Software Engineer to a Product Manager
Hey grapeviners, I am a software engineer and earning pretty good, but I have always dreamt of becoming a product manager. I don't hold any MBA. So How do I transition from a software engineer to a product manager.
The biggest transition required is a transition of mindset. Once you've that, you'd realise that title doesn't matter and you're in a better place than PM.
Think user problem first, solution later. Too often, Devs and Data Scientists fall in love with their solution, build 'cool' stuff and look for imaginary scenarios to fit the solution.
Agree engineers/techies need to realise that the purpose of products to exist is to provide value to the users and not for engineers to flex their technical skills. Once you understand this things become easy to prioritise. Remember why people use products, to do a job . They care zero about your product/company etc . So focus on enabling the job .
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Best way is to transition within your org. Look for openings. If no openings, discuss with your product team and request for some product work . To prove you are worth of the job, start building a product as a hobby and showcase it to your team.
See PM jobs always are in high demand and low supply. So you have to be ultra good to get them . Things that can stand you out are deep understanding of the problem your product solves, the market scenario, competitors, customer understanding.. and some hard skills like data analytics, ui/ux design, business models.
It's a wide generalist role that prepares you to be a business owner in future. So think like one to get started. Let me know if you have more questions.
GolDRoger
Stealth
7 months ago
Few ways that i have seen this transition happening
1. Transition to apm at some startup. Usually startups hire apms to keep costs low. You get to do product work, develop product mindset. Gradually either show this as pm experience and switch or become a pm whenever your company thinks you are eligible. CONS - pay usually falls drastically as you are making a start in a trajectory again, your seniority of whatever years as SDE doesn't mean much.
2. Transition to a product engineer. Not a lot of companies have this role but IMO this is the best way to transition ( personal experience). You dont lose the tech so to say and you also get to play pm. You also dont get a lower pay so to say coz product engineers are best resources a company can have in my opinion.
3. If your org/company supports, start shadowing a senior pm in their work, pick up extra work to make their life easier, shadow their calls/meetings and then gradually ask your company to help you transition full time. This usually requires a lot of support from the company + managers and things should work out for you in long term. If in between layoffs happen, you are mostly back to square one.
But be clear about why do you want to be PM. Is it that you are really interested in product strategies or is it more like you are bored with coding. Be very clear about this coz in product career also, after 2-3 years, things become monotonous and you start thinking what next if you are genuinely not interested in solving product problems. WHYs of becoming a pm from SDE can be a seperate thread in itself.
Best of luck mate.
GolDRoger
Stealth
7 months ago
Just to play devils advocate here, 90% of companies in India dont know what a PM does.
The job is never specified, you have to deal with a lot of business+ sales folks and most of the times they are not on your team. PM is a lonely endeavour because you have to get everyone behind you for a common goal ( some metric )
Pros are that you can eventually move on to making something of your own because you start getting solving peoples problems in general.
PutridStem73
Stealth
7 months ago
Get an MBA
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