Make The Most Informed Decisions with Topgrading Interview Questions

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A topgrading interview is much more than an average job interview. The questions asked here are extremely detailed and follow a specific order starting from high school to the current scenario and then into the future as well. This process also looks into thorough reference checking where the prospective candidates are needed to arrange interviews with all of their supervisors going a decade back. Candidates are then given scores on the basis of predetermined criteria.

There is no denying the fact that this process is a lengthy one and involves a lot of time. But it also gives a much more holistic view of every candidate. It becomes easy to find dishonest or unqualified candidates by asking questions from their employers or supervisors questions.

Women Shaking hands

Moreover, you can also use topgrading interviews to evaluate the performance of your current employee and think about their promotion. For instance – If your organization is in New York and it deals with product management, it can follow the approach of topgrading interviews to get the best product manager NYC. This way, you will have an excellent fit for your organization. 

Let’s find out more about this interview process.

Preparing For Topgrading Interview 

Job description – Draw a clear job description of the candidates. Specify the personality traits, duties, experience, roles, and responsibilities that a candidate should have to be successful. You can also mention the strengths that can give them an edge over other candidates. 

Candidate scorecard – List the criteria on which you will have to rate the candidates on a scale of 1-10. The criteria could be – personality traits, technical skills, soft skills, etc. 

Phone interviews – Pay attention to the job satisfaction and work history of the candidate. Asking them general questions will help you become clear about the mindset of the candidates and whether they are results driven and culturally fit. Only the best and strongest ones reach the stage of topgrading interviews. 

Scorecards – Maintain the scorecards of the candidates through the entire interview process. Call the highest scoring candidates for a topgrading interview. Let them know what you are expecting from them in the interview to make the process easy. 

You have selected the candidates and are all set to conduct the interview. Let’s understand what questions you can include in this process. 

Formative years – The topgrading interviewing process starts with knowing about the formative years of the candidate. This part is short yet revealing. The questions you can include here are –

Any formative experience that influenced your values. 

Your biggest disappointment and your biggest achievement in high school. 

What did you think of your career after graduating from high school, and what did you end up doing? 

Work History – This part includes the information about the previous work experience of the candidate. Often termed as the lengthiest part, work history can reveal a lot about the candidate. Some questions to ask here are – 

What were your expectations from your previous job? Did your expectations match reality?

Were you able to meet the goals in your previous position? If yes, how?

Any major mistake you made and the lesson you learned from that mistake. 

Strengths and weaknesses of your team leader or supervisor. 

Future plans – Asking the candidates questions about their future plans will give you a clear idea of their personality and how focused they are. The questions could be – 

What do you expect from your next job? 

List two measurable long-term goals you want to achieve in your life or career.

Your hobbies or skills (non-work related). 

The thing you like most about yourself. And one thing you would like to change about yourself. 

Reference interviews – Comprehensive reference checks is the thing that sets apart topgrading interviews from the other ones. Hiring managers will tend to speak with each and every supervisor the candidate has had in the last decade. They will ask questions to the supervisors like –

Tell us about the candidate’s role in your company and your relationship with them. 

The thing you like most and the thing that annoys you the most about the candidate.

Do you think the candidate is a good fit for the role he/she has applied for?

Rate the candidate as excellent, good, fair, or poor on the given skills (mention the skills from the scorecard)

In Closing

After the completion of the interviewing process, analyze the information. Separate the scorecards of the candidates into A, B, and C categories, with A being the top scorers (who made it to the next round); you can draw opinions and subjective notes on the “B” candidates and decide whether take them to the next round or not, rest all are in “C” category means eliminated. Discuss with your interviewing team about the top candidates and select 2-3 among the finalists to meet with the higher authorities. You can choose to have a complete skill assessment or personality test of the candidates to get more information. After having the input of the higher authorities, arrive at the final decision and welcome your new employee.

Why Hiring A Product Management Consultants Firm Is An Excellent Idea

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Product managers are the head of a company’s product functions. They are responsible for defining, pricing, and merchandising products. Their responsibilities include overseeing changes in product features and pricing. Product managers must also get out in the field and talk to customers about products. Product management consultant firms are professional who helps companies develop and market products successfully.

They work with organizations to create and implement strategies that improve product development and commercialization processes. In addition, product management consultants help companies assess their product portfolios, understand customer needs, and develop go-to-market plans.

