Securing an internship as a product manager can be a game-changer for your career. It provides real-world experience, helps you build a professional network, and enhances your resume. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know to land a product management internship, from assessing your interests to preparing for interviews. Let's dive in!

What is Product Management？

Product management is a strategic function within an organization that involves the planning, development, and marketing of products throughout their lifecycle. 

What Do You Do at a Product Manager Internship?

A Product Manager Intern will be completely involved in the industry at the company where they are interning. You will be able to perform many of the same activities as a Product Manager, such as generating product roadmaps and engaging with engineers and designers. You will work directly with professional Product Managers and have numerous opportunities for mentorship. Essentially, a product management internship is an excellent approach to obtain practical experience and develop your Product Manager resume.

Types of Product Management Jobs

Product management encompasses various roles, each with specific focuses and responsibilities. Here are some common types of product management jobs:

1. Product Manager (PM): Oversees the development and management of a product from inception to launch and beyond.
2. Technical Product Manager (TPM): Focuses on the technical aspects of product development, often working closely with engineering teams.
3. Associate Product Manager (APM): An entry-level position for those starting a career in product management.
4. Product Owner (PO): Often found in Agile development environments, focusing on maximizing the value of the product.
5. Growth Product Manager: Focuses on driving user acquisition, engagement, retention, and monetization.
6. UX/UI Product Manager: Combines product management with marketing responsibilities.

Majors Suitable for Product Manager

A successful career in product management can stem from various educational backgrounds, including Business Administration, Marketing, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Economics, Psychology, Design, Industrial Design, Communications, Statistics or Data Science, Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Management Information Systems. 

Each of these majors offers unique skills and perspectives essential for different aspects of product management, such as market analysis, technical development, user experience, data-driven decision-making, financial planning, and effective communication. The best choice of major depends on the specific industry or type of product you aim to manage.

Resources You Need to Find a Product Manager Internship

Using Your School's Career Services Center

One of the most valuable resources for finding internships is your school's career services center. Here’s how you can make the most of your career services center:

• Schedule Appointments: Regularly meet with a career advisor to discuss your career goals and internship options.
• Stay Informed: Subscribe to newsletters and updates from the career center to stay informed about upcoming events and new opportunities.
• Engage with Alumni: Many career centers have strong connections with alumni who are eager to help current students.

Leveraging Social Media and Websites of Your Target Companies to Stay Updated

In today's digital age, social media and company websites are indispensable tools for job seekers. Here’s how to effectively use social media and websites in your internship search:

Leveraging Social Media

• LinkedIn: Follow companies and join industry groups on LinkedIn. Engage with content posted by companies and connect with employees.
• Twitter: Companies often tweet about job openings and events. Use hashtags like #Internship, #JobOpening, and #CareerOpportunity to find relevant posts.

Utilizing Company Websites

• Career Pages: Regularly visit the career sections of company websites. Some companies also offer newsletters or job alerts you can subscribe to.
• Employee Blogs: Read blogs written by current employees to gain insights into the company culture and internship experiences.
• Virtual Events: Participate in webinars, virtual tours, and online Q&A sessions hosted by the company.

How to Write an Effective Resume

What is ATS？

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is computer software that human resource departments use to process the overwhelming number of applications they receive for job openings.

Here are some tips to make sure your resume can be read by an ATS:

• Use simple and clear language to avoid confusing the system.
• Stick to standard resume headers like “Education” and “Work Experience”. Avoid creative headers.
• Use common fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica for readability.
• Keep 1-inch margins on all sides to prevent your resume from looking crowded.
• Avoid unnecessary graphics or decorations, as they can confuse the ATS.
• Don’t use special characters or symbols that the system might not understand.
• Create your resume in a Word document to ensure it looks good and is easy for the ATS to read.

Follow Basic Formatting Requirements

Use a professional resume template to ensure your resume is neat and easy to read, effectively highlighting key information with clear headings, consistent formatting, and an organized structure.

