How to identify the true Product Owner role while applying for a Job?

When you're on the hunt for a Product Owner position, you'll come across various titles such as Product Manager, Technical Product Manager, Growth Product Manager, Digital Product Owner, and more. While many companies have similar job titles, the job description might vastly differ, which could make it more difficult for you to have a significant impact on your "Job Role."

But first, do we need well-defined roles? 

It's not much about having 'well-defined' roles but about having roles. Each person has their unique strengths and passions that align with specific role. If it was otherwise, we could simply wake up each morning, allow everyone to choose their role for the day, and proceed with any rondom list of tasks. 

Would get pretty chaotic right?

It's essential that every individual has a sense of ownership to achieve the team goal and be willing to do whatever necessary to get the job done.

Now here’s the real deal!

I recently came across a job posting from Zomato for the role of Product Owner, and the person who wrote the job description understood the role well. The posting talks about the Product Owner as an all-rounder who understands all aspects of building Products. Here is what it asked for:

What you need to bring to the table?

• Past experience (4+ yrs) in building fintech products

• Find opportunity in ambiguity

• Think simple(r), big(ger), bold(er)

• That extra pixel here, that grammatical error there irks you

• You have done problem solving in your dreams (like literally)

• Ability to demonstrate depth and add value in discussions with tech, design, analytics and other cross-functional teams

• Knack to keep pace with industry developments and champion the outside-in

• Impeccable communication skills, getting hands dirty, and willingness to become an all-rounder (Business, Data, Engineering, Product Design, Leading and Coaching)

• Understand that this is the hardest and the most pivotal job at Zomato, and it will take all your energy to excel

So, who is a true Product Owner?

Well, first, let's define a product. A useful product solves the problem and builds businesses, creates communities, and drives economic growth. It's a tool to get the job done and enriches experience, an asset that attracts investors, and a cog in the economic wheel.

So, someone who wants to call themselves a Product Owner should be able to solve users' problems, foster product adoption, and build the business. They 

• Lead the user research to uncover users' problems + needs, and designs a value proposition to achieve problem-solution fit 

• Lead market research to devise product positioning, product pricing, and adoption strategy to achieve Product-Market fit

• String partnerships, identifying revenue streams, and optimizing cost structures to design a business model to maximize ROI

• Lead product development to build increments to achieve agility

So, when you apply for the Product Owner role, focus on the job description rather than the title. The 

job title may vary from company to company. Assess whether the description provides a genuine opportunity for you to truly embody the role of an “Owner.”