Starting as an associate product manager (APM) is one of the greatest methods to get into the profession of product management. After all, the associate product manager position is designed to be a training ground for future product managers. When I first began in product management, I had no idea what associate product managers were or how they fit into the larger PM career path. As a result, I’ve put together this guide to delve deep into the job roles of an associate product manager, how to become one, the salary of an associate, and talk about a product management training program for fresh college graduates or early-career professionals.
What is an Associate Product Manager?
Associate product manager roles are available in practically every industry. Associate product managers assist senior product managers in the development and marketing of products. Conducting market research, developing product plans, and monitoring product issues are all part of your job as an associate product manager. To be successful as an associate product manager, you must have great teamwork and communication skills. A bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, management, or a related field, as well as prior experience in your industry, are also required.
The Importance of an Associate Product Manager Position
Companies use APMs to ensure that they can attract top personnel early on. Companies benefit greatly from hiring someone with relevant education, such as through an associate product manager program, so that they can get corporate experience and advance with the organization.
The new APM will be able to seamlessly integrate into the organization and learn its vision, goals, and requirements without having to unlearn past mindsets and goals.
This also allows more junior employees to learn how the organization expects things to be done. They can collaborate directly with a senior product manager to learn, improve, and apply skills taught in school as well as those acquired after joining the product development team. Experience is a quick approach to creating positive work habits in an organization.
When a product manager is overburdened, associate product managers can step in. Because the workload may not necessitate two full-time product managers, an associate can assist in covering the excess, easing the workload and financial restrictions.
The post of associate product manager provides an excellent learning opportunity without the pressure and stress of being the go-to product manager. Associates receive coaching and supervision while acquiring experience and progressing in their careers as product managers. This paves the way for them to eventually become a product manager with their team.
What Does an Associate Product Manager Do?
Associate product managers must contribute and deliver. However, more like an apprentice, they benefit from first-hand knowledge. They must support the product and their coworkers while also expanding their knowledge and facilitating crucial areas of product management.
Associate product managers are often not given much autonomy or independence. This is especially true when beginning out. Given that, individuals must accept whatever tasks or responsibilities are assigned to them with humility. Being open and eager to take on new chances can quickly establish an associate PM as a useful and helpful member of the team.
How Do You Become An Associate Product Manager?
As a junior/entry-level position, there is no fixed playbook for becoming an associate product manager. It could be a first step into product development for a former engineer, project manager, or customer success rep. It might even be a person’s first job after graduating from college or graduate school.
Hiring managers may want some relevant experience, but they are more concerned about potential when filling this post. Researching the company’s products and making connections with their interests and experiences is essential for a strong application. Relevant domain experience can set a CV apart from the competition. This is true even if it has nothing to do with product management. If a candidate arrives at the job with a personal grasp of the consumer and their needs, they will be invaluable.
Associate Product Manager Salary
The salary for an Associate Product Manager (APM) might vary depending on various factors, including the industry, region, and specific organization. According to Glassdoor data, the typical base salary for an Associate Product Manager in the United States is roughly $83,000 per year. However, based on the conditions described above, this can range from roughly $60,000 to more than $120,000 every year.
It’s important to note that, in addition to a base salary, many employers provide additional benefits and compensation, such as bonuses, stock, and health insurance. When analyzing job offers, it is critical to take these factors into account.
It’s also crucial to remember that compensation can vary depending on the employer and industry. APMs working in the technology industry, for example, may earn more than APMs working in other industries. Furthermore, APMs working in cities with greater costs of living may receive higher compensation than those working in areas with lower costs of living.
APMs can expect to earn a competitive salary as well as prospects for professional advancement and development in the field of product management.
Associate Product Manager Job
You may get a decent idea of what businesses are looking for when hiring for this role by reviewing this Associate Product Manager job description sample. Remember that each organization is unique, and each will require distinct qualities when hiring for an Associate Product Manager position.
Job Description
We need an experienced and inventive APM to join our product team. In this capacity, you will be in charge of all stages of manufacturing for your assigned product line, from planning to product assembly to marketing strategies and sales. The sales team will collaborate with you and the senior product managers to assess marketing possibilities and price strategies, as well as set outreach and profit goals.
Responsibilities and Duties
- Determine project timelines by reviewing the project scope.
- Create plans based on product specs.
- Oversee the product’s assembly
- Coordinate pricing, marketing strategy, and outreach with senior product managers and the sales team.
Qualifications and Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree (recommended).
- 3+ years of product development experience in the business
- Knowledge of industry trends and developments
- Knowledge of basic computer programs
- Some travel required
What Are the Key Responsibilities of An Associate Product Manager?
This will vary greatly from team to team and firm to organization, so it’s important to examine what the hiring manager has in mind for this individual while also keeping in mind that the duties and tasks will most likely alter significantly over time.
It should be a stepping stone to becoming a ‘product person.’ You should be both helping your team’s more senior product managers and learning as much as you can from them. You should start building cross-functional relationships while also making concerted efforts to interact with and learn from your clients.