Woman and Man Discussing on white board

There Are Many Reasons Why Hiring A Product Management Consulting Firm Is An Excellent Idea:

  1. Consultants have the experience and expertise to help organizations improve their product development and commercialization processes.
  2. Consultants can help companies assess their product portfolios, understand customer needs, and develop go-to-market plans.
  3. Consultants can provide valuable insights and recommendations to help organizations make better product and business decisions. 

Why Hire A Product Management Consultant

There are many reasons why hiring a product management consultant is an excellent idea. Here are just a few: 

  1. They have the experience to help you develop and launch successful products. 
  2. They can provide objective feedback and advice on your product plans. 
  3. They can help you with market research, competitive analysis, and pricing strategies. 
  4. They can help you build and manage a product team if you don’t have one already. 
  5. They can be an invaluable resource during the transition, such as when you’re launching a new product or going through a rebranding effort. 

Hiring a product management consultant is a great way to get expert advice and guidance on building and launching successful products.

What Are The Different Types of Products Managers

There are different product managers, each with their skills and responsibilities. Here are some types of product managers:

  1. Technical Product Manager

A technical product manager is responsible for the technical aspects of the product, such as the architecture, design, and development. They work with the engineering team to ensure that the product meets all the technical requirements.

  1. Business Product Manager

A business product manager is responsible for the business aspects of the product, such as pricing, marketing, and sales. They operate closely with the business team to ensure that the product meets all the business requirements.

  1. UX/UI Product Manager

A UX/UI product manager is responsible for the product’s user experience and user interface. They work closely with the design team to ensure that the product has a great user experience and attractive user interface.

  1. Operations Product Manager

An operations product manager is responsible for the operational aspects of the product, such as manufacturing, supply chain, and customer service. They work closely with the operations team to ensure that the product meets all the operational requirements.

How to Hire a Product Management Consultant

There are several reasons why hiring a product managers organization is an excellent idea. Perhaps you’re launching a new product and need some help getting it off the ground. Or maybe you’re struggling to keep up with the competition and need some fresh ideas. Whatever the reason, a good product management consultant can be a valuable asset.

  1. Do your research. Not all consultants are created equal. Make certain you find someone with experience in the specific area you need help with.
  2. Ask for referrals. Talk to your friends, colleagues, or other businesses in your industry and see if they have any recommendations.
  3. Set up a meeting. Set up meetings to get to know them better and see if they’re a good fit for your needs.
  4. Negotiate terms. Be transparent about what you want and need from the consultant, and make sure both groups are on the same path before moving forward.

Hiring a product management consultant can be a great way to take your business to the next level. With the right person on your team

What Does A Product Manager Do?

A product manager is responsible for the planning, developing, and executing of a company’s products and services. They work with other branches within the company to ensure that the products they produce meet the customers’ needs and are profitable.

There are many reasons why hiring a product management consulting firm is an excellent idea. A product manager brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table that can benefit your company in many ways. They can aid you in developing new products, improving existing ones, and increasing profits. In addition, a product manager can provide valuable insights into your target market and how to reach them best.

Hiring a product management consultant is an excellent option to improve your company’s bottom line. They can help you develop new products, enter new markets, and increase profits. So, if you are ready to take your company to the next level, consider hiring a product management consultant today!

Conclusion:

Hiring a product management consulting firm is an excellent idea for any business that wants to improve its product development process. A good consultant will help you streamline your product development process and make it more efficient. In addition, a consultant can provide valuable insights into the latest trends in product development and help you stay ahead of the competition.

How To Answer Behavioral Questions In Product Management Interviews?

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Product management is one of the most sought out job profiles these days. With a suitable position comes a good amount of responsibilities. You are here for a thorough insight into the prospective questions you will be asked in your interview. Questions can go from generic to specific technical questions. However, one set is most favorite for interviewers today, the behavioral questions. Behavioral questions aim at identifying your ability to handle any situation with examples from the past and future. Product management recruiting agency Palarino Partners will introduce you to some sample behavioral questions here, so keep reading!

interview

What Are Behavioral Questions?

A product manager works at the interface of a diverse team and leads the team to complete a product development process. As the job demands, the product manager needs a multi-skill set in his hands to handle a tricky question. The main goal of asking behavioral questions is to test a candidate’s potency for the company. Because a company may go from ups and downs, a candidate must know how to cope with most situations. These questions are structured to judge your interpersonal skills, critical ability, analytical thinking, to name a few. There is no clear standard to test these skills. However, a product manager should have the right attitude and behavior. 

