Product Manager Considered One Of “15 Hot Jobs” By Reader’s Digest Magazine and Hudson Institute

April 2004 Issue of Reader’s Digest Magazine Includes Article by Marc Myers Highlighting Product Manager Among the Jobs “Likely to Offer the Most Growth in the Near Future”. Article Cites the Association of International Product Marketing and Management as a Resource for Product Managers.

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) April 7, 2004 -- Hang on to those hot seats, product managers. More companies today are realizing what the AIPMM has known. A well-trained product professional adds value to the business bottom line. By capitalizing on market opportunities, contributing to sales targets, and developing and executing a strategic plan, a product professional is the driving force behind a product's success.

“The fact that we are seeing growth in product management is a sign that more companies are instituting the product management discipline and framework,” said Therese Padilla, AIPMM president. “One of our jobs at the AIPMM is to help product managers and their companies apply uniform, best practices to their product or product family,” added Padilla.

The Reader’s Digest article also recommends product managers complete the certification process. The Certified Product Manager (CPM) and Certified Product Marketing Manager (CPMM) offered by the AIPMM ensures these professionals have not only a working knowledge of best practices but practical application skills as well. Regardless of the industry, a product professional needs a standard set of skills and knowledgebase from which to draw. The AIPMM certification program sets the standard with proven methods and processes, rather than relying on any particular methodology.

Additional benefits of certification for product managers and product marketing managers are:
-Differentiation as an applicant within the job market
-Differentiation among peers
-Promotion of the product management or product marketing management function within the company
-A higher level of credibility
-A versatile set of skills and methods which can be applied to any product at any point within the life cycle
-Ability to communicate and work with others using a common body of knowledge, techniques, and tools
-Assurance that there are no “holes” in the approach to product management or product marketing management

Through the CPM and CPMM program, individuals have the opportunity to pursue continuing education, and increase industry involvement and industry-wide recognition by achieving the Certified designation. Candidates for certification must be members in good standing of the AIPMM, have a high level of work and educational experience, and pass a written exam. To maintain their certification, CPMs and CPMMs must periodically refresh their knowledge in specific competencies and skills and provide documentation of professional development. Only those individuals who successfully complete the application process and continue to be in compliance with all program requirements may call themselves Certified Product Managers or Certified Product Marketing Managers.

Since it’s founding in 1998 the AIPMM has established itself as a valuable resource for product professionals with information, news, training, placement assistance, and research data. With a member base of over 3,000 individuals and companies spanning the globe, the AIPMM membership represents the entire spectrum of the product marketing and management industry including pharmaceutical, consumer brand management, technology, health care, and automotive, as well as providers of products and services. In a detailed survey, respondents overwhelmingly requested the AIPMM to provide certification opportunities.

For more information on the AIPMM or the Certified Product Manager or Certified Product Marketing Manager program go to http://www.aipmm.com

About AIPMM
The Association of International Product Marketing and Management is dedicated to serving the needs of product professionals and their employers by providing focused and strategic information, training and networking. There are currently over 3,000 members worldwide. AIPMM's team continues to strive to identify, unify, support and represent the global community of product marketing management professionals utilizing state-of the-art the technologies such as online electronic publishing as well as the traditional methods of networking, conferences and seminars. AIPMM also continues to increase the ways in which product management contributes to the achievement of corporate business objectives through many corporate services and training partnerships. For more information on issues concerning product managers, product marketing managers, and their companies visit http://www.aipmm.com.