A Realistic Plan To Help You Break Into Product Management

Expect to Land a Role within 8–9 Months

LinkedIn envy will tell you that Breaking into Product Management is an overnight success. Great for clicks, terrible for your mental health.

If you have zero knowledge, expect to land a role in 6–12 months. However, if you possess transferable skills, relevant knowledge, or a strong drive, landing a position in about 8 to 9 months is not uncommon.

To put this in perspective, this makes up less than 5% of your time in a 20-year Product Management career. With a base salary ranging from $120K to $300K, your invested time can provide massive returns.

Here are the 5 Phases you’ll go through:

Phase #1: Build Knowledge Without Breaking the Bank (Months 1–3)

Product Managers dedicate a significant part of their time to making high-leveraged decisions. Each path they choose to take is choosing which path to avoid. The first step in becoming a PM is understanding this mindset.

Firstly, Treat yourself as a Product

You shouldn’t try to learn everything simultaneously, but choose the right learning course for your Product Lifecycle. Early on, it’s about small investments — like building an MVP.

You need to test if your skills are what the market needs. If not, what do you need to build? A common mistake I see many people make is spending thousands at this stage, thinking the money spent will save them time. However, understanding if PM is the right role for you is a decision that can be validated within a $30 book, not a $5K course.

First 3 Months → Read Books and Self-Paced Courses

Start with a budget ranging from $100 to $500 over three months. Dive into…