Sample Behavioural Questions Asked In A Product Management Interview.

As a beginner, a candidate is often under the loop of skepticism about devoting time and energy to this particular set of questions. It’s good to think because time is precious for a product manager. You are already on the right path. Now, shift some thinking about the role you will be playing, which involves decision-making at every step. These decisions are related to your colleagues, teams, stakeholders, designs, projects, users, and the list. Hence, it’s best to introduce these behavioral questions briefly. Following are a few sample questions to help you raise the bar for every candidate after you.


     1.Tell Us About When You Had A Conflict With Your Fellow Team Member. How Did You Handle It?

This is a must-question and a prevailing situation for a product manager. Because product managers are often involved with cross-functional teams, this question aims to assess your conflict-management ability and your relationship and attitude towards your fellow workers. You can describe your prior experience working in groups, or you can take your time and relate this situation to any person or school scenario. There is no perfect answer, but there’s always a unique answer, so try it


     2. How Did You Handle Negative Feedback From A User About Your Product? Were You Able To Resolve The User’s Issues?

To answer this question, you need to understand that user experience is essential for any product. If the user has genuine issues and your product cannot resolve his problems as promised, you need to sit with your team and iterate again. This question is about your critical thinking, user importance, and prioritization. For this question, follow a simple approach to showcase your integrity to admit and correct your mistakes and keep the users your priority.


     3. Tell Us A Time When Your Team Handled An Important Project At The Last Minute.

It aims to test your time-management skills. A product team has a lot on their desks, and they need good prioritization for every project. In this answer, highlight how you strategize things and tools which you will use to stay up to date on your projects. This question is also about motivating your team in tight schedules so as not to let time affect the quality of the product.


    4. How Did You Handle It When Your Product Could Not Convince The Stakeholders?

Behavioral questions are about behavior and attitude. This question is widespread as it assesses your integrity. Here, you have to be as polite and humble as possible to admit your weaknesses and potential. Remember, it is about your team spirit also. So, approach this question with an open mind to let the interviewer know every human is a pack of imperfect bricks yet has enough potential to stand firm in those harsh winds. Do not end your answer with just weaknesses because in topgrading interviewing, you must focus on shifting the tide towards your hidden capabilities.


     5. Your Team Suffered A Failed Situation. How Will You Motivate Them To Focus On Other Projects?

Project management is the position for leaders. You are tasked with leading the product team to develop a product successfully. And, a team is not about commands; but about taking everyone higher with the right motivation. In a product development process, teams fail many times because a product has to suit the dynamic demands of the users. So focus on how you can maintain your team’s productivity in challenging situations and deliver a quality product.

Bottomline!

Product management needs people to understand current and future trends that will shape the market. You must interact with your team as a leader and as a co-worker; because the product team will bring the innovation that users want. Hence, looking at every question from diverse perspectives will give you an edge to crack any interview. These few sample questions will help you understand the physics of behavioral interviews. For more information on Product management interviews, visit Palarino’s website.

Different Types Of Organization Structures And Why Should You Consider Them

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We are constantly curious about how the structure of a large company appears. The typical organizational structure resembles a pyramid with higher-level middle management and lower-level personnel. However, not every product management consulting organization performs best when organizing its system hierarchically or chronologically.

 

product management consulting

 

Let’s Go Through The Seven Most Popular Organizational Structures :

1) The Hierarchical Organization

The most common organizational chart form is the hierarchical model. This model is the foundation for several other models—it organizes the employees in a hierarchical organizational structure, with each employee reporting to a single supervisor. The development of Many models is due to the categorization of a few variables—a couple of these elements. Division of employees into groups based on the services they perform. A functional org chart contains financial, technical, HR, Product Managers, and admin groups.

The division of employees is into groups based on their geographic location. Employees in the United States, for example, maybe classified by state. If the firm is worldwide, the grouping is as per the country.

Product – If a firm produces many goods or provides various services, the division is categorized based on the product or service. These are just rare additional frequent ones, but plenty more. Most of these categories have an org chart. In big enterprises, this is the most common organizational structure. Corporations, governments, and organized religions, for example, are hierarchical organizations with several levels of administration, power, and authority.

