Being a basic PM

During my B.Tech, I balanced my studies with active participation in clubs and committees, and also engaged in sports and exploration. Aspiring for a non-core placement, I didn't participate in hackathons or apply for internships. After graduation, I pursued various paths, including preparing for the CAT exam with only three months of preparation time, but I didn't succeed. I then applied to several companies for data analytics roles but kept making new mistakes in each attempt. In one instance, I was rejected for oversharing my passion for data science in a final interview. To improve my chances, I optimized my resume and completed significant projects, but these efforts haven't yet yielded the desired results. Realizing the challenges of relying on a single target, I also started preparing for the GATE exam. Reflecting on my journey, I recognize that I should have applied for on-campus opportunities, as off-campus job hunting is challenging and unpredictable, regardless of one's preparation. Tell me your story? In order to get some hope that we can make it and it's never too late

So I interviewed for a SaaS company serving US clients. I got selected after three rounds (basic email chat, built a project, technical coding round at last) and got selected. Finally, it was time to discuss salary and joining date with the CEO. He was impressed by the about section on my portfolio, where I mentioned that I like to go on treks, hikes, read books, lift weights, go on a run, etc. During our call he mentioned that everyone at the startup works 6-7days a week, 12hrs a day and asked if I'd be fine with it as I have a "happening life". I said that I'm not used to it but I'll manage and work in appropriate working hours. He seemed to agree on it. But he ghosted me after that, and when I pinged him in the email thread; he said he's not moving ahead with me because my other properties won't allow me to "work as much as other employees". How am I supposed to react to this lol

Hey everyone, I've been lurking here for a while, but I felt compelled to share my story today. It’s AM here in Seattle and read @PunyBlame’s post on the impostor syndrome - hit a nerve! I'm a 29-year-old woman, currently working as a Product Manager at Amazon in Seattle. No MBA, no tech background - just a Philosophy degree from Mumbai University and a whole lot of grit. Five years ago, if you'd told me I'd be where I am now, I would've laughed in your face. Back then, I was just another lost graduate, wondering what the hell I was going to do with a philosophy degree in a world obsessed with engineering and MBAs. But here's the thing I learned: success isn't always about being the smartest or having the "right" degree. Sometimes, it's just about showing up, day after day, even when you feel like an imposter. My journey started with a crappy content writing job that barely paid the bills. But I showed up every day, wrote those mind-numbing product descriptions, and used my free time to learn everything I could about tech and product management. I applied to hundreds of jobs, faced countless rejections. But I kept showing up. I networked like crazy, attended every tech meetup I could find in Mumbai, even when I felt like I didn't belong. I volunteered for projects at work that were way above my pay grade, just to get experience. Then came the breakthrough - a junior product role at a small startup. The pay was mediocre, the hours were insane, but I showed up every day with enthusiasm. I soaked up knowledge like a sponge, asked questions, made mistakes, and learned from them. Two years and three job changes later, I landed a role at Amazon India. It was a huge leap, and I felt completely out of my depth. Imposter syndrome hit me hard. But you know what? I showed up anyway. I put in the hours, raised my hand for challenging projects, and gradually, things started to click. When an opportunity came up in Seattle, I threw my hat in the ring, even though I was sure they'd laugh at my application. But they didn't. They saw my track record of showing up and getting shit done. Now, I'm not going to pretend it's all been smooth sailing. Moving to Seattle was terrifying. There are still days when I feel like I'm faking it. But I've learned that everyone feels that way sometimes. The key is to show up anyway. To anyone out there feeling lost or underqualified, here's what I want you to know: 1. Your degree doesn't define you. Skills can be learned if you're willing to put in the work. 2. Apply for jobs even if you don't tick all the boxes. Let them reject you; don't reject yourself. 3. Network genuinely. Help others without expecting anything in return. It pays off in unexpected ways. 4. Take on challenges that scare you. Growth happens outside your comfort zone. 5. Most importantly, just show up. Every. Single. Day. You'll face rejection. You'll doubt yourself. You'll want to quit. But if you keep showing up, putting in the work, and pushing through the tough times, you'd be amazed at where you can end up. So, to all the Philosophy grads (or any grads) out there wondering about their future - the world is full of opportunities if you're willing to work for them. Your destiny isn't decided by your degree, it's shaped by your determination :)

