My first months as a Product Manager at Meta
A few months ago I joined Meta as a product manager. Before joining, in order to fully understand what to expect, I spoke with several colleagues who are current and former employees of the company. Most of them said that this is the best company they have ever worked for and that knowing me, I will like it for sure. Well, I took it with a grain of salt as my standards are usually higher than everyone else around me and employment experiences can range based on personal preferences.
Surprisingly, (or maybe not?) they were right.
Now, after a few months in, while I’m almost onboarded and still have an “outsider” perspective, I’d like to share some of my main observations. In this blog post, I will be focusing on experiences that were new to me and to my specific journey at Meta, ones that I found quite different from my previous onboardings and ones I’m hoping could inspire others.
- Drinking from the fire hose
I think that if there is one word that could describe my onboarding process during the last couple of months, it would be overwhelming. The amount of information flying by is overwhelming and understanding how to absorb some of that information is also overwhelming. There are many people to meet and many learning materials to read and watch. This huge information overload is overwhelming.
While overwhelming can lead people to frustration, it can also lead to optimism. When looking at the glass as half full, it is important to acknowledge the situation. Understanding that not everything can be processed on day 1 and not even on day 50 changes the fire hose to a garden hose, and one can better control the flow of new information.
2. Move fast
This is one of the values of the company and this is not just a blank value on the company’s values list. Almost everything at Meta moves fast, really fast and everything has a process. The fact that there is a process for the process makes it easier to move faster. So many things happen all the time and so many things change. There is no doubt that this is the fastest moving company I have ever worked for, way faster than any small startup that thinks it's moving fast.
It’s a paradise for those who thrive in fast-paced environments. You just need to join the fast track and enjoy the ride. With everyone on the same fast rhythm, it’s very easy to follow along.
3. Not the smartest person in the room
While some people can find it intimidating and develop an inferiority complex, I like not being the smartest person in the room. This means the room is full of so many smart people, ones that I have so much to learn from to become a better professional.
You know how companies like to brag about their people and that they hire only the best? Well, at Meta it’s not just an empty brag. There is no doubt that it is true, and they are very humble about it. Don’t get me wrong, I have worked with so many super intelligent and talented people throughout my career and I’d like to work with them again in the future. With that, the group of people I got to work with over the last couple of months is amongst the sharpest I’ve ever worked with and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from them. Meta is no little league, it’s the pro league.
If you are starting a new chapter in your career or joining Meta, I hope that my words have inspired you to be better prepared and make the most out of it.
Thanks for reading!
