I’m sitting here feeling pretty stuck. I’ve got a finance background, decent networking skills from the banking world, but zero actual PM experience. I know APM programs exist and they’re helpful, but I want to understand what a real, grinding 90-day push would actually look like—not some motivational roadmap, but something practical. Like, what do I do week one? Do I start cold outreach, or should I be building a portfolio first? I’ve seen threads here about people landing coffee chats with PMs at big tech companies, and I’m trying to figure out the sequencing. Should I get a small project done first, or does that waste time when I could be networking? And when I do reach out, what’s the actual ask that doesn’t sound desperate? I want to avoid flailing around and instead follow a path that actually generates meetings.
weeks 1-2, build one small visible project—product case, feature spec, something. weeks 3-4, map your network for warm intros, not cold emails. spend weeks 5-12 having conversations, not pitching yourself. the mistake everyone makes? they network before they have anything to show. you go in looking unprepared. by week 12, youll have met 10-15 people and probably turned a coffee chat into a real opportunity. timing matters.
cold outreach is usually a waste unless ur offering something valuable. leverage alumni networks, or find people in your finance circles who moved into tech. thats your angle. nobody replies to generic messages anyway.
ohhh this is so helpful!! so project first, then network? that flips what i thought. gonna start building smth this week. ty!!
wait, so warm intros > cold emails? how do u find warm intro paths if ur network is mainly finance ppl?
ur timeline is way more real than most advice i see. 90 days feels doable if u have a plan lol
A structured 90-day approach requires balancing three parallel workstreams: building credibility, expanding your network, and preparing for conversations. Days 1-30, focus on foundational work—a thoughtful product case study or small project that demonstrates your thinking. Simultaneously, audit your existing network for warm connections to tech professionals. Days 31-60, initiate outreach through warm intros, sharing your project and genuine curiosity about their path. Days 61-90, deepen relationships through substantive conversations, seeking advice rather than opportunities. The sequencing you’re asking about is real: credibility before outreach maximizes response rates and quality of conversations.
APM program data suggests most successful transitions occur through a structured progression. Approximately 70% of candidates who land interviews combine one portfolio project with 10-15 targeted conversations over a 60-90 day window. Key metrics to track: warm intro response rates (typically 40-50%) versus cold (5-10%), and time-to-meaningful-conversation (usually 3-4 weeks with a visible project). Your finance network is an asset—estimated 50% of tech PMs have finance or consulting backgrounds, so leverage that credibility bridge.