I didn’t have an IIT/IIM tag.
No MBA.
No prior PM experience.
Just curiosity, consistency, and a bit of chaos.
Tricks which I used are -
1. Learn the craft before the role -
I started understanding the fundamentals - product thinking, user empathy, PRDs, wireframes, reading product decks, metrics, even before I had a PM title. You don’t need permission to learn.
2. Started solving case studies -
I didn’t wait for a job to build products. I started taking part in case study challenges, explored all the apps on my phones and identified out resistances in my journey and tried solving it.
3. Reverse-engineered job descriptions
Every JD is a goldmine. I noted down repeating skills and built those - SQL, Jira, user flows, roadmap planning. The goal wasn’t to fake it. It was to earn it.
4. Cold DMs with context
Not “Hi, please refer me to this job opening at your company”
But “Hi, I read your post on LinkedIn, loved your take. I built a case study on your product, solving 'XYZ problem' - would love your feedback.”
Guess what? 6/10 people replied.
5. Posted consistently
I started writing about what I was learning - not as an expert, but as a learner. This visibility helped me connect with PMs, mentors, and eventually recruiters.
6. Got rejected. A lot.
Rejections hurt. Ghosting suck. But every “No” refined my next attempt.
Eventually, the right “Yes” found me.
If you're trying to break into PM, remember:
You don’t need a fancy background.
You need proof of work, curiosity, and grit.
And if I could do it, so can you.
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