2) The Matrix Structure

The reporting links in a Matrix organizational structure are as a grid, or matrix, rather than a typical hierarchy. It is a style of corporate management in which persons with comparable talents are grouped for work assignments, resulting in several managers reporting to the same person.

All engineers, for example, are assigned to a single engineering department and report to a single Product Manager. However, the same engineers may be transferred to several projects and report to different Product Managers. As a result, it requires the specific engineers to collaborate with many supervisors as part of their employment.

3) The Horizontal Structure 

It is a form of organizational chart commonly used by small businesses and start-ups. The concept is almost tough to apply to larger firms with several projects and staff members. The essential aspect of this structure is that it eliminates numerous tiers of middle management. Employees can make judgments rapidly and autonomously. As a result, a well-trained staff may be more productive by directly participating in decision-making.

It works effectively for small businesses since labor and effort are reasonably apparent in small businesses. It isn’t to say that employees don’t have bosses. The main difference is that decision-making power is shared, and employees are held accountable for their decisions.

To conclude, before deciding on a suitable organizational chart, it is necessary to understand your company’s current organizational structure.

4) The Network Structure

The network organizational structure enables managers and top-level management to visualize internal and external links. They are less hierarchical than other systems, but they are also more decentralized and adaptable. The basis of the network structure concept is on social networks. It’s formed on open communication and dependable internal and external partners. Consider the network structure more elegant than other systems because it has fewer tires, greater control, and a bottom-up decision-making flow. Because of its intricacy, using a Network organizational structure might be a disadvantage at times.

5) The Divisional Organizational Structure

Each division relates to products or geographic areas within a divisional organizational structure. It equips each division with the resources and functions required to support the product line and geographic location.

The multi-divisional org chart structure is another type of divisional org chart layout. M-form is another name for it. It’s a legal structure wherein one parent company holds several subsidiaries, each using the parent’s brand and reputation. The real benefit of the divisional structure is the independent operational flow, which means that if one firm fails, the others do not go out of business. It’s not without flaws, either. Separating specialized operations might result in operational inefficiencies. Another downside is the increase in accounting taxes.

6) Line Organizational Structure

The line structure is one of the most fundamental types of organizational structure. Its power is distributed from the highest to the lowest levels. These organizations, unlike other institutions, do not provide specialized or assisted services. The chain of command and the heads of each department impact their respective departments. Its self-contained department organization is its most distinctive characteristic. Line officers can make autonomous decisions because of the coherent structure.

The real benefit of a line organizational structure is excellent communication, which provides organizational stability.

7) Team-Based Organizational Structure 

Teams working toward a shared objective while completing their respective jobs comprise team-based organizational structures. They are less hierarchical, and their arrangements are more flexible, promoting problem-solving, decision-making, and collaboration.

Many industries have changed as a result of team-based organizational structures. Due to globalization, individuals from various sectors worldwide may now collaborate to produce goods and services. To keep prices down while producing high-quality products, manufacturing companies, in particular, must interact with suppliers worldwide.

To Sum It Up!

The sorts of Organizational Charts (or organogram structure types, as some name them) depicted above are the most widely utilized. There are, however, a plethora of other models. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, depending on the scenario and organization. With the types mentioned above, you can experiment with alternative models.

 

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Product Manager Hire: A Classic Article Defining the role of a Product Manager

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hire product managers

Many say that Visionaries are the best product managers. They are in charge of a product’s success and the cross-functional team to improve it. It is a critical organizational job, particularly in technology firms. You define the strategy, plan, and features for a product or a product line. The Product marketing, forecasting, and profit and loss (P&L) tasks may also be part of a product manager’s job description.

What Is The Job Of A Product Manager?

Product managers are responsible for leading and making strategic product choices. While product managers have been referred to as “mini-CEOs,” it is more accurate to describe you as the product leaders at the crossroads of business, technology, and user experience (UX). The role encompasses a wide range of operations, from strategic to tactical, and it provides critical cross-functional leadership, particularly amongst engineering, marketing, sales, and support teams. 

You examine market and competition situations before sketching out a distinct product vision and provide distinctive value in response to client needs. It’s energizing to work on a new product. You will build with conviction and find profound satisfaction in your position as a product manager if you feel a genuine sense of duty and devotion to your project.

