Who is suitable for product manager

You guys, I think you've seen lucky, but you've never seen anything like bubble luck, right? I was in the job, and I was promoted. Deputy Manager of Product department, this is not, I have just been recruited by others, now, Zhou immediately asked me to recruit someone else.

Of course, if you follow the company's recruiting process, "one side" should be done by HR, but, because I really do not trust the level of HR (if Guo sister saw, do not blame me ah, I am just for the sake of the case, never for anyone), for fear of missing those who have the potential to good candidates. "

So, after I repeatedly put the facts, the reason for the fight, Zhou finally and HR agreed, let me to cooperate with their "side" process.

However, there is a request, that is, I can only listen, but can not say more, I just want to think that the price of good candidates out, this can be.

I feel that my role is very similar to the ancient war when the kind of prison, but the prison is stronger than me, can prevail over the commanding command, and I do not, I am a new era of youth typical representative, I use knowledge-led behavior, and the supervision of the army is power-led.

Therefore, it is regrettable to associate the layman leaders who are present in many companies and to guide specific businesses beyond executive level rights.

Although I just took the ear to cooperate with Guo Sister's work, but after the first joint interview ended, we have a controversy.

The cause is simple, because an interview guy.

The young man is a technical background, after graduation has been doing technical work, and now want to change a platform, hoping to have a new development.

Guo sister means that since we are software companies, it is reasonable to recruit someone with technical background to be a product manager, and my opinion is that this lad has a certain technical background, but it is very likely that it will become a factor affecting his development.

"I would like to hear the details. Guo Sister's words are very polite, but the tone apparently with "murderous", the implication is, if you can not persuade me, I let you "lift head" to see Zhou.

I thought about it, and then said: "I don't comment on the interviewer's personal personality, work attitude, which is personal and professional, because Guo Jie you are more professional than me." ”

I thrust out my face and made a great compliment, hoping that she would be able to take it easy.

But her expression had made it clear to me that the ultimate judgment was not hers, but in me.

So I went on to say: "Why do I think this person is not suitable for product managers?" The reason is very simple, this person does the technology time is too long, his inertia thought will affect his work in a very long time, affects his work is affects the product department the work, but affects the product department the work to affect the company the development. ”

"How did you know it would affect?" Guo Jie now thinks of himself as a judge, and I'm just a defendant who needs to answer questions.

"I asked a question, how did you say the product was produced?" I seize the opportunity to start the next set.

"It was developed by the technology department. Guo sister began to be set.

"Yes, I asked the lad just now, and so he answered, because in my contact with the technical staff, almost the majority of people think that products are the product of the technical department, technology determines the product, but ..." I deliberately dragged long time, looked at Guo sister's expression, no problem, put on, hope to have. "

"But this recognition is very one-sided. The product is not developed, but the 1.1 point of planning out, the technical department's work is only the planning of the product to achieve it, as I have heard a very good programmer and I said a word, the program is not written out, but debugging out. The general user will think that the software is developed, but for the product manager, if that is the case, then the product manager is too unqualified. The young man was so adamant that, at the time, you asked a question about how he looked at the work of the Product manager, did you remember his answer?

Guo sister nodded.

He said the product manager's job is to design the product according to the user's requirement, and instruct the technical department to finish it according to the design specifications. Is the answer wrong?

Guo sister thought, first shook her head, and then nodded, it seems that she has begun to doubt her judgment, usually this time is a good time for the Jedi counterattack.

"It's right or wrong, right? Almost all IT companies think this is the core of the product manager's job, and the wrong thing is that the job is just a phase of the product manager's job, and the real product manager doesn't look at the job." ”

"So, what should be done?"

Next, I told her the same set of Zhou and she said again (see 2nd question, 3rd question).

"What kind of job is it for a product manager?" It seems that the situation has been completely controlled by me, and I am relieved.

"This question is good, what kind of person is suitable to be a product manager?" My point is that everyone is fit and unfit. ”

"When you answer the question, can you not be so mysterious?" Guo sister also began to counterattack, a relentless heavy bomb let me from the face to the neck red, it seems that a good situation at any time will be a comeback.

Next I do not dare to communicate with Guo sister.

"Oh, why do you say that, at all, by the nature of the product manager's work decided." Product managers are not market posts, not sales posts, not technical posts, but both the leadership and management of the two functions of the management hillock, management What? very simple, is to manage the commercialization of the product operation. So what does it take to commercialize a product? Now I can only use my own answer and never dare to use the form I asked her to answer.

