Tech jobs are now some of the best-paying roles in Nigeria and across Africa. But while engineers often have clear entry paths, becoming a product manager is not. That’s still tricky, especially for first-timers.
Most startups want someone who’s “done it before.” This limits entry-level roles and complicates the transition into product management, but it’s very possible to break through.
How? We’ve tested learning paths, hosted bootcamps and gathered extensive feedback from hiring managers and career switchers.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the myths to discard, core skills hiring managers look for in entry-level product managers, what the job really involves and actionable steps you can take to land your first product role — no matter where you’re starting from.
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Myth-busting: Can You Get into Product Management Without Experience?
One of the most common misconceptions about landing your first product manager role is that you need a technical background, a prestigious degree, or extensive experience. Wrong!
While certain industries or companies may require experience, there are countless paths into product management that don’t involve coding or previous work in a tech role.
In fact, many product managers come from backgrounds in marketing, design, customer support or operations. They share an obsession with solving problems, understanding user needs and the ability to communicate effectively across teams.
Since launching our product management learning path in 2020, we’ve seen that most people who transitioned into product management came from non-technical backgrounds.
A notable example close to home is Ayodeji, one of our alumni who transitioned from a career as a lawyer to a role as a product manager. → Check out his story
The key is to understand the fundamental skills that product managers actually need and then work on developing them.
Paths to Land Your First Product Manager Role
Now that we’ve busted the myth, let’s explore how to get there. Here are five potential paths to landing your first product manager role:
1. Join an Early-Stage Startup
Startups are often hungry for diverse talent, and because they’re small, they tend to be more flexible regarding experience. Many startups seek individuals who can juggle multiple roles — a perfect situation for someone new to product management, eager to learn quickly.
How to Find Startups:
- AngelList: The go-to place for finding early-stage startups. You can filter for PM roles in major cities like Lagos, Accra, Nairobi or Cape Town.
- Twitter & LinkedIn: Follow startup accelerators, VCs and entrepreneurs actively hiring.
- Local Directories: Check out African startup directories and ecosystems to identify companies that may be hiring.
Pro Tip: Working at a startup can be intense and fast-paced. You’ll likely wear many hats and your role may not be purely PM initially. However, this will provide you with hands-on exposure to how product teams operate in practice.
2. Build Your Own Product
If you don’t land the PM role right away, why not create your own opportunity? Starting a side project or working on a product idea is one of the best ways to learn the ropes of product management.
How to Get Started:
- Build an app or website using no-code tools like Bubble, Glide, or Webflow.
- Collaborate with others to launch a product. This could be anything from a simple mobile app to an online course or e-commerce store.
Why It Works: Building your own product teaches you everything you need to know about product-market fit, iteration, customer feedback, and working with cross-functional teams. And guess what? You now have a portfolio project to show potential employers!
That’s why our product management boot camp and every live program at Treford are designed to give you real, hands-on experience that you can add to your portfolio and work history.
Pro Tip: Want help putting it all together? Our free Product Portfolio course guides you through the step-by-step process of building and showcasing your product.
3. Apply for Internships + Entry-Level Roles
Internships and junior roles are a great way to enter the PM world if you don’t have much experience. These positions typically require less experience and can be a stepping stone to full-time PM opportunities.
What to Look For:
- A junior product management role might be labelled as “Associate Product Manager” or “Product Operations Assistant.”
- Be sure to look for positions that allow you to collaborate with senior project managers, even if you initially do more administrative work.
Explore internship opportunities from companies that run seasonal internships or ambassador programs. These give you practical experience and exposure to the tech ecosystem.
Here are a few you can check out:
Keep an eye on their websites and social channels so you don’t miss application windows.
Pro Tip: If you’re switching from a different field (like marketing or design), tailor your CV to highlight transferable skills like customer empathy, acquisition and retention skills, project management and communication.
4. Join a PM Community
One of the best ways to learn about product management and make valuable connections is by joining a community of PMs. Communities like People in Product, Product Buddies, Product School and our own Treford’s Learner Community can provide learning resources, mentorship opportunities and even job listings.