As I'm entering a new stage of life, I'm starting to reevaluate my career priorities. In my 20s, I was all about climbing the ladder and chasing prestige. Now, I'm more focused on finding work that aligns with my values and allows for a balanced lifestyle. Have any of you gone through a similar shift? How did it change your career trajectory? And how do you define success for yourself now versus when you first started out?

I woke up with a notification that started with “Hope you had a great weekend. Unfortunately…” I didn’t have the courage to open the entire mail. I knew what it was. A little context here, i have been unemployed for the last 5 months. I got laid off from my first job with not even an year of work experience. We all know how bad the market condition is, and how harsh it is for freshers. Me being the optimistic person that i am, ignored all these setbacks and began my hunt for my next dream job. With the help of my friends, I started preparing for interviews. I was lucky enough to get shortlisted for few good companies. But somehow or the other things always went south and i ended up without an offer. I made sure to not get disheartened and keep trying my best with a positive attitude. And then i interviewed with this one company, that perfectly aligned with me. All my interviews went well and made it till the final round. Now it was a call from the leadership. I strongly believed that this is my shot. After months of feeling stuck, I thought this is going to be my moment of relief. Even though this journey was hard i made sure to enjoy every bit of it. But now here i am with another rejection mail. I am now questioning my entire belief system. And not sure what to do next. Any advice/suggestions are welcome :)

Being anonymous gives me a safe space. But life is getting tougher than ever each day. I wish I had a better paying job. I wish I had time to have slow mornings. I wish I could provide for my family and give them the things they much deserve. I wish I had a chance to rewire rewind and restart. I wish I could do more than I wish to do. It's all wishes guys . It's all hopes. . Nothing seems fulfilling. Nothing seems to make me happy. I have forgotten what carefree days were like. Adulting is kinda hitting hard. I am not able to cope up. Can someone relate?

Hey GV folks, long-time lurker, first-time poster here. I'm a product leader at Zomato, managing a team of 8 PMs. Today, I want to share a practice that's become the cornerstone of our product philosophy - and it all started with me being "punished" by my first manager. At the cost of self praising, this is some really good advice so I hope you’re able to extract the maximum value out of this. Five years ago, I was a cocky new PM, fresh out of a fancy consulting gig. I thought I knew everything about our users based on data and surveys. My wake-up call came when I royally screwed up a feature release. Instead of firing me, my manager did something unconventional - she made me spend a week as a delivery partner. I was pissed. Riding around Bangalore in the March heat, navigating traffic, dealing with hangry customers - how was this supposed to make me a better PM? But on day three, while waiting for an order outside Truffles (fellow Bangaloreans, you know the wait I'm talking about), I struck up a conversation with a few seasoned delivery partners. What I learned in those 30 minutes blew my mind. They shared hacks they'd developed, pain points I'd never considered, and insights about customer behavior that no amount of data could have revealed. I realized I'd been building features in a vacuum, completely disconnected from the real world our app operated in. That week changed everything. I rewrote our entire product roadmap based on what I learned. The results? Our delivery partner satisfaction scores shot up, and our order completion rates improved significantly. Since then, I've made it a point to spend one day every month doing deliveries. It keeps me grounded, provides constant insights, and reminds me who we're really building for. When I started managing other PMs, I knew I had to institutionalize this practice. Now, it's mandatory for everyone on my team to do a delivery day once a month. No exceptions. At first, there was resistance. "We have data for this," they'd argue. "I can't waste a whole day delivering food!" But after their first experience, they got it. Now, our team meetings are buzzing with insights from the field. Here's why I believe every product manager should regularly step into their users' shoes: 1. Data doesn't tell the whole story: Numbers can show you what's happening, but not why. Real interactions reveal the context behind the data. 2. Empathy drives innovation: When you experience user pain points firsthand, you're more motivated to solve them creatively. 3. It challenges assumptions: Nothing humbles you faster than realizing your "brilliant" feature is actually a pain to use in the real world. 4. It builds credibility: When you can say "I've done this myself," your team and stakeholders listen differently. 5. It's a reminder of impact: In the daily grind of KPIs and metrics, it's easy to forget that we're affecting real people's lives. This practice keeps that front and center. Some practical tips if you want to try this: - Don't just observe. Actually do the job. - Engage in conversations. Users (and front-line workers) are usually eager to share their experiences if you show genuine interest. - Look for workarounds and hacks. These are gold mines for product insights. - Pay attention to the environment and context in which your product is used. - Reflect on the experience immediately after. What surprised you? What frustrated you? To my fellow PMs out there: when was the last time you truly stepped into your users' shoes? If it's been a while, I challenge you to give it a try. You might just find your next big product breakthrough while waiting to pick up someone’s 1 am order from Empire :) P.S. Took a photo while waiting for my order, would probably have been fired long back had it not been for this evening!

