Not all Product Manager (PM) roles are the same.

Your responsibilities, growth trajectory, and daily challenges will vary significantly depending on the stage of the company you join. Before you start applying for jobs, it's essential to determine which company stage aligns with your career goals, skills, and working style.

According to Nikhyl Singhal, PMs should focus on one or two company stages instead of applying indiscriminately. In addition to culture, compensation, and career growth, understanding the company’s stage can be a game-changer in your job search.

Stage 1: Pre-Product (Seed & Series A Startups) 🚀

🔹 What it’s like:

• The company is still figuring out whether people even want the product (a.k.a. the "drunken walk").

• Chaos, rapid experimentation, and fast failures define this phase.

• Ideal for entrepreneurs who enjoy uncertainty, learning on the fly, and adapting to change.

🔹 Who thrives here:

• If you love ambiguity and wearing multiple hats, this is for you.

• You’re comfortable with the idea that the company may pivot drastically—or even fail.

• You don’t need strong management structure or established processes.

⚠️ Caution: If the startup struggles or folds, you may have little to show for your time here beyond experience.

Stage 2: Post-Product Market Fit (Series B) 🏗️

🔹 What it’s like:

• The company has found something that works and needs to protect and stabilize this fragile discovery.

• The team shifts from experimentation to refining processes and ensuring consistency.

• The focus is on scalability, hiring functional experts, and reducing risks.

🔹 Who thrives here:

• You enjoy introducing structure while keeping the startup spirit alive.

• You’re skilled at balancing founder-driven chaos with operational efficiency.

• This is an excellent phase for mid-career PMs looking to take on leadership roles.

⚠️ Caution: If you expect a fully established system, this phase might still feel too unstable.

Stage 3: Growth (Hypergrowth Companies) 🌎

🔹 What it’s like:

• Demand for the product is exploding, and the company is scaling at a rapid pace.

• Teams are expanding quickly, new product lines are being launched, and ambiguity is still present.

• Hypergrowth can hide operational inefficiencies, leading to growing pains.

🔹 Who thrives here:

• You thrive in fast-paced, ever-changing environments.

• You’re adaptable, resilient, and eager to take on big challenges with limited resources.

• You want to work on high-impact projects at a company that is making waves in the industry.

⚠️ Caution: The rapid pace can be exhausting, and cracks in leadership or processes can emerge under pressure.

Stage 4: Scaled Companies (Big Tech & Established Giants) 🏆

🔹 What it’s like:

• The company is a market leader with a strong brand and multiple successful products.

• There are clear processes, stable leadership, and structured career growth.

• The organization is divided into many teams, each with its own subculture and priorities.

🔹 Who thrives here:

• You prefer structure, well-defined roles, and working with experienced managers.

• You appreciate having access to mentorship, resources, and internal mobility.

• You want a resume-boosting brand name (think FAANG: Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google).

⚠️ Caution: These companies move slower, and innovation can be bogged down by layers of management.

Which Stage Is Right for You? 🤔

If you love uncertainty and fast pivots, Stage 1 (Pre-Product) or Stage 3 (Growth) may be for you.

If you prefer structure and stability, Stage 2 (Post-Product Fit) or Stage 4 (Scaled Companies) might be a better fit.

If you want strong mentorship and experienced leadership, avoid Stage 1 and Stage 2.

If you hate internal politics and bureaucracy, avoid Stage 3 and Stage 4.

My Advice: Experience All Four Stages

Over your career, try to work at different stages to gain diverse experiences. Each phase will teach you unique skills:

• Startup chaos (Stage 1) builds resilience and adaptability.

• Scaling a business (Stage 2) teaches operational efficiency.

• Hypergrowth environments (Stage 3) help you master rapid decision-making.

• Big Tech (Stage 4) gives you exposure to world-class management and structure.

🚀 Next Step: Identify the company stage that fits your current career goals and focus your job search accordingly!