How to Network:
- Start by engaging in community events, both online (forums, Slack channels, webinars) and offline (meetups, conferences).
- Asking insightful questions and sharing your experiences will help you stand out.
5. Find a Mentor
Mentorship is one of the fastest ways to accelerate learning and career progression. A mentor can guide you through the process of breaking into PM, avoiding common pitfalls, and even helping with job referrals.
How to Approach Mentors:
- Start with a brief and polite LinkedIn message or email.
- Offer to buy them a virtual coffee and ask them about their journey.
- Show genuine curiosity and don’t just ask for a job — ask for advice.
Pro Tip: Global Lead Growth at PropTechBuzz, Inioluwa Karunwi, advises seeking paid mentorship to drive intentionality and commitment between you and your mentor.
Deep Dive for More Tips
In our masterclass, Franklin Douglas, Product Lead at Tilt, breaks down practical, experience-backed tips to help you land your first product management role.
7 Skills Hiring Managers Want in Junior Product Managers
Now that you know the different pathways to landing your first product management job, here are the top skills you should focus on developing as you break into product management.
We asked hiring managers what top skills get them to choose a talent over another. Below is a breakdown of their responses:
1. Problem-Solving Ability
At its core, product management is about identifying user problems and crafting practical solutions. Hiring managers value candidates who can demonstrate a structured approach to problem-solving.
How to showcase this:
- Engage in case studies or product challenges.
- Participate in hackathons or design sprints.
- Document your problem-solving process in a portfolio.
2. Strong Communication Skills
Effective communication is vital for product managers, who act as bridges between various stakeholders. It is crucial for them to articulate ideas clearly and listen actively.
Ways to develop the skills:
- Practice writing clear product requirement documents.
- Seek feedback on your communication and presentation style and adjust accordingly.
3. Collaboration and Teamwork
Product development is a team effort. Demonstrating your ability to work well with others, especially cross-functional teams is essential.
Demonstrate this by:
- Highlighting group projects or team-based achievements.
- Sharing experiences where you navigated team dynamics effectively.
- Obtaining references that speak to your collaborative nature.
4. Analytical Thinking
Data-driven decision-making is a hallmark of effective product managers. Even at the entry level, showing that you can interpret data and derive insights is valuable.
Build this skill by:
- Learning tools like Excel, SQL, or basic data visualisation platforms.
- Analyzing user feedback or survey results to inform decisions.
- Presenting data-backed recommendations in your portfolio.
5. Adaptability and Learning Agility
The tech landscape is ever-evolving. Hiring managers appreciate candidates who can adapt to change and are eager to learn.
Show this by:
- Taking online courses to upskill.
- Sharing instances where you quickly adapted to new tools or processes.
- Demonstrating a growth mindset in interviews.
6. Proactivity and Initiative
Being proactive shows that you’re ready to take ownership and drive results. This trait is especially valued in startup environments or roles with less structure.
Ways to exhibit this:
- Starting a side project or contributing to open source.
- Identifying and addressing gaps in processes during internships or previous roles.
- Seeking mentorship or feedback without being prompted.
7. Documentation
Great product managers write clearly. Good documentation, from product specs to user stories, shows clear thinking and helps teams stay aligned. Hiring managers value juniors who can organise ideas and communicate them in writing.
Here’s how to show this skill:
- Document product ideas, feature specs, or sprint retrospectives in Notion, Google Docs, or Confluence.
- Add writing samples to your product portfolio.
- Practice turning ambiguous product problems into clear, written product requirements.
How to Publicly Showcase These Skills as You Build Them
Breaking into product management without prior experience is challenging but achievable. Focus on developing and showcasing these skills through tangible projects, ongoing learning and effective networking.
Remember, hiring managers look for potentials, adaptability and a passion for problem-solving.
If you’d like assistance crafting a compelling portfolio to prepare for interviews, feel free to take our product portfolio course below: