Thinking about moving to PM but a bit hesitant

Nov 9, 2021 6 Comments

I've been a SWE for around 2.5 years now and thinking about my future. Overall, I love tech and building cool things that help people, that's why I became an engineer. However I've come to realize that I don't necessarily care that much about the deep and specific technical implementation of a solution. Rather I've generally been more interested in the businesses themselves and the impact of the tech/product on people.

Additionally as I've gone through my few years as a SWE, I feel like I'm supposed to get super deep in the technical aspects of the work so I'm considering other roles in tech the may play better into my strengths like I think PM may.

In terms on moving to PM from SWE, I'm concerned about the comparative amount of jobs available (I'm in NYC), salary growth, and job resiliency to economic downturns (i.e. are PMs the first to go when cuts are made essentially). Can anyone validate or refute these?

In the end based on my situation, should I try and make the switch?

#pm #swe

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TOP 6 Comments
  • I had the same experience at around the same YOE as you. I ended up not doing it.

    Turns out I was experiencing burn out. I was also not satisfied with my job.
    Several years later, and after several conversations with people who did end up making that move, I'm much happier than I was before.

    I was recommended to not make that switch by others because they came to realize that PMs are "owners" of the product, but they can't do anything to contribute. It's the engineers who are actually building it, and as a PM you lose that control but not the accountability. You would have to learn to be okay with that.

    I was also told that what I'm looking for out of that switch are things that I can find as a SWE. If you want more business development experience, join a smaller team with a fresh new idea. Or leave the company and join a startup. You'll get the experience you want, and still be able to make decisions that engineers can make but PMs can't.
    Nov 9, 2021 1
  • Walmart / Product
    waImart

    Go to company page Walmart Product

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    Jet
    waImart
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    Nov 9, 2021 2
    • Walmart / Product
      waImart

      Go to company page Walmart Product

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      Jet
      waImart
      Walmart let go a large percentage of the workforce in the summer of 2020 after merging Walmart stores (based in Arkansas) and eCommerce (based in the Bay and Hoboken)

      No one on engineering was let go, but there were massive cuts everywhere else: Product (I was the only person not cut on my team), marketing, analytics, buyers, supply chain, planning, etc

      I will say in this specific case however, it was because of the reason for the cuts: merging stores and e-commerce. Stores didn’t have any great engineers (good engineers in bentonville? Nope) whereas every other function had some duplication (for example, did Walmart really need an e-commerce supply chain analyst AND a stores supply chain analyst?)
      Nov 9, 2021
    • Walmart / Product
      waImart

      Go to company page Walmart Product

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      Jet
      waImart
      Not sure if that helps but see if you can find out which companies have had massive cuts recently, who was cut, and why.
      Nov 9, 2021
  • Affirm
    VBuH78

    Go to company page Affirm

    VBuH78
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    Nov 9, 2021 0