Resume Formatting Rules

• Left-align the content.
• Use 1″ margins.
• Select a professional, easy-to-read font.
• Divide your information into clear sections.
• Set clear headers for each section.
• Use bullet points to explain your work experience.
• Keep your resume an appropriate length (one page for most candidates)

A resume should be concise, using bullet points and formatting to highlight key information, ensuring that recruiters can quickly understand your qualifications and achievements. Use formatting techniques such as bold, italics, or color to emphasize keywords and critical information, making them immediately noticeable during rapid scanning.

Resume Template： Resume Template.docx

Demonstrate Your Fit for the Job

Provide a clear personal summary that outlines your resume, highlighting key points and skills directly related to the position, and emphasizing both technical and soft skills to show your alignment with the job requirements and your career aspirations.

Relevant Skills

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A successful product manager's resume features a succinct skills section. It should include hard, soft, and technical skills, as well as outside hobbies and unrelated projects, all within two or three lines.

Education

New graduates should place their education near the top of their resume. Those with over 5 years of experience as a PM should place it below their relevant experience.

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Experience

The 'Relevant Experience' section is the most crucial part of your product manager resume. It's your resume's defining feature, where recruiters will determine your interview suitability.

How to Build Your Network and Connections

LinkedIn Connection

Even if you don't have inside connections, LinkedIn is your secret weapon for tapping into the power of networking with the company's own team.

1. In the LinkedIn "People" section of the target company/industry, filter for positions of interest, preferably selecting alumni. Alumni are more inclined to offer assistance. Send a note to connect (briefly introducing yourself with your name, school, major, interests, and reason for contacting them).
2. Upon receiving an invitation to connect: Express gratitude, provide another brief self-introduction, inquire about scheduling a brief coffee chat, and briefly outline areas of interest.
3. Pre-chat preparation: Prepare a self-introduction; review the other person's profile beforehand; prepare ten questions of interest (related to their profession or education).
4. On the day of the chat: Enter the chat five minutes early, tidy up appearance, confirm questions to ask, then chat as if with a senior colleague! Exchange greetings, introduce yourself, and ask questions. Respond to their answers with your own thoughts and experiences for deeper engagement!
5. At the end of the chat: Ask directly if they are willing to refer you; offer to provide your resume for them to learn more about you. Usually, they will agree at this point. It's okay if they don't. Regardless of the outcome, always express gratitude politely.

Offline Networking

• Participate in Offline Activities

Actively participate in school and industry offline events like job fairs and forums to understand industry trends and connect with experts.

• Volunteer at Industry Events

Volunteering at industry events demonstrates your enthusiasm and responsibility while providing valuable organizational skills and opportunities to network with industry veterans and potential employers.

• Attend Lectures and Seminars

Regularly attend lectures and seminars to gain industry insights, learn from experts, and network with speakers.

• Network During Other Internships

Utilize your internship to network with colleagues and supervisors, building professional relationships that can enhance your career development.

How to Stand Out in an Interview

Professional Behavior

First, present yourself as if you are already in the job. Treat the interview like a cosplay event where you play the role of a professional. Mimic the appearance and behavior of a workplace professional. Choosing appropriate formal attire is fundamental. When communicating with the interviewer, accurately expressing your thoughts, demonstrate the composure of someone with years of work experience.

Tips for Behavioral Interviews

With these kinds of questions, interviewers are usually trying to learn three things:

• They want to know how you behaved in a real-world situation.
• They want to understand the measurable value you added to that situation.
• They are trying to learn how you define something like “pressure at work”—a concept different people might interpret differently.

Success in a behavioral interview is all about preparation. There aren’t necessarily wrong answers. These questions are aimed at getting to know the real you. The important thing is to be honest and to practice structuring your responses in a way that communicates what you have to offer.

Here are some important tips to consider when preparing for your next behavioral interview:

• Review major projects you’ve worked on.
• Revisit previous job performance reviews.
• Make a list of your professional accomplishments.
• Use the STAR method to structure your response.
• Practice your interview responses aloud.
• Keep your answers under two minutes.

How to prepare for a behavioral interview

Showcase Your Extensive Experience

Even if you encounter work content during the interview that you haven't experienced, don't panic. Observe the work of others, learn from their experiences, and adapt these experiences as your own. For example, if a classmate mentioned a relevant technique or method in a school project, you can discuss your understanding of this topic during the interview and express your interest in learning and practicing it further.

