Career Guide

Product Management for Beginners: Complete Guide

Product management is one of the most sought-after tech roles. Learn what PMs actually do and how to break in.

Sproutern Career Team

Regularly updated

18 min read

Key Takeaways

PMs sit at the intersection of tech, business, and design
You don't need to code, but technical understanding helps
APM programs are the best entry point for freshers
Side projects and case studies can compensate for lack of experience

1. What Do PMs Actually Do?

Product Managers are responsible for the "what" and "why" of a product:

Understand users: Research problems and needs
Define strategy: What should we build and why?
Write specs: PRDs, user stories, requirements
Prioritize: What's most important right now?
Coordinate: Work with engineering, design, marketing
Measure: Track metrics and iterate

2. Required Skills

Must-Have

Communication: Written and verbal clarity
Analytical thinking: Data-driven decisions
User empathy: Understanding user problems
Prioritization: Trade-offs and focus

Good to Have

Technical understanding (APIs, databases, how software works)
Basic SQL for data analysis
Design thinking
Business acumen

3. Entry Paths into PM

APM Programs: Google, Microsoft, Flipkart, Swiggy APM
Internal transition: Engineer/Designer → PM
Startup PM: Easier entry, broader responsibilities
MBA: Traditional path, especially for consulting-to-PM

For Students: Apply to APM programs or intern at startups where you can get PM-adjacent experience.

4. Top APM Programs in India

Google APM: Most competitive, global rotation
Microsoft APM: Strong mentorship
Flipkart APM: Great for India-focused PM
Swiggy Product Launchpad: Strong training program
Razorpay: Fintech PM experience
Meesho, Ola, Uber: Also have APM-like programs

5. Interview Preparation

Common Question Types

Product Design: Design a product for X user
Product Improvement: How would you improve Y app?
Metrics: What metrics would you track for Z feature?
Estimation: How many X are there in India?
Strategy: Should we enter X market?

Resources

Decode and Conquer (book)
Cracking the PM Interview (book)
Product Alliance (course)
Exponent (practice)

6. FAQs

Do I need to know how to code?

Not required, but understanding how software works helps you collaborate with engineers effectively.

How competitive are APM programs?

Very. Google APM has ~1% acceptance rate. But many paths exist—startups are more accessible.

Start Your PM Journey

Product management rewards curiosity, communication, and user obsession. Start building products, writing case studies, and applying.

The best PMs started by just building something. Start today. 📦

📚 Related Resources

Behavioral Interview Guide Communication Skills Startup vs Corporate Browse Internships

Written by Sproutern Career Team

Based on insights from PMs at Google, Flipkart, and startups.

Regularly updated

1. What Do PMs Actually Do?

Product Managers are responsible for the "what" and "why" of a product:

Understand users: Research problems and needs

Define strategy: What should we build and why?

Write specs: PRDs, user stories, requirements

Prioritize: What's most important right now?

Coordinate: Work with engineering, design, marketing

Measure: Track metrics and iterate

3. Entry Paths into PM

APM Programs: Google, Microsoft, Flipkart, Swiggy APM

Internal transition: Engineer/Designer → PM

Startup PM: Easier entry, broader responsibilities

MBA: Traditional path, especially for consulting-to-PM

For Students: Apply to APM programs or intern at startups where you can get PM-adjacent experience.

5. Interview Preparation

Common Question Types

Product Design: Design a product for X user

Product Improvement: How would you improve Y app?

Metrics: What metrics would you track for Z feature?

Estimation: How many X are there in India?

Strategy: Should we enter X market?

Resources

Decode and Conquer (book)

Cracking the PM Interview (book)

Product Alliance (course)

Exponent (practice)