Product Manager

What a product manager does

A product manager studies user needs and the market, defines product goals, sets priorities and builds a development plan. They work with developers, designers, analysts, marketing and sales so the product solves a real problem and brings value to the business. They decide what to do first and what not to do at all.

Skills you need

• user and market research
• prioritization and decision making under uncertainty
• analytical thinking and working with data
• communication with teams and stakeholders
• understanding how software products are built
• writing clear tasks
• general business thinking

How to start and learn

People usually come into product management from adjacent professions: business analyst, project manager, marketer, developer or designer. Start with product management basics: user research, hypotheses, priorities and metrics. Good practice is a write-up of your own or a training product that shows what problem you solve and how you measure success.

A good start is to hold a few conversations with users. Even small interviews reveal a lot about what people really need. Learn also to say no to ideas that do not fit the goal. A product manager's strength is not in doing everything but in choosing the right things.

Where product managers work in Armenia

Product managers work in product IT companies and startups, fintech and online services, and outsourcing companies. The role usually requires some experience, so entry often goes through adjacent positions. Growth paths include senior product manager, head of a product area and chief product officer. The choice of direction depends on your interests, and many specialists try several roles before finding the right one. It is important to keep learning and to document your experience.