Life after Product management

Mar 19 10 Comments

I see a lot of folks in technical roles chasing a PM role. I see a lot of PMs chasing some vacant time in their lives. However, career wise, where do you see people heading to after spending some time as PM? I see some options from people who have been in these shoes before but I wonder if the times have changed.

Where will you like to go to?
Life-full of options ahead.. LOL
Explain your choice if you can.

81 PARTICIPANTS SELECT ONLY ONE ANSWER
VOTE VIEW RESULT

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
TOP 10 Comments
  • Meta
    azmix

    Go to company page Meta

    PRE
    Albertsons
    azmix
    As a mini-CEO of my enormous ego, I'm planning to run for Congress.
    Mar 19 3
  • Google
    L010L

    Go to company page Google

    L010L
    This post and answers actually capture many of the issues in product management.
    1. "a lot of folks in technical roles chasing a PM role".
    2. "a lot of PMs chasing some vacant time in their lives".
    3. Most folks aim to get to Director/VP
    4. There are very such roles.

    1+2+3+4: There is a huge supply (of people) vs demand (positions) compared to other roles (the best employee market is for Engineers, the UX market is also a good one these days). Hence product management is a very competitive domain, and this increases the stress even more.

    Just my 2 cents I'd love to hear if others agree/feel the same.
    Mar 19 2
    • What muddies the waters with the PM market is that it’s used as a side entrance for non technical people to try to get into tech. Especially from high finance, where they do an MBA and try to land a PM gig right afterwards. So you have SWE/people with CS degrees who can’t code/Finance/consultants etc. all trying to become PMs. They also all want to make it to director level in the tech industry and know little to nothing about technology. They don’t even have a passion for tech. They just want the marketed lifestyle and pay.

      The solid PMs tend to be the ones with SWE experience and good communication skills.

      Super weird market, I prefer to remain a SWE for now, market is way better and I have a quantifiable skill to market.
      Mar 19
    • Well summarized and exactly the point of this poll.
      1) understanding how seriously people are looking at PM as their life time role given the real life as PM beyond PPTs
      2) getting a sense how the competition for PM role today may elevate to director/ vp positions 4-5 years from now and there are only so many of them needed
      Mar 19
  • Google
    L010L

    Go to company page Google

    L010L
    I also used to be a SWE before moving to product and my advice is if you like it, stay in Engineering. The market is much better, competition is better, work life balance is better, compensation is bette and promotions are usually better (more opportunities, usually a clearer path and more opportunities to become a people manager if you'd like)
    Mar 19 0
  • NVIDIA
    jfsheveh

    Go to company page NVIDIA

    jfsheveh
    Imo product management is very vague and uncertain field and role varies from company to company.build a core competence in an area of tech and try to get into a product role there
    So you can build on your knowledge and use ur tech background. .
    Mar 20 0
  • NVIDIA / Eng
    whale 🐳

    Go to company page NVIDIA Eng

    whale 🐳
    To future PMs: Please learn to be humble and empathetic. Tech is not a place for you to show off your M7 MBA.
    Mar 20 0