"In short, there are three jobs, a clear strategy, a clear plan, a strong implementation, a product strategy who will decide, product manager, planning who to do, product manager, executive who to tube, product manager, these three jobs there are of course many specific jobs, such as industry analysis, market analysis, competitor analysis, Brand management, financial analysis, pricing and channel strategy, promotion strategy, customer profitability evaluation, etc., in short, you can think of a business may exist functions, product managers almost all need to deal with, the difference is only how much involved. ”

"You said this is the traditional industry, we IT industry is also the case?"

"Business is not a traditional or high-tech, the purpose of business is to complete the exchange of market value, to obtain income, you say selling shampoo and selling software products, what is the essential difference?" Certainly not, just sell the product is not the same, if say a little bit different, just in some specific mode, such as channel, You use direct marketing, I use agent, you mainly rely on traditional terminals, I mainly rely on digital distribution platform, but no matter how changed, can not get rid of the impact of commercial nature, unless you do is a public enterprise. ”

I cleared my throat, feeling that he was fully in the state, he continued: "Therefore, you can see that a product manager is not simply with a certain knowledge background, he needs a comprehensive knowledge of the background to be able to become a qualified product manager, but there is a prerequisite that is ' It's important to know how business works, and the reality is that many of our product managers know how the product works, but few people know how business is going. ”

"If that's what you say, you're not going to get any people?"

"Yes, in foreign countries, what is the average age of product managers?" 37 years old, and at home, 27 years old, a lot of, how long does it take to cultivate a product manager? In foreign countries, a person before entering the product management post, must be in other positions have 6-8 years of work experience to be qualified as a product manager, And after the product manager, you must work in this position for 3-5 years to become a qualified product manager, and at home, there is little complete for the product manager of the job training program, why, or because many companies believe that the product manager is an individual can do, Or, as the young man who interviewed today, thinks that the product manager's job is limited to technology implementation. ”

Think of here, not from the ground is a burst of emotion, China's product managers to face the road is still very long ah!

"However, if the enterprise does not go to practice, it is impossible to promote awareness, based on the status quo, I think if the personality, attitude, self-cultivation in this aspect of the factors, with the following professional characteristics and background of the company can be used as a product manager reference conditions:

1 Cost Conscious: Product manager's work for the enterprise, in fact, two, one is to save money for the company, the other is to make money for the company, therefore, the cost consciousness must be the first, retreat 10,000 steps, if a product manager does not make money for the company, then at least to do for the company to save money How to Province? Let enterprises in the product of less detours.

2 Sales Awareness: This is the basic sense of earning money for the company, good technology may produce good products, but good products may not necessarily have a good market, therefore, know how to enable enterprises to use the lowest sales costs to sell products to target consumers, is the product manager must have the awareness and ability.

3 has the team consciousness: the enterprise cannot entrust the development to a person, similarly, the development of products can not rely solely on the product manager alone, the management of a product team, what are the benefits, some people think that the efficiency is improved, some people think that the work is better, but I think it is ' end ', and ' Ben ' is saving money for businesses because I've found that a big part of the cost of enterprise is in intangible costs.

4 There is a global awareness: Why I do not agree with too young people to do product managers, very simple, most of the lack of overall awareness, not clear about their relationship with the team, not clear the relationship between the team and the enterprise, do not know their products and other products, the relationship between the market and competitors to fight, the internal has been infighting.

5 will not complain: the pressure is too large and their ability can not be achieved, the rest is to complain, as a responsible for product business operations, the pressure is not only the product can be listed on time, performance indicators can be completed in a timely manner such a stage of pressure, in fact, throughout the process, The product manager is faced with a pressure: how to make the resources that the company provides to you to work well, so that the investment of the enterprise is rewarded. But is a 20-Year-old product manager able to handle all this? So, I hear too much complaining, to be honest, to a large extent, my ability is not up to.

6) is apt to say oneself ideal: artificial ideal and live, but the premise is only first ' live ' can ' realize ideal '. Especially as a product manager, don't just say that you want to create a better model, is apt to say oneself want to do a change market even is the world's product, this kind of sky, the life is more than the paper thin product manager everywhere, to tell the truth, is not your life thin, but your heart surpasses your present ability, the result will be what kind of, Please refer to the 5th.

