In this Podcast Series, we bring you an insightful conversation with Riyaz Mohammad, an outplaced candidate from our Product Management Program at Jobaaj Learnings.
Through this podcast-style interaction, Riyaz shares his journey — from his academic background to how he discovered Jobaaj Learnings, his learning experience, and his eventual placement.
If you're curious about how our programs work from a learner's point of view, this blog is for you.
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Podcaster:
Hi Riyaz, my name is Harshit, and I’m part of the digital marketing team at Jobaaj Group. In this podcast, I wanted to know more about your experience with Jobaaj Learnings. But before we dive into that, could you tell us a bit about your educational background—where you were born and brought up, which college you studied at, and so on?
Riyaz:
Thank you. Thank you for having me. My name is Riyaz Mohammad. I come from a BBA background—I’ve completed my Bachelor’s in Business Management and Administration. I was born and brought up in Bangalore, and currently, I’m also based here.
My journey started while I was working in an organization where I focused on solving customer problems. That experience really helped shape my mindset toward understanding product management. It sparked my interest in going deeper into solving real-world customer pain points.
I enrolled in the Jobaaj Product Management Program on 28th August last year. From there, I began attending the cohort sessions and went through all the recordings. The weekend teardown sessions were particularly valuable—interactive classes where actual product managers helped us understand how to approach problems and make structured decisions.
Through those sessions, I started gaining interest in real-world problem-solving. That’s where my learning became more curated and industry-oriented. Then, I got an internship opportunity with Jobaaj itself, which lasted for two months—from September to December. During the internship, I worked on building a community platform, participated in brainstorming sessions, and understood how to identify market gaps and customer needs.
By January, I received my certification from Jobaaj and began preparing seriously for interviews. Initially, cracking interviews was a huge challenge for me—especially since I didn’t come from a traditional product background. I had some practical exposure but lacked a clear understanding of how to drive product processes or handle product interviews.
So, I started exploring additional resources, studying industry case studies, learning from feedback, and understanding what interviewers are really looking for. I completed around 20 product assignments, which helped me sharpen my approach. Feedback from employers helped me refine my understanding further.
Along the way, I also started following market trends—especially how AI is influencing product strategy and operations. This helped me shape my product thinking and approach.
Eventually, I got the opportunity to interview with Illusion Consultants. They appreciated the structured journey I had taken, the self-initiated learning, and the efforts I had put into refining my skills. They offered me an internship which has now turned into a full-time opportunity.
Podcaster:
That’s really inspiring, Riyaz. Now let’s say someone from a completely different background is thinking of transitioning into product management. How hard is that shift? Are there specific skills one must learn before getting into a product role? Or can anyone make the move with enough interest and effort?
Riyaz:
That’s a great question. Honestly, I’d say not everyone can make this transition. You really need to have clarity about why you want to enter product management and what value you can bring to customers or to society.
Product management is fundamentally about solving customer problems creatively and effectively. So, the most important skill is problem-solving. If you’re someone who enjoys digging deep into issues and coming up with structured solutions, product management can be a great fit.
It’s not just about having ideas—it’s about knowing how to prioritize, make decisions, and build something that actually helps users. It also requires empathy, research, communication, and a mindset to learn continuously.
I also want to add that transitioning into this field doesn’t happen overnight. You have to invest time, seek mentorship, stay updated with trends, attend seminars, and be willing to experiment. But if you have the passion and curiosity, it's very possible—even if you’re not from a tech background.
Podcaster:
So is having a tech background mandatory for entering product management?
Riyaz:
Not at all. You don’t need to be a tech expert. You’re not expected to write code, but understanding basic tools and workflows can definitely help. Some companies may require technical understanding depending on the role, but generally, if you can understand the process and collaborate with tech teams, that’s more than enough.
The core focus of a product manager is on understanding the problem, defining the product, and ensuring it solves user needs effectively. If you have that skillset, a tech background is not a must.
Podcaster:
That makes a lot of sense
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Don’t miss the full conversation—watch the podcast now and get inspired by Riyaz’s journey!
General interview questions answered by Riyaz during his selection process
Tell us about yourself and why you're interested in product management.
Sample Answer: I come from a BBA background with a strong interest in business strategy and solving customer problems. While working in customer-facing roles, I realized that many problems could be solved more effectively through product thinking. That’s what led me to pursue formal learning in Product Management. I joined the Jobaaj Learnings program, worked on real-world case studies, and even interned on community product initiatives. This journey confirmed my passion for solving user-centric problems with scalable solutions.
Can you walk us through a product or project you’ve worked on during your training?
Sample Answer: Sure. During my internship at Jobaaj, I worked on a community platform initiative where the goal was to improve user engagement. My role involved identifying user pain points through feedback sessions, mapping feature requests, and proposing MVP functionalities like onboarding flows and basic interaction tools. I collaborated with a design team to sketch wireframes and contributed to documentation that guided the tech team. This experience helped me understand product discovery, documentation, and stakeholder alignment.
How do you prioritize features in a product roadmap?
Sample Answer: I follow a structured approach using frameworks like MoSCoW or RICE. First, I gather user feedback, business goals, and technical inputs. Then I evaluate the impact, feasibility, and urgency of each request. For example, during my internship, we had to choose between launching a community leaderboard or improving user onboarding. I prioritized onboarding because it had a direct impact on user retention and was technically feasible within the sprint cycle.
How do you handle feedback or criticism from stakeholders or users?
Sample Answer: Feedback is essential in product management. I always look at feedback objectively—trying to understand the underlying need behind the comment. I don’t take it personally. During my internship, one of our early feature suggestions was criticized by community leads. Instead of defending it, I organized a short feedback session, understood their pain points better, and collaborated with them to improve the solution.
What are some challenges you faced during your transition into product management, and how did you overcome them?
Sample Answer: The biggest challenge was understanding how to structure product interviews and present myself as a capable PM despite a non-tech background. I tackled it by completing over 20 assignments, analyzing live product case studies, and receiving feedback from mentors and interviewers. I also studied how AI and current trends impact products, which helped me bring industry-relevant ideas during interviews.
What’s your approach to understanding user needs and pain points?
Sample Answer: I use both qualitative and quantitative methods. I start with user interviews or surveys to get first-hand insights, and if available, I support this with behavioral data. One key thing I’ve learned is to listen deeply without assuming. During my internship, I helped draft questions that uncovered why users were dropping off during sign-up—and those insights shaped our new onboarding flow.
What do you think is the role of AI in product management today?
Sample Answer: AI is reshaping how we build and scale products—from personalization and user behavior analytics to automated testing and even idea validation. As a product manager, it's important to understand AI not just as a trend, but as a tool that can enhance decision-making and user experience. I’ve explored how AI is being used in onboarding flows and recommendation systems, and I believe it's essential for any future-ready product manager.
