What You Need to Know About Product Manager (PM) Remote Jobs

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic came to light, the availability of product manager remote jobs was on the rise. 

However, when companies across the world were forced to shut down in-person operations, remote work became the new norm.

While some companies will eventually request all employees to once again work on-site, others will stick with 100% remote operations or a hybrid model. We’re already seeing this with big-name companies like Amazon, Dropbox, Facebook, Microsoft, and Reddit. 

If you’re interested in product manager remote positions — no matter if you’re currently employed or not — there are some things you need to know. 

Listen along via Youtube if you prefer:

The following five questions and answers should clear the air, thus positioning you to land a remote position that suits your wants and needs. 

1. What’s the best way to find remote product manager jobs?

One simple word — remote — opens up a world of career opportunities. 

Maybe you live in New York City and have the desire to work for a company based out of California. With remote work, you can chase your dream without the requirement to pick up and move.

There are three general ways to find remote PM jobs:

• Online job boards
• Directly searching company websites
• Connecting with your network 

While it’s good practice to exhaust all your options, the most efficient way to find these positions is by scouring online job boards. 

For example, a Google search for “remote product manager jobs” displays the following:

This information is pulled from various sources, such as LinkedIn and We Work Remotely.

You can also visit these job boards directly. For example, if you live in California, search LinkedIn for “remote product manager” and set the location to “California, United States.”

Here’s what you’ll get:

In addition to nearly 1,000 open positions, you’re provided with details such as:

• Company name 
• Position title
• Number of applications via LinkedIn
• Full job description

Tip: alter your search — such as by job title and industry — for a more efficient approach. It’s time-consuming to review thousands of PM job openings. Focus your efforts on the ones that closely match your requirements. 

2. Does remote really mean remote?

Remote is a hot buzzword in the current job market. But many companies are advertising remote work, just for job candidates to find that it’s not 100% true.

The first thing you should do is define what “remote work” means to you. For example:

• You may be interested only in 100% remote work
• You may be open to a remote/hybrid mix
• You may be open to 100% remote work, with travel for in-person meetings 

From the job description, do your best to determine what the company means by remote. If it’s not clearly defined, dig deeper during your first contact — such as with a recruiter or HR rep — to learn more. 

The last thing you want to do is make your way deep into the interview process, just to find that the position isn’t what you initially thought it was. 

3. What does it take to succeed as a product manager working remotely?

By now, you realize that working remotely as a product manager is possible. But you want to do more than land a job. You want to succeed as a PM in today’s new working world.

Every company expects something different from product managers. And every candidate brings something unique to the table.

There’s an endless number of things you need to succeed as a remote product manager, but three stand out from the crowd:

Self-discipline: This is necessary for success with any remote job. What will you do to ensure that you work a full day? How will you deal with distractions at home? Can you thrive in an environment in which there’s no one looking over your shoulder?

The full backing of your employer: Many companies were forced by the pandemic to move to a fully remote model. Of these companies, some are looking forward to the day when everyone can once again work on-site. 

If you don’t have the full backing of your employer, it’s a challenge to succeed in a remote environment. You’ll run into issues such as:

• Being micromanaged from afar
• Questions about your schedule
• Issues regarding mistrust

The right technology: Depending on your age, you may remember the days when remote work meant talking on the phone, sending and receiving faxes, and using snail mail to share documents. 

Those days are gone. Technology makes it easier than ever to efficiently communicate in a remote setting. 

This goes along with having the full backing of your employer. If they are truly interested in making the arrangement work, they’ll provide all the technology you need to succeed. Tools such as Loom, Zoom, Notion, and Slack should be in your toolbox. 

4. What traits and skills do companies look for in remote product management job candidates? 

There are a variety of traits and skills companies look for when interviewing and hiring product managers. However, when hiring for remote positions, additional traits and skills move to the forefront.

These include:

• Communication and interpersonal skills: This is always important, but even more so in a remote environment.
• Time management skills: How will you manage your time without supervision? 
• Strong tech skills: This comes in handy when using tools to communicate, share progress updates, and more. 
• Problem-solving: The ability to address issues as they come up, often without outside assistance. 

Displaying these traits and skills in your remote PM job interview will help move you to the top of the candidate list. 

5. What questions should you expect in a remote product manager job interview?

If you’re interviewing for a remote PM job, your interview is likely to take place via Zoom, Skype, or a similar platform. 

Right off the bat, this allows the interviewer to see how you carry yourself in a remote environment. 

Tip: review our list of 2500+ product manager interview questions to prepare. 

The interview for a remote position may differ slightly from for an on-site position. Here are some unique questions that may be asked of you:

• What experience do you have working remotely?
• How do you like to communicate with the rest of your team when working in a remote environment?
• What approach do you take to time management?
• What special skills do you have that allow you to work effectively in a remote environment?
• What are the top challenges you’ve faced in the past as a remote worker?
• What interests you most about remote PM jobs? Why do you want to work from home?

In short, you must prepare for remote-specific interview questions. You can guarantee that they’ll come to light. 

Final Thoughts

According to Upwork’s “Future of Workforce Pulse Report,” approximately 42% of Americans were working fully remote as of the first quarter of 2021.

Adding to this, research by Mercer, an HR and workplace benefits consulting firm, states that 94% of 800 employers surveyed shared that productivity was equal to or greater than it was before the pandemic, despite an uptick in remote work.

With more open product manager remote jobs than ever before, now may be the right time to begin your search. Companies big and small, from one side of the country to the next, are seeking PM applicants who are willing to work remotely.