What do you look for when you're hiring a PM or Senior PM?

Oh, I could write about this for a loooong time :). I'll condense down to a few key traits

• Critical thinking - do you have the ability to understand and articulate the problem you are solving for and then finding a solution that works

• Collaboration and communication - PMs work through influence. Being able to work with and communicate with peers and stakeholders is critical to success. I look for the ability to structure your thoughts and have strong verbal and written communication as part of this.

• Execution chops - PMs absolutely need to be able to write a spec, work with engineering to deliver a feature, measure and track success, and iterate. This is non negotiable. You maybe the best at everything else, but if you can't be strong at execution, its going to be hard to deliver value

• Define product direction - Understand customer needs, the market, your specific value proposition and define the roadmap for your area - for a more junior PM it may only be 1-2 quarters, for a senior PM 2-4 quarters and longer for principal and above. You may change it but can you help the team set a path and show them a way to get there

• Make people around you better - PMs always lead a team, as an early career IC, you are still setting the direction i.e. leading your engineering team. Do you take the opportunity to help people around you get better i.e. do you help raise the bar across the folks you work with- could be as simple as sharing the business goals towards which you are headed, helping someone get better at written communication etc.

When hiring a PM or Senior PM, I focus on product sense, execution skills, and a hunger to learn.

Key Evaluation Criteria:

1. Soft Skills:

   • Do they clearly understand the problem they were solving and why it mattered?

   • Can they articulate key decisions, their rationale, and how they approached them?

   • How do they reflect on challenges and share how they navigated them?

   • Do they evaluate the impact of their work and demonstrate self-awareness about what could have been done differently?

2. Hard Skills:

   • Can they break down complex problems and structure solutions effectively?

   • Are they data-informed and able to use metrics to drive decisions?

   • Do they demonstrate strong prioritization and execution capabilities?

Ultimately, I look for PMs who exhibit a balance of critical thinking, adaptability, and self-reflection, paired with a clear drive to grow and make an impact.

I am fortunate that Atlassian has very clear hiring guidelines for all product management roles however, in general I also look for:

1. Flexibility. Flexibility is key for product managers, especially when tackling daily challenges. Unexpected situations happen all the time, and it's important to handle them well. I do not just look for people who can manage change, I look for those who even find joy in uncertainty and work hard to add clarity in these situations.

2. Resilience. Building on flexibility, it's crucial to be resilient in navigating challenges and to take pride in overcoming them.

3. Being decisive and trusting instincts. I’m a big believer in user research, and effective product managers are thoughtful in their decision-making. However, I also look for individuals who can make informed choices on the fly, even when you don’t have all the details.

4. Seeking Feedback. Committing to lifelong learning is a must; we should never settle for what we know. I look for individuals how can demonstrate how they learn and improve every day.

5. Listening. As product managers, we often find ourselves in the spotlight—leading teams and engaging with customers. However, knowing when to hold back and listen is an invaluable skill. When chatting with users, it’s essential to listen closely; when asking your team questions, it’s important to give them time to respond. Being genuinely attentive to what others are saying is a crucial skill that shouldn’t be underestimated.