Too busy to listen to the full episode? Here's the short version on what a software PM intern actually does. For Yi Teng, she worked across documentation, testing, client requirements gathering, and the software development lifecycle, gaining a firsthand look at how software products are built behind the scenes.

In this episode of Lorong Product, we spoke with Yi Teng, a Year 4 NUS student pursuing a double degree in Business Administration and Business Analytics. During her six-month internship at Savant Degrees, she worked on a voucher digitisation project and gained exposure to nearly every stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Here's what stood out from the conversation.

1. Product Management Wasn't What She Originally Planned For

Yi Teng discovered product management almost by accident.

As part of her Business Analytics degree, she needed to complete a six-month technology-related internship. Knowing she didn't want to pursue a traditional analyst role, she started exploring alternatives on TalentConnect and came across product management.

What caught her attention wasn't the technical side of the job, but the opportunity to coordinate timelines, manage projects, and work across teams.

Coming from a hall leadership role that involved managing people, stakeholders, and deliverables, the job description felt surprisingly familiar.

"It sounded like something that suited my strengths."

Sometimes, the best career discoveries come from looking for what fits your strengths rather than following the most obvious path.

2. Software PM Work Is More Than Just Features and Roadmaps

Many students hear "product management" and think of brainstorming features or defining strategy.

Yi Teng's experience looked quite different.

Throughout her internship, she worked across multiple stages of the software development lifecycle, particularly in documentation and testing. Her responsibilities ranged from writing business and functional requirements documents to supporting quality assurance efforts and helping automate regression testing.

One of the biggest lessons was seeing how much work happens before and after development itself.

From gathering requirements to documenting workflows, validating functionality, and coordinating between stakeholders, product management often involves making sure everyone is aligned before a single feature reaches users.

"I learned the ins and outs of the role because I had to take on a lot of my manager's responsibilities."

3. Clients Often Don't Know Exactly What They Want

One of Yi Teng's most valuable learning experiences came from sitting in on client calls.

Initially, she expected requirements gathering to be straightforward: ask clients what they want and build it.

The reality was very different.

She observed how experienced product managers continuously probed clients with questions, helping them clarify their own needs and uncover edge cases they had not considered.

"Usually clients don't know exactly what they want from a product."

Instead of simply collecting requests, product managers often need to guide conversations, challenge assumptions, and translate vague goals into concrete requirements.

For Yi Teng, watching those conversations unfold was one of the most insightful parts of the internship.

4. Your Hall Experiences Might Matter More Than You Think

One challenge Yi Teng faced when applying was having no prior internship experience.

Rather than focusing on what she lacked, she leaned heavily on her hall leadership experiences.

She framed her experience around:

• Managing teams

• Coordinating stakeholders

• Handling deadlines

• Balancing competing commitments

• Delivering projects with limited resources

These turned out to be highly relevant skills for product management.

"Time management and project management are very important."

More importantly, she showed interviewers evidence that she could handle responsibility and deliver quality work consistently.

The lesson isn't that hall experience is equivalent to PM experience.

It's that transferable skills matter — if you know how to articulate them.

5. Ask The "Dumb" Question

When asked about her biggest takeaway from the internship, Yi Teng's answer was surprisingly simple.

"Your bosses are not there for you to be afraid of. They are there for you to learn from."

Like many interns, she sometimes found herself in technical discussions where developers were discussing concepts she didn't fully understand.

There were moments when she worried that asking questions would make her seem inexperienced.

But she realised that pretending to understand was far riskier than seeking clarification.

"I'd rather get it out now and do the work properly than act like I know what's going on."

The experience reinforced an important lesson: internships are not just about contributing value. They are opportunities to learn, and most managers expect interns to ask questions.

6. The Best Learning Opportunities Aren't Always in the Job Description

Looking back, some of Yi Teng's most valuable experiences came from activities that weren't strictly part of her role.

Her CEO regularly checked in with her, discussing not just product management but broader career questions. She sat in on client calls that weren't directly assigned to her. She actively sought opportunities to observe how experienced professionals approached problems.

Because of this, she believes interns should look beyond their immediate responsibilities.

"You're not just there to fill the job description."

Whether it's having lunch with your manager, sitting in on meetings, or asking for additional projects, many of the biggest lessons come from the people around you rather than the tasks themselves.

Final Advice: Treat Your Internship As A Learning Opportunity

Yi Teng's biggest piece of advice is simple: be intentional about learning.

An internship isn't just a temporary job. It's an opportunity to understand how an industry works, observe experienced professionals, and discover what kind of work energises you.

For her, the internship ultimately confirmed that while she enjoyed product management, she wanted a role with more creativity and closer ties to media and marketing.

That clarity alone made the experience worthwhile.

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