Product Managers Can Be Of Various Types

Product management jobs come in a variety of forms. Each company will define positions differently, depending on its offers, clients, and product strategy. The bigger the firm and the more products it has, the more product leaders it will need.

Product managers are frequently promoted from marketing, sales, engineering, and project management jobs. What you did before will provide you with some of the most helpful experiences as a product manager. An engineer who transitions to the post of technical product manager, for example, brings a thorough understanding of the product development process. Your previous experience will aid you in efficiently communicating with the development team and writing precise product requirements.

A Product Manager’s Responsibilities

Let’s focus on the essential responsibilities of a product manager. Despite the broad nature of your job, your daily responsibilities can usually be divided into six categories:

1. Develop A Strategy

You are in charge of defining your product’s vision and strategic direction at the highest level. It would help if you adequately described the business case for a particular program or feature so that your team understands why it is being developed. Strategic planning puts out significant investment areas to prioritize what matters most to meet your product’s objectives. You’re also in charge of the product roadmap, visually representing what you’ll produce and when.

2. Identifying And Defining Releases

Product managers integrate product strategy into work plans, determining what will be built and when it will be released. It is true regardless of the development process employed by your technical team. You’re in charge of the release process and cross-functional dependencies, as well as all of the actions that go into bringing new products, features, and functionality to market. It entails bridging gaps across various firm departments and synchronizing necessary personnel, such as marketing, sales, and customer service.

3. Putting Ideas To The Test

For a successful product, every company wants improved ideas. Product managers are in charge of gathering, creating, and curating ideas that will benefit customers. You control the company’s idea management process and decide which pictures should be added to your backlog to advance the product plan. Product owners also ensure that customer input and requests are factored into the product planning and development processes. You update your clients, partners, and internal teammates on the status of ideas they contributed.

4. Setting Attributes In Order Of Importance

Product managers rank features against strategic goals and initiatives to determine their priority. You’ll have to make difficult trade-offs based on the value a new feature will bring to your customers and your company. You’re also in charge of setting feature needs and the user experience you want to achieve. You collaborate closely with engineering on technical specifications and ensure that teams have all they need to deliver a complete product to market.

5. Creating And Disseminating Strategic Plans

As a product manager, you should create and update one of your product roadmap’s most powerful communication tools. A product roadmap depicts how your product will fulfill your business goals and aids in project management. You can make various roadmaps based on who you’re presenting to and what you’re trying to say. Executives are more interested in high-level planning, whereas engineers and designers need to know the exact scheduling and sequencing of critical tasks.

6. Progress Analysis And Reporting

Great product managers are obsessed with outcomes, both for consumers and the company as a whole. To understand how your product functions, you need a complete picture of progress toward goals.

Advice For Aspiring Product Managers

The scope of your responsibilities is intimidating, starting as a product manager or having moved into a new role. There’s a lot to do, so relax and enjoy it. Here are some pointers to help you succeed as a product manager.

  • Begin With A Strategy

Every product decision should be based on a strategy early in the development process. As a result, avoid making snap decisions. Examine the current product goals to ensure you understand what you’re attempting to accomplish. A product management consultant will help to make the strategy.

  • Understand About Your Customers

Successful product managers must have empathy. Spend time obtaining to know the issues that you help consumers with. Attend sales calls, schedule time to meet with genuine customers, and examine all the data and information accessible to you. You can make a lot of progress in the first month by being curious.

  • Make Connections With Your Coworkers

You won’t be able to attain victory on your own. Product managers rely on the development team and product designers to construct the right product. And you rely on marketing and sales to bring it to market successfully. So make genuine ties with your coworkers; solid relationships generate trust and improve communication.

Finally! Please Take Your Time

Growing into a new role and finding long-term success takes time and patience. Be prepared to repeat the same lectures and ask a lot of questions. Allow yourself the time you need to establish yourself as your company’s go-to product expert. PALARINO PARTNERS helps to provide product managers with the chance to make significant contributions to your organization and customers. Pick the PALARINO PARTNERS for product managers to plan the strategy, specify features, and create attractive roadmaps.

What Makes a Good Product Manager: Must-Have Qualities In Any Shortlisted Candidate

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Product management is a widely growing field. Many candidates are finding this field appealing. If your organization has shortlisted the candidates to be great product managers, it is important for you to know the must-have qualities of a good product manager.  