What questions should you ask at the end of the interview?

At the end of the interview, if the candidate doesn't have any questions to ask, he or she may appear to lack interest and initiative in the position or the company, and miss the opportunity to further demonstrate their curiosity and deepen the conversation.

What can I ask?

**HR（ Generally for initial interviews）：**The main understanding of the company's basic situation, assessment standards, departmental situation and other issues, reflecting stability and intentionality.

• Could you describe the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
• What is the company culture and core values like here?
• What are the key success metrics for this position?

Final Interview

Immediate supervisors: mainly to understand the tasks of the position, the division of labor, and the problems of their own travel, reflecting professionalism and initiative

• How does the team typically collaborate on projects?
• Could you share some details about the current main projects the team is working on?
• How can I contribute most effectively in this role within the team?

Senior leaders: mainly understand the company's development direction, departmental goals, personal improvement and other aspects of the problem, reflecting independent thinking and upward mobility

• What are some key goals or plans for the company in the coming years?
• How do you see this position contributing to the company's long-term strategy?
• What support does the company offer for career development and growth?

Can't ask anything.

Questions that are too pointed or negative: For example, asking direct questions about why the company has a high turnover rate, internal conflicts, etc., may make the interview atmosphere awkward and affect the interviewer's evaluation of the applicant's attitude.

If you have any more interview questions, here's a ChatGPT plugin I recommend: Interview Pro, It helps you excel in interviews across various job functions and levels.

How to Follow Up with HR on Interview Results

At different stages after the interview, you can follow specific scripts to inquire about the results from HR. Here are some recommended communication scripts to keep in mind:

On-site Inquiry Right After the Interview

"Thank you very much for the opportunity to interview with your company. It allowed me to showcase my abilities and learn more about your organization. I had a very pleasant conversation with the interviewer and look forward to the possibility of working together. Could you please let me know approximately how long it will take to finalize the interview results?"

Same Day as the Interview

Online Inquiry:

"Hello, I am *** who interviewed for the *** position this morning. Thank you very much for arranging this interview. During the interview, I felt the professionalism and rigor of your company and learned about the career prospects of the position, which align well with my career plans. I hope to have the opportunity to work with your company. Could you please let me know when the interview results are expected to be finalized? Thank you."

Three Days After the Interview

Routine Inquiry:

"Hello, I am （name） who interviewed for the ** position on Tuesday. I had a very pleasant conversation with the interviewer, and I now have a clearer understanding of the company and the position. I am looking forward to the opportunity to join the company. Could you please let me know if the interview results have been finalized? Thank you."

Advanced Inquiry:

"Hello, I was very pleased to attend the interview with your company last week. I would like to inquire if the interview results are available now. I have received several offers from other companies, but considering the prospects of the company and the position, your company is still my preferred choice. I look forward to your feedback. Thank you!"

Things to confirm after receiving an offer but before starting the job: Guide: Next Steps After You Got a Job Offer

How to Seek Professional Advice and Guidance

Here are some websites and tools to help you stay informed about industry trends and company operations:

Websites for Industry Trends

1. Gartner: Offers insights and research on various industries, providing reports and market analysis.
2. Statista: Provides statistics and reports on a wide range of industries and topics.
3. McKinsey & Company: Publishes research and insights on global industries and market trends.
4. Harvard Business Review: Covers a wide array of business topics, including industry trends and best practices.
5. PwC: Offers industry-specific insights and analysis.

Tools for Learning About Company Operations

1. Bloomberg: Provides comprehensive business and financial news, stock market data, and company analysis.
2. Yahoo Finance: Offers financial news, data, and analysis on companies.
3. Glassdoor: Gives insights into company cultures, employee satisfaction, and salaries.
4. LinkedIn: Useful for tracking company updates, industry news, and professional networking.
5. Crunchbase: Provides information on company funding, investments, and industry connections.

School Career Services Center Websites

Each school's career center website offers a full range of career guidance that you can't afford to miss!

Embracing Growth and Seizing Opportunities

Getting a good product manager internship needs preparation and perseverance. Though the procedure can be difficult, the experience gained from some internships will offer you an excellent basis for launching a career in your desired area.