I’m coming from a finance background and trying to break into PM, but honestly, my entire network is just people from banking and consulting. Like, literally nobody works in tech. I’ve been lurking here for a few weeks and keep seeing people talk about ‘networking your way in,’ but I’m not even sure where to start. Do I just start messaging random PMs on LinkedIn? Do I try to find alumni from my school who work at tech companies? I’ve got a solid resume and I understand products, but the cold start problem feels real. How did people actually break through that initial wall when they were starting from absolute zero? What actually made someone respond to an outreach message when they had no reason to know who you are?
nah most cold pms won’t respond unless u have somethin they actually care about. finance background is actually decent tho—shows u understand business. but don’t lead with ‘hey im pivoting to pm’ bc nobody cares. lead with a specific insight about their product. took me like 200 messages to get 5 real convos, so yeah it’s a numbers game
the whole ‘cold outreach is magic’ thing is oversold. what actually works is finding pms thru alumni groups, conferences, or referrals. cold linkedin msgs get ignored unless ur message shows u actually know what ur talking about. most ppl spam 50 generic messages and get mad when it doesn’t work
start with ppl at ur target companies first!! its easier than cold outreach. apply for their apm programs while networking on the side. double ur chances basically
ur finance bg is honestly perfect for pm!! ppl want to hear bussiness thinking. reach out to finance-to-pm ppl first—theyre usually way more responsive
The finance background is actually an underrated advantage. Identify five to ten companies where you’d want to work, then find PMs at those specific companies rather than shooting randomly. Quality over quantity matters significantly here. When you reach out, reference something concrete about their product or a recent announcement. Show that you’ve done the work. Most responses come from people who recognize genuine effort and knowledge, not generic flattery. This approach takes longer but generates meaningful conversations.
The fact that you’re asking this means you’re already thinking strategically. Personalized outreach + genuine curiosity = real connections. Go for it!
I was in the exact same spot last year. Started reaching out to like ten people a week, got basically nothing for the first month. Then I changed my approach—instead of asking for advice, I started commenting thoughtfully on their product changes and sent one-paragraph messages. Suddenly I got responses. One coffee chat turned into an introduction, and that intro eventually led to my PM role. The turning point wasn’t the number of messages; it was actually caring about their work.
honestly my finance background was confusing to people at first. but once i showed them i’d used products in banking—things they hadn’t thought about—they got it. your angle isnt ‘im switching careers,’ its ‘ive worked in a different industry and heres what i noticed about products’
Cold outreach success rates in tech typically fall between 2-8%, depending on message quality and targeting. Alumni networks yield response rates closer to 15-20%. Recommendation: segment your outreach into three tiers. Tier one should be alumni or warm referrals. Tier two should be PMs at specific companies where you have genuine product interest. Tier three is broader cold outreach. This sequential approach wastes less energy and compounds your chances of meaningful conversations over time.
Your finance background actually positions you well statistically. Companies are actively seeking PM candidates who understand P&L and business metrics. Research shows finance-to-PM transitions occur at roughly 12-15% higher success rates than completely non-technical pivots. Your messaging should emphasize this intersection rather than downplaying your background. Focus outreach on companies with strong financial products or business-focused divisions where your context matters.