Here are the must-have qualities to look for in a good product manager, as per the product management consultants. Let’s find out.

product management consultants

Passionate for Products

Product managers must be in love with the products. They should have the ability to recognize outstanding products and admire them. They should be able to tell you about the product, why some customers love it, and why some are not giving good reviews.  

It is essential for a product manager to look at what needs of the customers are still not fulfilled and how they can take steps to improve the product. Depicting passion about the products always results in the development of something great.

Strategic Thinker

A product manager is also sometimes called mini-CEO. He should be able to understand the current product strategy to see how it aligns with the overall strategy of the company. Additionally, understanding the product vision and knowing how it will generate value for the customers is also important. 

The shortlisted candidate for a great product manager must know the unique selling proposition of the company to clearly articulate the strategies. In short, your company needs a long-term roadmap to build good products. This all will help in creating a winning product that will surely delight the customers. 

Build Excellent User Experience

In the competitive world, building an excellent user experience is the need of the hour, and the product managers hold a key part in it. They should know to design interaction diagrams and test them to build emotive visual designs to fulfill this. Many of the teams don’t have the comfort of having a visual designer and interaction designer. But the product manager fulfills the responsibilities of an interaction designer and appoints someone else to do visual design. 

Even with the presence of an interaction designer, a product manager should perform to the top of his ability to demand the very best. He should hold the skill of telling when the design is good and when it is bad. Having the ability to see if the product is meeting the demands of the customers in the most efficient way and if all the interactions are going well together in a logical manner is what makes a good product manager.

Empathize With The Customers

It is very difficult to find a product manager who has relevant experience in your industry. But always hire the one who deeply empathizes with your target audience. You have to pay extra attention if you are developing a consumer product. Check whether the product manager knows who the target market of the product is or not. Therefore, a candidate should empathize with the customers and respect them. 

Ability to Prioritize

Being able to prioritize which work to do first is one of the vital qualities of a product manager. Once the product manager knows the art of prioritization, your company can make a good mark in the market. The product manager should form the product strategy with the individual features and prioritize them accordingly to acquire the maximum returns. 

Leadership Qualities

Building and developing a product is a collaborative process, so a product manager should be of a collaborative nature. No wonder the product manager is the leader of the product, but still, most people in the development team do not report directly to him. Furthermore, various functional groups and consumers show product requirements, and these all requirements are equally important. Therefore, a product manager should hold power to inspire others rather than be dictatorial. 

He should be able to tell why he is choosing a particular feature over others for any product. He should be confident and assertive while stating his reasons for choosing a particular thing. 

Leadership qualities

Execution

Product managers should know how to execute the plan. In other words, they need to get things done. There are a million things to do before shipping a product, and the product manager should be an expert in doing all those things. He needs to write marketing copies, edit HTMLs, to name a few. Many times, he is the one who has to do PR also. Thus, he should go beyond his limits to make the product a grand success. 

To Sum It Up!

It is needless to say that a good product manager must have the above-mentioned qualities. At the end of the day, the responsibility of making things happen relies on him. 

PALARINO PARTNERS believe in building world-class product management teams. This will not only reduce the cost of mis-hire but also makes your product a grand success in your organization. So, without ado, contact for further assistance, and they will march your organization towards victory. 

Should You be a Product Management Consultant or a Product Manager?

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Product Management is a difficult job. It’s more than just managing the product; it’s about building relationships with stakeholders, conducting research on the market, and figuring out how to get buy-in for new products. And that’s on top of all the other work you do as a Product Manager! If you’re feeling frazzled from your current role or looking for a change in direction, should you be a Product Management Consultant or Product Manager? That depends upon what type of person you are. In this blog, we will explore both options and advice to help make your decision easier. 

1. Product Management Consultant

The Product Management Consultant role is very new. Product Managers are still struggling to figure out what Product Management really is, so Product Management consultants are even more of a mystery. Product Managers are hoping for help on projects but are wary of consulting firms who might take their position in the market too seriously and try to poach their employees. Product managers also know that they’re not experts at everything. They’re experts at Product Management, but maybe not marketing or design or business development. What happens if you bring someone in who tries to tell them how it’s done? Product Management Consultants can offer an external point-of-view which can be valuable, especially when working with smaller teams or inexperienced Product Managers. Product Management Consultants can also help Product Managers with the Product Marketing aspect of the role (and Product Marketers will often need help, too!)

