Last year, my manager took feedback on me from several people, as part of the annual performance evaluation process. He also took feedback on me from the Product Manager, although as an engineering team, PM isn't a part of the engineering team and in my opinion shouldn't be giving feedback. He got negative feedback on me although I firmly believe that he wasn't qualified to give feedback on me, not just because that guy says that he hates programming, but because we weren't even interacting that much, for work or any reason, at all! Is this fair or sensible to take feedback on an engineer from a Product Manager?
Do you work with the PM, and does she/he set the priorities for your team? Or is it a PM not actually involved with your work?
Why would he give you negative feedback?
Maybe because he feels useless and unnecessary in my presence. He perhaps didn't even write stories and when I would display that I could deliver work, without needing there interference, he'd perhaps perceive me as a threat. The guy isn't an MBA or a software engineer. I don't know, who picked up that guy from where!
Sounds like you are the one with issues here... Maybe understanding his negative feedback would be the first step rather than brushing it off because "his opinion doesnt matter"
Was this PM managing a product that you work on? Are you involved in committing to work, doing work, or communicating about the progress of your work in any way? PMs need the engineering teams working on the products they manage to be predictable and communicative, because their job is not just to give you work to do, but to give the business insight into timelines, so that the business can plan go-to-market strategies with new features etc. A PM absolutely has the right to be involved in the feedback loop.
I think a PM has to interact with the engineering manager and now with the engineers. He's working with the team through the manager and not individually with the engineers because he doesn't understand them. That's why he's not qualified to give feedback, unless the reverse also holds true, that is, I also get an opportunity to give feedback on him. I feel, no one should be giving feedback on me, if I'm not entitled for the same too.
If the PM doesn't understand you, that is YOUR problem and you need to work on your communication skills.
Engineers are usually evaluated on a variety of pillars. Technical ability is one of the most important ones. Leadership and collaboration are others that are considered as well. PMs have a strong say in the non-technical areas.
I manage a large Engineering and product org. The PM gives feedback for nearly every SDE promo doc I can recall seeing. Your starting viewpoint, confirmed by claiming not to interact with the PM, are both red flags to me that suggest his feedback was warranted.
YES
Of course PMs should give feedback on engineers. Why wouldn't they?
About what? Engineer's work and deliverables speak for him. What's left to ask a PM?
Collaboration. If you eat at a restaurant, are you qualified to have an opinion about the food (assuming you’re an eng but not a cook)? And if the cook brings you the food, throws it on the table, tells you he hates customers like you, should you not be allowed to leave a bad review because the food is really good and he did his “job” well and you’re not a cook yourself?
Engineers give feedback for the PM too. You got to work as a team. It's less to do with your tech skills and more to do with how well you work in a team.
It just so happens that I haven't been asked for feedback on the PM. That's why I feel, it's a one sided game.
Someone would have . PMs generally get asked to give feedback on numerous people and some engineers, usually dev leads are asked to give feedback for them . But that is done
Wow. This person is completely oblivious. Working well across functions including PMs is extremely critical to an engineer’s success. Every company or team I’ve ever worked on has always been this way.
And, which all would those be? More the no of companies, worse it is, imo.
Did you work with him? Then yes. Else no. Title got not much to do with it.
Not him personally. Only as a part of the team. We hardly had any talks or interactions.
Do you have another offer?