Question Page

How would you advise a recent university graduate to break into product marketing?

I am a Psychology student about to graduate in a few months, and am looking for insight into how I can grow skills relevant to product marketing and look for experience.
Polomi Batra
Zendesk Director of Product MarketingAugust 21

Breaking into product marketing as a recent graduate requires a strategic approach:

  1. Build a strong foundation: Supplement your degree with certifications in product marketing (Product marketing alliance and Pragmatic Institute are two good spots to start), digital marketing, product management, or data analysis.

  2. Gain practical experience: Seek internships, entry-level roles, or work on side projects that require similar skills to product marketing (skills like messaging, positioning, research on customer insights as an example). Hands-on experience is crucial.

  3. Network: Join industry groups, attend webinars, and seek mentorship from professionals in the field, or friends in your network. Building relationships can open doors.

  4. Tailor your resume: Highlight relevant experience and create a portfolio showcasing any marketing or product-related projects. If you're in psychology for example, you've likely had some research experience, are a great writer, and can understand humans well - these are all skills relevant to product marketing.

  5. Prepare for interviews: Understand the role, practice case studies, and be ready to discuss how your skills align with product marketing.

  6. Stay persistent: Apply broadly to related roles and be flexible. Continuous learning and adaptability will help you land your first product marketing position.

1561 Views
Developing Your Product Marketing Career
Thursday, January 23 • 12PM PT
Developing Your Product Marketing Career
Virtual Event
Bhavani Mishra
Paulina Le
Irakli Iosebashvili
+334
attendees
Top Product Marketing Mentors
Mary Sheehan
Mary Sheehan
Adobe Head of Lightroom Product Marketing
Jeffrey Vocell
Jeffrey Vocell
Panorama Education Head of Product Marketing
Katharine Gregorio
Katharine Gregorio
Adobe Sr Director of Product Marketing, Creative Cloud
Kevin Garcia
Kevin Garcia
Anthropic Product Marketing Leader
Susan "Spark" Park
Susan "Spark" Park
Monzo Director of Product Marketing
Jackie Palmer
Jackie Palmer
ActiveCampaign VP Product Marketing
Alissa Lydon
Alissa Lydon
Dovetail Head of Product Marketing
April Rassa
April Rassa
Clari VP, Solutions Marketing
Sarah Din
Sarah Din
Quickbase VP of Product Marketing
Natala Menezes
Natala Menezes
Dialpad Vice President Product Marketing