I just saw a product manager role with an 80k salary and I’m livid.
Nigeria is such a shitty place to be. A lot of software companies don’t value product managers, that’s why they can confidently pay 50-100k as salary.
If you’re just starting out as a product manager, don’t listen to anyone who tells you “you have to pay dues”. You’ve overpaid your dues just being born as a Nigerian.
This is how to set yourself apart so you don’t get underpaid:
1. First, you have to see the value in your role. PMs are not just there to give orders. I’ll post a more detailed breakdown of what PMs do but primarily - you decide if a product lives or dies. You have to deeply understand your customers, decide what features to build and prioritize, be the glue between all the teams, launch and improve the product, and so much more. Look out for my post that breaks this all down.
2. Have mad confidence to a delusional level. This has gotten me gigs that even I know I wasn’t qualified for at the time. Don’t stutter in interviews - this one takes practice tbh. Like I say - have the audacity of a Nigerian man when talking in interviews. They respect that.
3. Show you’re adaptable - A lot of you just think “if i do my job, that’s fine”. No! You have to know how to collaborate outside your team, show impact outside your JD. I’m not saying be a slave. Just show that you’re someone people can count on.
4. Know your responsibilities like the back of your palm: If interviewers are the ones listing your job description for you, and you can’t even tell what’s yours and what isn’t? You can’t tell which one is complex and which is simple? Just collect whatever salary they give you, cause you deserve it. You should be the one explaining what you’ll do when they bring you on board, not the other way round. Then, you can negotiate.
You’re welcome.👍