7 do not like overtime: Occasional overtime is normal, but occasionally do not work overtime is not normal. If a product in the planning, but also need to work overtime, then, a great responsibility is in the product manager, to see whether their goals exceed the enterprise to give you the amount of resources and their own control ability, if it is, quickly adjust, do not wait. Product Manager is not a gambler, see the situation is bad, quickly stop, do not think to continue to invest can have a comeback opportunity.

8 pay attention to when others speak: Some product managers always like to talk, but never used to listen sincerely, if the views of others and their own inconsistencies, will immediately interrupt the speaker and emphasize their views, such a product manager is too arrogant, whether for the leadership team, Or management products are a lot of risk, it is easy to create a self as the origin of the work style.

Guo Jie, you didn't find out in the interview just now, every time you finish your own question, that lad always has to tell you first, ' Your certain point of view is not correct ', such a character study can, need to strive for excellence, but do product manager is not, product managers need is the long, take hundreds of the idea, so, product manager's ears than mouth more important, after all, product managers to rely on a team to achieve their established goals.

This is a question of attitude and a matter of ability. ”

After saying that, I sincerely look at Guo sister, see what she has attitude, anyway is her a sentence.

"You're right, but there's a question you can explain?" Guo sister did not directly, but inexplicably raised a question.

But I'm not afraid at all, sister Guo. The possibility of an unprofessional person to ask a question that I cannot answer is almost Nil.

"I remember you had two years of technical background and Zhou from research and development, how do you explain this?" he said.

This remark, I immediately dizzy, did not expect Guo sister to a drastic, directly to me and the Zhou of the last to question my point of view.

I began to have no words, I really do not know how to answer this question, only to hesitate.

The atmosphere was temporarily awkward.

"I think you can say, is a mouth without ears of the guy, I now suspect that I am not mistaken for you, the recruit you come to the company may be a serious mistake." Sister Guo said to me gravely.

I am speechless, if in the probationary period to leave the impression to Guo sister, it is not a good thing.

See me like this, Guo sister got up to go out of the conference room, I was sitting in a chair in a daze, just shy from head to toe red in the end, now is the beginning to the end of the cold.

"Afraid, forget it, do not force you to answer this question, the psychological quality of the product manager, but I will refer to your opinion, rethink the form of the interview product manager, anyway, or to thank you, noon, a meal to go, but you pay. Guo sister went to the door and smiled and said to me.

A cold one hot easy cold, I now like a cold, where are uncomfortable, in order to conceal my embarrassment, hurriedly answer the words: "No problem, no problem, you pick good, like, throw off the cheek to eat, raise money outsider." ”

"The company has just opened a spicy fragrant pot, or ..." The eyes, that tone, is that men can not refuse, the brain short of oxygen, began to blur.

is not spicy incense pot, although the bubble I rarely dabble, but also know that prices will not be fair, but firmly believe that the meal a certain value.

Came to the hotel, choose a small table by the window to sit down, Guo Sister open point: Seafood Cauldron, plus yuba, green melon, bean ...

Listen to my fear, see me dazzling, big pot, plus seafood so luxurious title, this cooperation interview brought to the cost of the bubble is too high, but I recognized the bubble!

Apao Dour:

What kind of person is suitable to be a product manager?

Note that what I'm saying here is for the real product manager, not what you think you can do.

A bubble has been a human face, also face other people, face much, came to a conclusion: With Product Manager This set of basic knowledge, if you ask again what is Product manager, product Manager should do what, it is difficult to pick out the real fit for this position.

and product Manager is not what technical post (although the reality is that many enterprises positioning product managers into technical posts, do more and development, design-related work, especially in the Internet industry is more common), can be used to test the form of skills and experience.

Therefore, this gives a lot of enterprise HR to put forward a challenge, in the end what kind of person is suitable to do product manager, how can we recruit such person.

Potential, must pay attention to potential, this is a bubble must be emphasized.

And to discover these potentials, it is necessary to change the company's interview ideas, not only to see the past experience or ability, experience can be increased with time, skills can be trained to improve, only consciousness and attitude can not rely on external forces to change, that is, Only those who have the consciousness and attitude of product management can truly become a qualified product manager.

Examine it from 8 aspects:

1 cost conscious.

2 has the sales consciousness.

3 team-minded.

4 has the overall consciousness.

5 will not complain.

6) do not boast.

7 don't like working overtime.

8 Listen while others are talking.

You ask me how to assess, tell you, these can only be tacit, hehe.