Hey everyone! I’m hoping to get some help with transitioning into a product manager role in the technology sector. My background isn’t in product work, but I’m really drawn to what product managers do and want to make this career change happen.
I understand some basics about technology and how software gets built, but I’m not someone who writes code or does engineering work. I’ve read up on what product managers actually do day to day, but I’m still confused about the best way to get started with learning new skills, finding the right training, and meeting people in the field.
My goal is to work at a technology company eventually, but right now I have zero official product management experience on my resume.
I’m wondering about a few specific things:
- Which skills should I focus on learning first before I start applying to junior PM jobs?
- Should I look into getting certificates or taking classes online that might help me stand out?
- Do I need to know a lot about technical stuff, or are people skills like talking to teams and leading projects more important?
- What’s the best way to show I’m qualified when I don’t have the usual background?
- How can I meet product managers who work in tech right now to learn from them?
I’d really appreciate any advice or stories from people who made similar changes in their careers!
I made this exact jump from marketing 3 years ago! Start small - I got my boss to let me handle product-adjacent stuff first. Managing a website redesign or coordinating between teams counts as PM experience if you frame it right. Your transferable skills matter more than you think. Reach out to PMs on LinkedIn - most will grab coffee and talk about their path. The technical stuff isn’t as important early on. Being able to translate between teams and actually listen to users is way more valuable.
Congrats on the exciting step! Start practicing product thinking with your daily apps - break down their features and user flows. Jump into product Slack communities and hit up local meetups for networking. Your fresh perspective is actually an asset!
Consider making a lateral move within your current company if they have technology products. Many successful product managers start by volunteering for cross-functional projects or shadowing product teams, leveraging existing relationships and domain knowledge to acquire PM skills. If that’s not feasible, explore opportunities at B2B SaaS startups, as they often value diverse backgrounds and provide ample mentorship compared to larger companies. Additionally, you can build a portfolio by creating mock product specifications or analyzing existing products to demonstrate your thought process. In PM interviews, mastering problem-solving frameworks like CIRCLES or HEART metrics is crucial, so focus on practicing these structured approaches.
Good luck with that. Everyone wants to be a PM now because they think it’s easy money without coding. Reality check - you’ll grind for months just to get your resume noticed. Skip the fancy bootcamps, they’re cash grabs. Find a desperate startup that’ll let you own a feature as an intern or volunteer. At least you’ll have real experience for interviews instead of fake case studies.
Honestly, certificates are overrated. Just start building stuff or document ideas for apps you use daily. Write up what you’d change about Spotify or whatever - shows you think like a PM without fancy credentials. Also, jump on cross-functional projects at your current job, even if they’re not officially product work.