy. Compare that to a tech environment, a product manager usually has the main role of developing and representing the product to the customer. Additional responsibilities may include product marketing and analysis of the competition.

In some companies, the product manager also acts as a:

A Typical Day for a Product Manager

It would be unfair to say there’s a typical day for a product manager, but here are some tasks you might encounter:

Salary and Career Progression in Product Management

A product manager makes between $44,000-$121,000 per year, while the average is about $95,000. You might go on to become a Senior Product Manager ($115,000), a Principal Product Manager ($114,000), or a Product Manager Director ($135,000).

Best Locations for Product Managers

Here are some hot spots for product managers:

Pros and Cons of Being a Product Manager

Pros
Cons

What You Need to Know for a Career in Product Management

To be a product manager you’ll most likely need an undergrad degree, preferably in computer science, engineering or business. Beyond that you can get a product management certification (for example PMI and PMP), but in many cases it’s not required. Generally employers tend to care most about what skills you have and what you will be able to learn. Great product managers understand their markets and customers. They can discover and value the problems and opportunities faced by the customers in those markets and prioritize the problems and their solutions to achieve a product strategy. Furthermore, they need to be able to communicate effectively, both with customers and with internal stakeholders.

Product Management Resources

If product management still sounds like your cup of tea, here are a few things you should do to get started.

Required Reading

Blogs and Websites

Networking Opportunities

Careers Related to Product Management


Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Product Management

Coldwater Creek Logo

Coldwater Creek - Coldwater Creek is a multi-channel "specialty retailer of women's apparel, jewelry and accessories" that started as a one-room mail order business.

See the complete Coldwater Creek profile



iMentor Logo

iMentor - iMentor is an NYC based non-profit that “builds mentoring relationships that empower students in low-income communities to achieve their ambitions.”

See the complete iMentor profile



The North Face Logo

The North Face - The North Face is an Alameda, CA based company that pushes “the boundaries of innovation so that you can push the boundaries of exploration.”

See the complete The North Face profile



PitchBook Logo

PitchBook - PitchBook is a Seattle, WA based company that provides “clients with the highest-quality PE and VC data, news and information."

See the complete PitchBook profile



HelloWallet Logo

HelloWallet - HelloWallet is a Washington, DC. based company that offers a “financial wellness” tool designed with the help of behavioral economists.

See the complete HelloWallet profile


Job TitleLocation
Senior Quality Assurance EngineerWashington, DC
DesignerWashington, DC
Software EngineerWashington, DC
Senior Software EngineerWashington, DC
Product Manager, MobileWashington, DC
See all 7 job postings







AxialMarket Logo

AxialMarket - AxialMarket is a New York, NY based company that “is revolutionizing the capital formation process for private companies.”

See the complete AxialMarket profile



Main Street Hub Logo

Main Street Hub - Main Street Hub is an Austin, TX based company that helps “great local businesses around the world connect with customers” through social media.

See the complete Main Street Hub profile




Sqarespace Logo

Squarespace - Squarespace is a New York, NY based company that provides “elegant solutions that set new standards for online publishing.”

See the complete Squarespace profile


Job TitleLocation
DesignerMount Clemens, MI
Software Engineer Intern - PlatformNew York, NY
Android DeveloperNew York, NY
Senior Systems AdministratorNew York, NY
iOS DeveloperNew York, NY
See all 38 job postings

AdRoll Logo

AdRoll - AdRoll is a San Francisco, CA based advertising startup that specializes in retargeting (showing advertising to people who have already indicated interest).

See the complete AdRoll profile


Job TitleLocation
Marketing InternSan Francisco, CA
Content Strategist & EditorSan Francisco, CA
Executive AssistantSan Francisco, CA
VP of MarketingSan Francisco, CA
RTB Product MangerSan Francisco, CA
See all 28 job postings

Dataminr Logo

Dataminr - Dataminr is an NYC based company that is transforming “social media streams into actionable signals for clients in the financial and government sectors.”

See the complete Dataminr profile




Blueleaf Logo

Blueleaf - Blueleaf is a Cambridge, MA based company that provides super simple software that helps financial advisors more easily communicate information to clients.

See the complete Blueleaf profile


No current job openings.



Velcro Logo

Velcro - Velcro is a Manchester, NH based company that makes hook-and-loop fasteners (you knew they were called that, right?), and they're hiring.

See the complete Velcro profile




FindTheBest Logo

FindTheBest - FindTheBest is a site that makes decision-making easy through an unbiased comparison engine, and they're hiring.

See the complete FindTheBest profile



MeetMoi Logo

MeetMoi - If you’d like to work in the mobile dating space, then go take a look at NYC based MeetMoi and their job opportunities.

See the complete MeetMoi profile



ForeSee Results Logo

ForeSee Results - ForeSee Results is an Ann Arbor, MI based company that helps clients by delivering customer experience analytics, and they have some great jobs.

See the complete ForeSee Results profile





comScore Logo

comScore - comScore is a Reston, VA based "global leader in measuring the digital world," and they have some amazing entry level opportunities for new grads.

See the complete comScore profile





Coursekit Logo
No current job openings.

Flavorpill Logo

Flavorpill - Flavorpill is an online culture guide for New York, Brooklyn, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Miami, Las Vegas, Dallas, and Seattle, and they're hiring.

See the complete Flavorpill profile



Snagajob Logo

Snagajob - If you think that helping job seekers find jobs would be a rewarding career, then Snagajob might just be the right place for you.

See the complete Snagajob profile




Traffiq Logo

Traffiq - Ever wonder how an ad gets displayed? Traffiq has the answer along with some exciting jobs in the advertising industry.

See the complete Traffiq profile


Job TitleLocation
Digital Media SupervisorNew York, NY
Media PlannerNew York, NY
Sales DirectorNew York, NY
See all 3 job postings





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