I’m starting from scratch with PM networking and I’m honestly feeling a bit lost on where to even begin the chain. I don’t work in tech, I don’t have connections at tech companies, and I’m not in a tech hub. Most of the networking advice I see assumes you already know someone or can at least get a warm intro somewhere.
I’ve tried a few things—like looking up people on LinkedIn and sending cold emails, attending some virtual tech events, trying to join online communities. But it all feels scattered and I’m not even sure if I’m targeting the right people in the right order.
Like, do I start by reaching out to junior PMs or senior ones? Do I target the exact company I want to work at or just any PM to start building the relationship muscle? Do I try to find people who’ve made similar transitions from outside tech, or should I be talking to people already successful in the role?
I feel like there’s probably a logical sequence here that I’m just not seeing. What’s the actual starting point when you’re coming from a position of having basically no existing connections?
start with people whove done what you want to do—that means finding pms who came from non-tech backgrounds. theyre wayyy more likely to help and they actually understand what youre trying to do. skip the big companies initially. look for pms at growth-stage companies where the hiring might actually happen. once you get that first conversation, ask who else they know. thats how the chain actually starts.
omg just start!! find one person and talk to them. momentum comes after the first convo happens
Sequencing matters more than most realize. Begin with people who have made the transition you’re attempting—these conversations validate your path and build confidence. Simultaneously, identify three to five target companies and research their PM teams through LinkedIn, company blogs, and product updates. Look for PMs who posted about their career journey or wrote publicly about career transitions. Cold reach is typically less effective than finding a secondary connection: does anyone in your extended network know anyone at those target companies? Even distant connections increase response rates significantly. Once you have 2-3 conversations, ask each person for one specific introduction rather than general networking advice.
You’re going to build this network! Start with people who’ve transitioned like you want to. Their advice is gold. Keep extending the chain. You’ve got this!
I literally started by finding a PM who’d written a Medium article about leaving finance for product. Reached out, we had coffee, and she introduced me to two people at her company. One of those intros led to conversations at another company. It felt slow at first, but once the first actual conversation happened, the chain started moving. The key was that first person who actually articulated why they made the move.
Network-building from zero requires tactical sequencing. Phase one: identify 10-15 PMs who have publicly discussed non-traditional backgrounds (look for LinkedIn articles, conference talks, company blog posts about hiring). Contact rate to conversation typically 5-15% cold. Phase two: leverage secondary connections through company alumni networks, university connections, or mutual friends (response rate increases to 30-40%). Phase three: once you have 2-3 initial conversations, request specific introductions rather than general advice. Most networking chains begin with relational proximity, not cold outreach. Estimate 6-12 weeks to establish a viable pipeline of ongoing relationships.