Paulina Sliwa is Product Management Director at SAS Global services and leads client-facing Product Management consulting engagements in New York City. Product Management clients hire Product Management consultants when they are in a bottleneck,  when there’s not enough capacity to do everything that needs to get done, or when their employees are inexperienced in Product Management. Paulina grew her Product Management consulting practice by bringing in experts on specific topics like UX Design, Mobile Advertising, Quantitative Analysis, etc., so that her clients wouldn’t have to go outside of their company for Product Management expertise. Product management consultants specialize in Product Management and Product Marketing, but Product Managers often need help with other business areas too. Product Managers are currently responsible for all aspects of Product Management, so it makes sense that they would eventually reach a bottleneck where they cannot do everything themselves.

“As Product Management becomes more specialized, product managers will need to lean on outside resources, including Product Management Consultants.” – Paulina Sliwa, Product Management Director SAS Global services.

product management consultants

2. Skills Needed To Be A Successful Product Management Consultant

Product Management Consulting is still new enough that there aren’t many guidelines on who the best candidates are or what qualifications you should have to get started. One consulting firm requires Product Management consultants to have at least three years of Product Management experience, and at least five years in Product Management is preferred. Product Management Consulting is a great way to develop your Product Management skills and expertise as well as build relationships with Product Managers across different industries.

Patti Johnson, President ProductCamp DC and Product Marketing Manager for Loudoun County Public Schools, has been a Product Management Consultant since 2013. Her first client was the Director of Product at a major social network — someone she had previously worked under. She continued her work there because she really enjoyed the product strategy work and wanted to shape the company’s direction. It also allowed her to develop her personal brand. When you’re starting out, you need to be thinking about how Product Management consulting can help your career. Product Management consultants are hired for their expertise, which means they have a responsibility to share what they know with Product Managers. Product Management Consulting has the potential to open doors to higher-level Product Management roles at any company you’re consulting for.

“As Product Management increasingly becomes more specialized, Product Managers will need access to subject matter experts outside of their organization.” – Patti Johnson, ProductManager Loudoun County Public Schools

3. How To Get Started As A Product Management Consultant

One of the best ways to start learning about Product Management is to spend some time as an intern or entry-level employee at a technology startup. You can learn about Product Management consulting by working as a Product Marketing Manager at a larger company. Product Management Consultants need to be independent and self-sufficient; they’ve got to know how to manage their own time and show clients what they can do for them. Product Management Consultants are hired because of their expertise, so the best way to get started is through your personal network

4. Why Becoming A Product Management Consultant Could Make Your Career More Flexible

Becoming a Product Management Consultant has allowed Patti Johnson to travel more freely between IBM (where she now works) and Loudoun County Public Schools  (her client). Being an independent Product Management Consultant gives you the flexibility to work with multiple companies, which could help you decide where you want your Product Management career to take you next. Product management consulting offers the flexibility to work with companies in different types of Product Management — Product Managers at one company may do market research, and Product Managers at another may focus on building product features, for example.

The world is still adjusting to Product Management Consultants, but this doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities for Product Management Consultants. Every time a company decides that they need Product Management Consulting, that’s an opportunity for Product Management Consultants. It just requires that you prove yourself, which can be tough when you’re new to Product Management Consulting.

5. Why Being A Product Manager Might Be The Better Choice For You

When it comes down to it, if you are passionate about Product Management, Product Management Consulting is probably not the best choice for you. Product Management Consultants work on Product Management tasks at any company that hires them, but Product Managers are responsible for Product Management day-to-day. Product Managers may always be managing Product Managers and Product Marketing Managers, but Product Management Consultants can’t just hope to waltz into a company and start making product decisions. Product Management Consulting requires extensive Business Analysis skills (which Patti Johnson had already developed) as well as an understanding of how to sell Product Management services to clients. If you’re looking for more of a business career, becoming a Product Manager might be the better choice for you.

6. Pros And Cons Of Being A Product Manager/Product Management Consultant

Product Managers are Product Management professionals, and Product Management Consultants may be Product Management experts. Product Managers and Product Management Consultants need different skills and experiences to meet their needs. Product Managers should take care of Product Management day-to-day; Product Management Consultants can help Product Managers by doing the Product Management tasks that Product Managers don’t have time for or aren’t as familiar with. However, like all careers, there are good reasons to become either a Product Manager or a Product Management Consultant (or both!).

