You’re starting a Product Management internship with no prior experience. What’s the best way to prepare?

My opinion on understanding the basics is to prioritize learning about customer psychology and market dynamics over traditional product management frameworks initially. Understanding why people buy and how markets move can provide a strong foundation for making intuitive decisions in product development, even before you dive deep into specific methodologies or tools.

Start by realizing that being a product manager is like being a juggler at a circus. You need to balance multiple balls (tasks) without dropping any. Learn about product lifecycle, agile methodologies, and the art of persuasion – after all, you'll be convincing your team that your ideas are better than free coffee in the break room.

Many interns go into product management with technical know-how, but little knowledge of business principles. If you can start developing a business mindset, you'll get off to a faster launch than your intern class. Think about the business model of the company you'll be joining. What's their competitive advantage? What are some key factors that would affect their revenues and costs? What type of decisions would a Product Manager make that would affect those factors?

It's like preparing for a blind date, but with a company. Dive deep into their website, read reviews, and stalk them on social media. Show up on your first day knowing more about the product than the founder's pet goldfish.

Just like deciding which cheat codes to use in a video game, set realistic learning goals for your internship. Whether it's mastering a new tool or leading a feature launch, aim high but remember, even Mario had to start with collecting coins before rescuing Princess Peach.

Product management is all about collaboration. So, start practicing your charm. You'll need to befriend developers, designers, and stakeholders faster than you can say "feature creep."

You may not end up working at this company, but you will hopefully meet an intern class full of capable, ambitious young people. Keep in touch with them! They could form just as important a network as the full-time staff you work with.

Think of yourself as a chameleon in a room full of mood rings. Embrace change, take initiative, and always be ready to pivot – just like your startup's business model every other week.

Preparing for a Product Management internship with no prior experience involves learning the basics of product management, networking with professionals in the field, gaining hands-on experience through projects or internships, honing communication skills, and staying curious about industry trends. By following these steps, you can build a solid foundation and set yourself up for success in the role.