In August – September 2024, after writing my first blog post, I started looking for full-time roles in Product Management. I’ve been running a Web and Digital Solutions Agency called WebiSharp, where I work with clients worldwide. However, over time, I felt stuck in the routine of servicing clients, which became monotonous for me. I realized my personality is more suited to building new things rather than maintaining existing ones, whether built by me or someone else.

Since I graduated in June 2024, my interest shifted from the service industry to the product industry. I began exploring product management, checking out courses, cohorts, and even post-graduation options. After about a week and a half of research, I concluded that working at a company with multiple products in its portfolio was the best way to learn product management. In August 2024, I started applying for entry-level roles, particularly as an Associate Product Manager.

One of the key things I learned during my research was that many top Indian startups hire Associate Product Managers through campus placements at tier 1 institutions. As a graduate of a tier 3 college, that option wasn’t available to me. However, I did have work experience from running my own agency, which worked in my favour.

I began searching for companies in my niche – websites and WordPress. If you don’t know, WordPress is the world’s largest open-source content management system with a vast ecosystem of developers creating both free and paid themes and plugins.

Applying to Brainstorm Force

One company I knew in this space was Brainstorm Force, the creators of the popular Astra theme, Spectra page builder, and various SaaS products. I’ve been familiar with Brainstorm Force since 2021, and I even made a video about their Astra theme in 2020 on my YouTube channel. So, I applied for three roles at their company: Associate Product Manager, Product Marketing Manager, and R&D Specialist – WordPress, as I have relevant skills for all three positions.

Shortly after applying, I received an interview request from Priyanka, a talent acquisition specialist at Brainstorm Force. After a quick interview, she assigned me a task to analyze a product from a different company. Following that, I had interviews with Sujay (Co-founder & CEO), Pratik (CTO), and HR Manager Priti. I felt confident about my fit with the company, and on September 20th, 2024, I signed my first job offer.

Joining Brainstorm Force

I officially joined Brainstorm Force on October 1, 2024, working remotely like the rest of their team. My first two weeks have been amazing. I was onboarded with some basic tasks and an assignment to analyze one of their products. I completed the task before the deadline and started implementing my strategies. My reporting manager, Paras, the Product Manager of the product I’m working on, has been very supportive and friendly, which has made my experience great so far. The company also offers a good work-life balance, which is a bonus.

Why I Chose a Job Over Full-Time Entrepreneurship

Many people have asked me why I chose a job instead of continuing with full-time entrepreneurship. Everyone has their own perspective, and mine is simple: my interest has shifted to product management, and as I explained earlier, this job is the best learning opportunity for me. Coming from a WordPress background, it’s fortunate for me to land a product management role in the same field.

My ultimate goal is still to return to entrepreneurship, but working in a structured, fast-growing company offers valuable lessons in a short period of time. Plus, getting paid to learn is a nice perk!

What About WebiSharp Now?

While working full-time, WebiSharp will continue to operate as it has been. I will manage the agency part-time, primarily on weekends, leading my team to ensure we consistently deliver high-quality web and digital solutions to our clients. All of this will be done transparently, with full disclosure, ensuring that WebiSharp continues to thrive while I pursue new opportunities in product management.

The Importance of Experimenting

Looking back, if I hadn’t started my YouTube channel in 2016 and made over 250 videos, I wouldn’t have learned what I did or had the chance to build WebiSharp. Everything I do is an experiment, and in my opinion, experimenting is the best way to discover what you enjoy. Just like I’m experimenting with this blog, which is really more of a personal documentation space for me.

On that note, I’ll wrap up this blog post. Keep experimenting! Bye!