A product manager answers your burning questions about the career path

Get the inside scoop on what life's really like as a product manager in tech—and how to get hired.

Jun 18, 2025

A product manager answers your burning questions about the career path

In the business world, acronyms can get a bit confusing. For example, take PM, which can stand for several job titles: project manager, program manager, or product manager. But for many tech students and aspiring workers, the latter PM role is the most intriguing—and often, the most mysterious.

If you're wondering, "What even is a product manager, and how do I become one?" you're not alone! That's why seasoned Handshake Product Manager Gabe Forgie joined students for a virtual "ask me anything" session all about what it’s actually like to drive product development and launches at a high-growth tech company. During the session, Gabe spoke to topics like…

  • The journey from customer support to product management (and landing his job on Handshake!)
  • How to manage timelines and expectations for stakeholders, engineering teams, and cross-functional partners
  • Essential skills for success in product management

Enjoy the full Q&A below and be sure to follow other PMs on Handshake to ask questions that didn’t get tackled during Gabe's talk.