Associate product managers will frequently “tag along” and shadow their more senior counterparts at first. This allows them to gain a better understanding of the role, product, organizational culture, and processes. Basic tasks and responsibilities, such as reporting or a more administrative project, are frequently assigned immediately away. Then, as time goes on, more significant roles that need a bit more product expertise and experience with how things work within the team are assigned.
An associate product manager may be appointed with a specific portfolio in mind in some cases. However, it is equally typical to bring somebody on and play it by ear in terms of what ends up on their plate based on their profile and aptitude, as well as simply what the rest of the team requires assistance with. Although an associate product manager may “own” a feature, they are rarely totally responsible for the entire product.
What Are the Skills An Associate Product Manager Must Have?
Nobody expects an associate product manager to arrive, take over, and shake things up. By definition, it is a supporting role. Given this, they must be sensitive to the needs of others while keeping their egos at bay.
Before taking on the role of product manager, you have the opportunity to examine how your team works, discover how your consumers engage with your product, and form recommendations on how to improve those things.
Aside from strong soft skills, an associate product manager must pay close attention to detail. They are frequently allocated less glamorous but critical jobs. These roles frequently necessitate the ability to gather and organize information, analyze and distill it down to its essence, and then transform findings into actions and recommendations.
While strategic thinking is essential for product management, associate product managers are frequently tasked with more tactical tasks. These may not be as enticing or thrilling, but their successful and accurate execution is critical to the success of the product as well as their reputation within the firm.
Associate Product Manager Program
A product management training program for fresh college graduates or early-career professionals is known as an Associate Product Manager (APM) program. The Associate Product Manager program lasts around 1-2 years and gives trainees hands-on experience working on various elements of the product development process.
The following are some important components of the Associate Product Manager program:
- Rotational Program: APMs typically go through a rotational program in which they work in several departments within the firm, such as engineering, marketing, sales, and customer service. This gives APMs a wide awareness of the company’s activities and how different divisions interact with one another.
- Mentorship: APMs are connected with an experienced product manager in the firm as a mentor. The mentor offers advice, feedback, and assistance to assist the APM in developing their product management skills.
- Training: APMs receive professional product management training, which includes topics such as product strategy, design, development, and marketing. They are also trained in communication, leadership, and project management.
- Practical Experience: APMs work on real product development initiatives as part of a team or on their own. APMs gain real skills and experience working on product development projects as a result of this hands-on experience.
- Professional Development: APM programs are meant to equip students for careers in product management. APMs may be offered a full-time product management role within the firm after completing the program, or they may pursue opportunities elsewhere.
Many technological businesses, including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon, as well as other companies in fields such as consumer products, healthcare, and finance, offer APM programs. These programs give those interested in pursuing a career in product management a structured path as well as prospects for career advancement and development.
What Is the Difference Between Associate Product Manager and Product Manager?
Both an Associate Product Manager (APM) and a Product Manager (PM) work in the field of product management, but their levels of expertise and duties differ.
An APM is usually a recent college graduate or an early-career professional who is enrolled in a training program to prepare them for a career in product management. APMs collaborate closely with experienced product managers and other teams inside the organization to create and deploy products.
In contrast, a Product Manager is an experienced expert who is in charge of overseeing all parts of a product’s lifecycle. This includes creating the product strategy, doing market research, managing the product roadmap, engaging with cross-functional teams, and ensuring that the product satisfies the demands of the customer and the company’s goals.
Is Associate Product Manager a Good Role?
Yes, an Associate Product Manager (APM) position can be an excellent chance for people who want to work in product management. Here are some of the reasons:
- Opportunity for growth
- Exposure to different areas of the company
- Hands-on experience
What Are the Requirements for an Associate Product Manager?
Associate Product Manager Qualifications:
- A bachelor’s degree in computer science, business administration, marketing, or a related discipline is required.
- Two years of experience in a similar job is preferred.
- Knowledge of how to collect and understand qualitative product data and consumer feedback.
Is an Associate Manager a High Position?
It all depends. The seniority of an Associate Manager position varies based on the company and industry. An Associate Manager may be regarded as a mid-level role in some organizations, but an entry-level post in others.
What Is the Highest Salary of an Associate Product Manager?
Top firms in the United States for Associate Product Managers:
- GetInsured: $161,200per year
- Moody’s Corporation: $158,148per year
- LinkedIn: $ 133,288 per year.
- Oscar Health: $131,024 per year.
- Google: $128,443 per year.
What Is the Hierarchy of Associate Managers?
An associate manager is a few rungs below the post of manager, with responsibilities similar to those of a team leader. Associate managers operate in a variety of industries to supervise the work of a department or a group of workers conducting administrative tasks for a corporation.
Conclusion
Starting your career as an associate product manager is an excellent approach to getting your foot in the door in the product management sector.
The position may provide possibilities to work as a product manager or to specialize in a specific area of product management that interests you. When you join a company as an associate, your chances of advancement significantly rise because opportunities for more senior roles may come to you before job postings are made externally.
The keys to becoming an associate product manager include product management education, the correct blend of hard and soft skill sets, and facing obstacles straight on to demonstrate to an employer that you are ready and willing to work hard. They want you to demonstrate a desire to work both for the firm and themselves.
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