PeppyBagel
PeppyBagel

Trying to find PM role for past 6 months without success. What should I do?

Hi,

8 YOE, Security engineer trying to switch to PM role. Studied everything related to PM. Joined cohort based course who promised interviews but nothing came. Currently writing cold emails.

I am expert at cyber security who can understand code, write scripts, do front end dev, can design

What should I do to land a PM role?

24mo ago
ZoomyPickle
ZoomyPickle

Engineer -> PM switches are best done within the same company, after which you can use that leverage to apply for PM roles elsewhere.

Is there something that stops you from being able to do this? Also, what makes you want to switch to PM?

PeppyBagel
PeppyBagel
UBS24mo

I’ve all my life worked in tech consulting and currently work in banking. So have little network in product companies. Making a switch to a product company and then switching internally looks like one route but I feel it’ll be a long shot. Hence trying it directly as am confident I have all the skills to do it.

Answer to the second question can be a lengthy blogpost but in short it’s related to my long term goals and work satisfaction which I have concluded that I won’t be able to achieve in current role

ZoomyPickle
ZoomyPickle

Ah. Not to discourage, but that sounds tough in the current market. Esp because you won't be able to take an APM role as well.

If you were actually a consultant at your firm, the switch might be easier, because many companies consider solution consulting as adjacent to product.

All the best though, I hope you find what you're looking for!

GroovyCupcake
GroovyCupcake
Zomato24mo

You'll get there, give it 4-5 months more and cast your net wide (maybe APM roles as well?)

PeppyBagel
PeppyBagel
UBS24mo

Thanks. Running out of patience tho. It’s hard to see people you hired move to higher designation than you.

My salary is high for APM roles. And I do not want to start from scratch after 8 years. Trying for atleast PM1

GroovyBoba
GroovyBoba

Hard to land pm roles without prior experience in product. Try going for companies in cyber security domains? Like they might have a vpn/antivirus/pen testing suite of products where you can leverage your expertise. And call out the course you took so people can avoid those.. .

PeppyBagel
PeppyBagel
UBS24mo

Hardly any good security product companies here. Microsoft’s and Google’s of the world are laying off left and right.

I am looking more towards getting into Series A level startup

DizzyJellybean
DizzyJellybean
PayPal24mo

As someone said, it is hard to land mid level PM role without prior work experience. Companies value real world experience way more than any certification, courses etc. It's a way for them to know how a candidate has performed in a real world situation for a product.

So, basically, if you are really keen on joining product management roles, try for APM position or else if your current salary is far more than any APM position, choice is yours

PeppyBagel
PeppyBagel
UBS24mo

I would have agreed with you if I would have come from very different background like sales or something which isn’t related to tech.

I have developed my side projects, am decent coder and have worked with PMs

Yes my salary is 50-60% more than APM role. I wish I could take a pay cut but have financial commitments which don’t allow me to do it

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