Being both a Product Manager and a Product Management Consultant can help you see your product from two completely different angles. The ability to see your own career from multiple perspectives can make you more successful in all Product Management fields. Product Managers and Product Management Consultants both need Product Marketing skills to succeed, so building those Product Marketing skills can help you transition between the two careers without any hesitation. Product Managers work with Product marketing professionals regularly, so understanding Product Marketing as a Product Management Consultant will help you understand what they’re doing and why.

A career as a Product Manager or Product Management Consultant is going to be hard work. If making tough decisions, managing people, and using your expertise wasn’t hard enough, becoming a Product Manager or Product Management Consultant requires even more dedication. However, for those willing to put in the time and effort to become either a Product Manager or Product Management Consultant, there are significant opportunities for Product Management jobs and Product Management careers.

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Conclusion

As you can see, there are pros and cons to each career path. Ultimately, it comes down to what is best for your lifestyle and work-life balance. But the one commonality between both careers? You’ll be making an impact on a company that will affect many lives! The question isn’t whether or not you should become a Product Management Consultant or Product Manager; instead, it’s which of these paths offers the most benefits for you right now at this moment in time.

What Do Product Management Consultants Do?

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Product Management Consulting is a lucrative field, and not one to be taken lightly. Product Management Consultants are the bridge between the needs of clients and the capabilities of companies. They can help you find new ways to sell your product or service, restructure your team, develop a new strategy for growth, or create an entirely new product that better meets customer demands.  The Product Managers who need help with their projects should consider reaching out to a consultant for guidance and advice on how best to proceed in order to achieve desired outcomes. These professionals can also serve as mentors by providing valuable information about trends in business and insights into what works and what doesn’t work in this industry. Consulting firms offer competitive rates with high-quality deliverables tailored specifically for each client’s product.

Product Manager Vs. Product Management Consultant

A Product Management Consultant is a product consultant who works with Product Managers and Product Owners to build products or help them do what they need to do. Product Management Consultants typically work in product consulting companies, though there are also individual Product Management Consultants. Product Management Consultants help Product Managers with product requirements, product roadmaps, product release schedules, and product estimates.

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Product Management Consultants work with Product Managers to define their vision for a product, identify the Product Manager’s strategy from the vision statement, and then confirm that there is clarity in how that strategy is going to be executed. Product Management Consultants help Product Managers plan for product release, work with Product Managers to build product requirements, develop product roadmaps, and ensure that the steps are in place to get products out. Product Management Consultants are responsible for making sure that the Product Manager has all of the tools and information necessary to do their job well

What Product Management Consultants Do Day to Day?

Product Management Consulting companies may be a Product Manager’s best friend. Product Managers typically have a full plate, which Product Management Consultants can help with by freeing up some of the Product Manager’s time for things that Product Managers need to do from their job description, such as product discovery meetings and product backlog prioritization. Product Management Consultants can also help Product Managers by doing product requirements, product roadmap development, and product release estimation. Product Management Consulting companies typically have Product Management Consultants that work on product discovery meetings with Product Managers to map out the vision for a product or product line, then determine the best strategy for executing that vision. 

The Product Management Consultant will help confirm if what Product Managers are planning is feasible and doable within the specified time frame. Product Management Consultants also perform product estimation, which helps determine if Product Managers will be able to accomplish product tasks within the product release schedule.

Why Hire A Product Management Consultant?

The Product Managers themselves might have years of Product Management experience under their belt but often lack the experience working with a product management consulting company. This is where Product Management Consultants come in! They bring leadership skills as well as creativity, analytical thinking for problem-solving or decision making, understanding trends within their industry (or field) that pertain specifically towards marketing aspects depending on what type of business they work with. Ecommerce companies might need more customer-focused advice when it comes down to how much money should be spent advertising online versus offline. Lastly, Product Management Consultants must have some technical know-how, including knowledge about various software packages used today like Jira(TM), Trello®, or Google Drive™.

The Product Management Consultants must bring a unique set of skills to the Product Manager consulting table and have to be able to effectively communicate their suggestions with Product Managers to get things done.   

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Conclusion

Product Managers looking for the best results should find a good Product Management Consultant at their company. The skills that make up a successful partnership between these two parties depend on what’s going to work well with both individuals and how they will achieve business goals together in order not only to produce but also market products from start to finish!

 
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