A friend once asked me, “I want to find part-time work in product management—do you know any websites where I can search for jobs?”

The truth? Finding a job in product management is already tough. Gaining experience while trying to change careers? Even harder.

One of the clients I coached was in finance but determined to break into product management. We applied a simple strategy: She worked 10 hours a week for six months with a start-up founder, learning the foundations of PM. Then, she landed a second part-time role. Fast forward a year—she had two PM positions on her resume, making her a legitimate candidate for full-time roles. And she got one.

If you’re looking for part-time PM experience, here’s how to do it:

1. Leverage Your Strengths: Why Founders Will Choose You

If you’re transitioning into product management, you might feel like you have no experience to offer. But that’s not true.

🔹 If you have prior professional experience, you’re more valuable than an intern. You bring skills, structure, and a problem-solving mindset that start-ups need.
🔹 If you’re just starting out or just graduated, sell your soft skills! People earlier in their careers bring energy, flexibility, and a willingness to roll up their sleeves—qualities that founders love.

When applying for part-time roles, don’t try to blend in with generic cover letters. Write like a real person. Keep it short and clear about the value you bring.

✅ Pro Tip: Get in before job postings go live. Reach out to companies right after funding rounds when they’re actively hiring but haven’t posted roles yet.

2. Job Boards for Career Switchers & Part-Time PMs

If you’re looking for structured opportunities, start here:

🌍 Catchafire – Volunteer-based projects, perfect for gaining experience.
🛠️ Develop for Good – PM, design, and engineering students work on real-world projects.
💼 Idealist – Nonprofits and social impact roles seeking product expertise.
🖥️ FlexJobs – Curated remote and flexible work, including part-time PM gigs.
📊 UX Foundations – For those transitioning into UX/UI, with structured team experience.

✅ Pro Tip: If you find a company you love, don’t just apply—connect with their leadership on LinkedIn and start a conversation!

3. Reach Out to Founders Directly

Some of the best part-time PM roles aren’t even listed. They come from directly pitching founders.

Companies Most Likely to Need Part-Time PM Help:

• Early-stage start-ups (under 50 employees, often pre-Series A funding)

• Solo founders juggling multiple roles

• Non-technical founders who need help shaping their product vision

• Nonprofits looking for product expertise

• Start-ups in accelerators like Y Combinator or TechStars

Where to Find These Companies:

💡 Wellfound (formerly AngelList) – Start-ups actively hiring
🚀 Product Hunt – New product launches
🏆 Lists like 30 Under 30 – Find founders gaining recognition
📚 TechStars & YCombinator directories – 4,000+ early-stage start-ups
🎤 Founder communities on LinkedIn, Slack, and Facebook

✅ Pro Tip: Instead of just sending a cold message, engage with their content on LinkedIn first. Comment on their posts. Show genuine interest.

4. How to Pitch Yourself for a Part-Time PM Role

Once you’ve found a company that aligns with your interests, it’s time to craft a strong outreach message! ✉️

5 Steps to Landing a Part-Time PM Role:

1️⃣ Find companies that match your skills & interests (see above).
2️⃣ Research them deeply – Subscribe to their emails, study their onboarding flow, and understand their challenges.
3️⃣ Reach out to founders & key team members – Look for their LinkedIn or email.
4️⃣ Draft a message that showcases your transferable skills – Keep it concise.
5️⃣ Follow up – Up to 10 times if necessary (founders are busy!).

Sample Outreach Message:

💬 “Hey [Founder’s Name], I love what you’re building at [Start-up Name]. I’ve spent time researching your product and noticed [insight about their product]. I have experience in [relevant skill] and would love to help on a part-time basis. Do you need extra hands on [specific PM task]?”

✅ Pro Tip: Record a Loom video instead of a text message—it stands out. ✨

5. Deliver Free Value First

If you want to guarantee a response, don’t just ask for a job—show how you can add value immediately.

How to Stand Out:

• Identify a weakness in their product and offer a 1-page improvement plan.

• Conduct a mini competitive analysis and share insights.

• Suggest a product feature or UX fix that could improve engagement.

One of my mentees did this for a health-tech start-up—within a week, they invited him for a conversation. A few weeks later? He had a part-time PM role.

✅ Pro Tip: Repeat this 50 times. Seriously. One outreach per weekend for a year.

6. What to Expect & How to Stay Motivated

Some founders may say, “not now.” Others may ignore you. That’s normal. Here’s what’s likely happening:

❌ They’re busy raising funds and missed your message.
❌ They’re overwhelmed with hiring and operations.
❌ They need help but don’t realize they need a PM yet.

💡 Solution? Follow up. Be politely persistent.

If they say "no", ask: “Would you mind connecting me with anyone who might need help?” Many founders are well-connected.

✅ Pro Tip: If you’re struggling to find PM work, shift your approach. Offer to help with specific tasks like:

📌 Writing product requirements

📌 Setting up project management tools

📌 Conducting user research

📌 Analyzing product metrics

Getting Part-Time PM Experience is About Taking Action

A lot of people think about breaking into product management. Few actually take the steps to make it happen.

The ones who succeed? They’re the ones who send 50 emails, record Loom videos, research companies deeply, and follow up like crazy.

So ask yourself: Which of these strategies will you try this week?

What’s one company or founder you’d love to work with part-time? How will you reach out? 📫