It's getting dirtier by the day and sure some orgs are still up to their dirty tricks. The models: - Appraise and then Lay Off: Why bother putting bandaid on a stab wound? Anyways the folks are going to fight how to answer the ..why were you laid off war, and now you are adding another twist.. why were you appraised and then laid off? - Low appraisals to force quit: Undervalue them so they leave on their own. It’s a leeches way to cut costs. Kill morale 100%. Severance penny spent $0. - Trap them in PIP: Dress it up however you want - very very few escape this death sentence. - Silent treatment: No assignments, No meetings. Watch them spiral into anxiety and leave to save their sanity. - Workload overload: Drown them in work until they break. No need for layoffs list until they make it to your collapse list first. - Strategic reorg: Re-organize them out of existence. Offer a demotion or a proxy role in a random team that you know they dont want as an alternative. - Sudden policy changes: oh! I have seen so many I can't keep up with this one. New policies that make their life hell. People leave to escape your pettiness. - Mandatory relocation: Demand they move to an undesirable location. Then you treat remote employees like outsiders. Exclude them from key projects, conversations until they feel like foster care kids, second-class citizens. You know the outcome from there on. - Use the "Culture Fit" excuse: Call out how they’re not a culture fit. Vague, unchallengeable, and forces them out without severance. And don't sell me "the org has got to do what it has got to do to survive" line. I don't buy that If you have seen this being done, I understand your silence, but I don't value it. If this has been done to you or someone close to you, I am sorry. Orgs and the people failed you. We could be 1000x better than what we are operating as.

I am 24 F and not currently working. I got laid off from my first job with 9 months of work experience. I did DSA and applied to various companies, got shortlisted and cleared few rounds as well but after facing few heart crushing rejections i don’t feel like preparing any more. I have never been excited by the idea of working for a big MNC(people my age have their dream companies listed and are working towards it). Somehow this isn’t my calling and i am totally lost because i have not been working for the last 5 months. I strongly believe that there are few things we are naturally good at(I might be wrong here). Ever since my school days i have been a hard working person and have taken things very seriously. But now in this phase when i should be working hard, i dont feel like doing it, probably because i am doing something that doesn’t excite me. I somehow feel i am naturally good at networking, meeting new people,connecting with people at once, building things from scratch. Has anyone been through the same phase? I would highly appreciate any suggestions/advice. HELP ME OUT GUYS!!

Profile- 4 YOE, B.Tech from old IIT I started looking for new roles towards the end of June, and it took me approximately two months to get an offer letter. My skillset in a niche technical area helped me to get this offer. My advice to folks looking for a job, focus on your strengths and do not get discouraged. It's brutal out there, but you need only one job. Stay focused.