Product
1:1 calls with real people in Product roles.
Frequently asked questions
A Product Manager (PM) defines the vision, strategy, and roadmap for a product. They work with design, engineering, and marketing teams to make sure the product solves real customer problems and delivers business value. Most days involve prioritising features, reviewing metrics, writing user stories, and communicating across teams.
If you want a clearer idea of what a PM’s day really looks like in your industry, you can book a chat with a real Product Manager on ChatYourCareer.co.uk.
Start by learning the fundamentals of product strategy, user research, and agile development.
You can transition from roles like marketing, design, or business analysis by highlighting problem-solving, communication, and analytical skills.
Taking free courses (like Google’s “Foundations of Product Management”) or shadowing a PM can also help.
Talking to someone who made the same transition can give you clarity, you’ll find professionals happy to share their path on ChatYourCareer.
Top PM skills in 2025 include:
Product strategy & prioritisation
Data-driven decision-making
Communication & stakeholder management
User empathy and UX understanding
Technical literacy (APIs, software basics)
Leadership without authority
Not necessarily. Many great PMs come from business, marketing, or design backgrounds.
However, having basic technical understanding helps you communicate with developers and make better trade-offs.
You can learn this through short courses or mentoring from a technical PM.
Product Manager (PM): Owns the why — vision, strategy, and success metrics.
Product Owner (PO): Owns the what — the backlog, priorities, and execution.
Project Manager: Focuses on the when — timeline, budget, and delivery. In startups, one person might wear multiple hats.
Experience Level | UK Salary Range (2025) | Source |
Associate PM | £35,000 – £50,000 | Glassdoor UK, 2025 |
Mid-Level PM | £55,000 – £80,000 | Indeed UK, 2025 |
Senior PM | £80,000 – £110,000 | Hays Salary Guide, 2025 |
Head of Product / Director | £110,000 – £150,000+ | Reed 2025 Market Data |
Salaries vary by company size and industry, chatting with PMs from tech, fintech, or startups can reveal real-world insights on pay and perks.
In 2025, popular tools include:
Roadmapping: Aha!, Productboard, Jira
Collaboration: Notion, Confluence, Miro
Analytics: Mixpanel, Amplitude, Google Analytics
Feedback: Typeform, UserTesting, Dovetail AI tools like Notion AI and Figma AI are becoming standard for product documentation and ideation.
Study behavioral and case questions, such as:
“How would you improve [X product]?”
“Tell me about a time you influenced without authority.” Practice frameworks like CIRCLES (for product design questions) and AARM (for growth).
You can even book a mock interview with a real PM on ChatYourCareer to practice one-on-one.
Associate Product Manager (APM)
Junior Product Manager
Product Analyst
Product Coordinator
Many large companies (Google, Meta, Revolut, Monzo) run APM programs, while startups often hire directly for hybrid PM/UX roles.
Absolutely. The demand for PMs continues to rise, with LinkedIn listing “Product Manager” among the top 10 most in-demand roles globally.
The mix of business, design, and tech skills makes it one of the most future-proof careers, especially as AI shapes new product categories.
Create mini projects or case studies, pick a product you use, identify a problem, and outline how you’d improve it.
You can also volunteer to help startups or non-profits define their digital product strategy.
Or learn directly from working PMs who’ve built real products, ChatYourCareer connects you with them.
Balancing business goals with user needs
Prioritising limited resources
Navigating vague stakeholder expectations
Dealing with constant change and uncertainty
PMs thrive by embracing agility, data, and clear communication.
Growth paths include:
Senior Product Manager → Group PM → Head of Product → VP Product → CPO
Alternative paths: Product Strategy, Growth, or General Management.
Many PMs also move into founder or consulting roles, using their product and leadership experience.
You’ll enjoy product management if you love solving problems, talking to users, and balancing creativity with business logic.
If you find yourself asking “Why was this product built this way?”, it’s probably a good fit.
Before committing, talk to real PMs through ChatYourCareer to understand the realities of the role.
AI is reshaping how PMs work, from data analysis and feature prioritisation to automating documentation and user research.
Rather than replacing PMs, AI amplifies their decision-making. The best PMs of the future will be AI-literate strategists who blend data, creativity, and human empathy.

