Hi everyone!
I've worked in the finance space, specifically in initiatives, for more than a decade. I'm looking for employment as a product owner or associate product manager. My nervousness comes in because I don't have much formal experience in the product manager role, but am very eager to learn and get more experience. Are there any job titles I should look at that could help me in my search? Thanks so much!
Barb Hansen
Startup Product, Growth & Strategy
9.17k
04/03/24 at 11:39PM UTC (Edited)
I'm going to make an assumption that you don't have any specific product job titles on your job resume but you feel that you may have performed aspects of a product role.
If that assumption is correct, here is what I would do in a similar situation:
1--I would do some research to figure out if the role of product owner (more tactical and can be an official role on a scrum team ) or product manager (more strategic/more on the business side) appealed to me more, and I would get take some classes related to the role that currently suited me. There are lots of YouTube videos, free courses that I would take to get some basics and learn the lingo. If I would afford to get formal product classes without breaking the bank, I would do that. I would not pay for any product classes if I couldn't afford it as there is no guarantee in today's tech market that I'd get hired into product.
2-- I would update my resume to highlight my product-related skills
3-- I would look for a junior product role (jr. product owner, jr. product manager roles) in the fintech industry b/c my fintech/finance industry will be viewed as a positive. If I ultimately want to get out of finance, I can always switch industries in a few years when I have some product experience.
4-- I would look for those entry-level product roles in larger companies that have a larger product team where there could be a formal product career growth path. If I wanted to join a product team where I could learn from my colleagues, I wouldn't get that sort of support in a one or two person product team.
As a product leader, it's great to see more women joining product. You are welcome to connect with me here and on LinkedIn, and I'm always open to chat about your goals and provide any assistance I can give.
