Product Manager - Guide Career

Product managers develop the overall vision for a product and therefore have a lot of responsibility. It is one of the few professions that involves so many different aspects. Here are their main tasks:

• Conduct or co-conduct market research to identify customer needs, different buyer profiles and new trends
• Conduct regular competitive intelligence on the positioning of competitors and the products or services they offer
• Design a product or product range based on the opportunities identified with the data collected, for a specific market (age, budget, geographical area, etc.)
• Coordinate the various players in the design and production process
• Participate in pricing policy
• Manage and negotiate with various suppliers
• Implement a marketing strategy (advertising campaign, content marketing on social media, etc.) and manage the allocated budget
• Identify appropriate sales arguments
• Monitor sales results and identify areas for improvement

In a company

As they are in constant contact with various departments, product managers often have to travel within the company and attend meetings. They are also in constant contact with certain external partners (suppliers, service providers, press agencies, etc.) and frequently travel to meet them.

When researching and monitoring results, they usually work from their desk, in front of a computer screen, analysing dashboards.

Product managers work in all types of companies (microbusinesses, SMEs, large groups, etc.) and in all sectors of activity.

As a marketing product manager

In recent years, the profession has become highly digitised, to the point where it is often referred to as ‘marketing product manager’. The digital dimension has taken on an important role in their daily work, particularly with the rise of e-commerce.

As a result, digital marketing has become an integral part of their work, with the implementation of a tailored promotional strategy in collaboration with the marketing team. It should be noted that remote meetings have become the norm, which limits their travel.

To work in this field, you need a five-year degree in business, marketing, sales or management. Certain qualifications make it easier to find a job, such as a business school diploma, which is valued for its practical focus. Training in English is also highly regarded, as it demonstrates to recruiters that you have a good command of professional English.

After completing their A-levels, students can enrol in one of the Bachelor degrees at ISC Paris, such as a Bachelor’s in Business Development or a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Digital Communication. They must then continue their studies with a five-year degree program in order to gain access to employment:

• Master’s in Management
• Master’s in Marketing and Digital Communication
• Master’s in International Business & Management (taught in English)

The Master of Science (MSc) is also a sought-after degree for those wishing to become product managers, thanks in particular to its multidisciplinary and English-speaking nature. Among the options available, students can choose the MSc Responsible Marketing and Communication or the MSc Data & Strategy.

Eventually, product managers can become marketing managers. They are then responsible, along with their team, for developing and implementing a strategy to promote a specific product or service, or even the brand’s overall image.

They can then move on to become marketing directors.

Senior professionals may choose to leave salaried employment to become independent consultants. They then develop a portfolio of clients for whom they provide marketing or product development consulting services. They work completely independently.

With expertise in all phases of the product life cycle, some product managers choose to launch their own brand and become entrepreneurs. They develop and market their own products or services and, depending on their growth, may hire employees.