How to Get Started
as a Product Owner

The tech space is expanding, and as it grows, gaps in the market and new problems emerge that need solutions. This is where a product owner comes in. These professionals work in IT and evaluate products, ensuring they produce results that match user needs and expectations.

If you have an interest in technology or a passion for delivering incredible products, being a product owner is an ideal role for you. In this guide, we’ll go through educational requirements, job outlook, annual salaries, duties, and everything you need to know about how to become a product owner.

Product owners are the authority in product development and product management. They guide a product’s progress and direct its development towards success. They lead meetings to discuss product goals and issues, identify roadmaps for products, and oversee the daily activities of the software team.

Someone in a product owner role will set daily goals and manage schedules that ensure the tasks are correctly carried out. Product owners have significant roles in any product development process and ensure the product suits the users’ needs.

Product ownership and data science are closely related in the sense that they both provide solutions and achieve actionable results. Data science analyzes raw data to generate insight while product owners look for reliable ways to improve customer experience.

A product owner needs to possess data analysis skills to thrive in their job. They likely need to use data to make decisions that will inform the final look of their product, as well as to develop a product strategy with the best chance of success.

It will take you at least eight weeks to become a product owner. This gives you enough time to earn your certificate as a certified product owner. The time frame varies greatly depending on which educational pathway you choose and your previous experience.

Enrolling in a bootcamp will take you at least six to eight months, while other platforms like community college or vocational programs may take longer. If you choose to earn a college degree, it will take you two to four years.

There are many ways to study to become a product owner. It is only natural for individuals with formal training in computer science to be the best fit, however schools and bootcamps provide necessary training to help students to master the necessary skills. Here are some of the education options to begin your career in product ownership.

Most employers require their product owners to possess several attributes. The basic requirements to land a job in the field might include a Bachelor’s Degree in Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field, knowledge of Agile methodologies, experience with product backlog items and user stories, and the ability to work with Scrum framework.

The tech space is growing faster than almost any field. The US Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) reports the job outlook for advertising, promotions, marketing managers is expected to grow 10 percent in the next decade. According to Payscale, the average annual salary for product owners is $87,487.

Product owners are responsible for prioritizing, assigning, and reviewing the work created by development teams while ensuring the proper functionality of the product. They are involved with gathering product requests, coordinating production sprints, and scheduling product release. Below we list some of the key responsibilities of a product owner.

The product owner is a crucial part of any Scrum or product development team as they define the development of the product. They are primarily engaged with the product interface, strategy, business processes, and product feature development.

Product owners develop the product vision and blueprint. They describe what the product should look like, how it will perform, and what it will do for users. They work with business analysts, management, and other departments to make product decisions.

The product backlog document is a document that guides the design and engineering team. Product owners are collaborators with these teams, so they create this document to outline and prioritize each task for the team.

The role of a product owner involves collaborating with internal and external stakeholders as well as customers to build the best products. Primarily because they hold the product vision, they ensure the product team is in touch with what the stakeholders want from the product.

Every competent product owner has essential skills and certifications on their resume. These skills enhance product owners’ effectiveness and increase their ability to maximize product value. A product owner certification, on the other hand, is proof of a product’s owner capability for the job role.

Product ownership can be a complex field that involves knowledge of a variety of subjects and tools. You will need to pass certification exams to meet many product management requirements. Below we list some of the certifications that are important for a product owner to possess.

There are many reasons to become a product owner in 2021. The field is growing and lucrative with numerous career opportunities. These professionals serve a key role in any business because they help maximize business value and identify valuable products.

As product owners have talents that are in-demand for a variety of fields, you will have the flexibility to work with products that interest you. If you enjoy organizing, planning, and have strong interpersonal skills, this career might be perfect for you.