There’s no doubt about it, being a product manager is a leadership position - people will look to you for guidance, next steps, and confidence. I first got the opportunity to become a product manager while in college and then again as my first role out of college. Despite being early on in my career and often the youngest one in the room by several years, I was the one people regularly turned to for answers.
Starting out as an early-career product manager gives you much-needed exposure to leadership, strategy, and cross-functional collaboration - all of which are invaluable in this line of work. But not everything you need to succeed is written down. Here are the key actions I took when I was starting out that helped me learn, grow, and build credibility as a junior product manager.
Take the initiative to connect with stakeholders early by arranging lunches or coffee chats to introduce yourself and build relationships with the people you will be supporting. Demonstrating interest in their work and goals will help you understand the bigger picture you’re contributing to and ensure alignment on long-term outcomes. It’s important for your stakeholders to know that you are here to support them, especially when you’re new to the field.
The foundation of success in this line of work is having a team that trusts you and is excited about the product. Take the initiative to arrange team outings or events to set the tone for a positive and collaborative culture.
And once you’re at these events, let the team know that you are available for new ideas or feedback as engineers, in particular, have valuable insight into what’s technically possible given the current tech stack. Whether it’s a casual lunch, a demo day, or a mini hackathon, these moments help break down silos, build strong relationships, and create shared ownership of the product’s success.
Being early on in your career doesn’t mean always staying quiet and keeping your head down - claim your wins and let your work speak for itself. Often as a young person early in your career, you don’t have a big track record of proven wins. Announcing wins builds your career, momentum, and enhances visibility which can help you be viewed as an impactful, positive leader.
Knowing which channels to use, such as messaging platforms, internal newsletters, or team meetings, can ensure your work is seen by those in leadership positions. Another tip is to send a direct message to specific individuals positively impacted by your work, which can help to build trust and create a stronger personal connection.
After sharing a win, I’ve had colleagues I hadn’t met reach out with new ideas inspired by successes I’ve driven, creating opportunities to connect and collaborate with new people across the company. Helping others see the value you bring is essential for building credibility, especially as a young person new to the field.
Keep a running document of all your wins and impact examples. It’s easy to forget your successes when things get busy. Being able to detail specific wins and the challenges you overcame in formal performance reviews will help remind your manager of accomplishments and position you better for more responsibilities and promotion opportunities. This will also be a great repository for resume building and adding to your Linkedin so your larger network can see your accomplishments.
Another piece of practical advice - why not offer to be a mentor or a ‘buddy’ to a summer intern? Not only is this a way of helping someone else starting out in the field, it’s a great learning opportunity and it showcases your sense of initiative.
You don’t have to have decades of experience to be a useful mentor to someone. In fact, young mentors who have recently been at the summer intern level themselves could be in a great position to be able to advise on opportunities to apply to, people to connect with, networking events to attend.
Having a mentor is also extremely helpful for someone starting out to get their perspective, learn from what they are doing, and get support during challenges. A mentor offers a fresh set of eyes from someone in your day-to-day job and can help you think differently.
Mentoring can also be an opportunity for you to get experience of what it might be like to manage someone. Plus, if you’re close in age, it can be easier for you to relate to the intern and for them to relate to you.
