Do I have a chance at Google/Facebook PM role
Looking for some insights from folks in Google and Facebook. I am a Product Manager with good experience in Bay Area. Been a top performer consistently. Total 11 years experience with 6 years as a software engineer and 5 yrs as a Product manager. I am looking for a switch this year and am very much interested in top companies in the valley especially Google. However, I have noticed from Linkedin that most of the PMs in google either has a business degree from Ivy League or have some sort of startup founder on the profile. Does someone like me realistically has a chance? Anyone with insight from Google willing to talk through this with me? I am clueless on how to start working towards this. I have a CS background and a business degree but none from US.
You never know until you give it a shot. With experienced hires, credentials matter less. A lot of new grads APM / Post MBA PMs come from top schools because that’s the best signals they have.
There are free and paid resources online for interview practice. And if you get the interview, you’ll know yourself on what it takes for the interview. With your experience, don’t be afraid to ask the recruiter or interviewer if they work with groups that they think fits you better. I’ve had friends where their resume was circulated internally even if the generalist PM role didn’t fit. And there are plenty of companies where the work and pay are both rewarding.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond.
What does top performer mean in your previous roles? You grew a product to $X revenue or your managers liked you?
At the end of the day it doesn’t matter if you were a top performer at SAP or not. It will come down to whether you can crack the interview at Google or not. I would focus more on that.
Google loves former engineers for PM. If you have a referral you'll get a chance to interview. A referral is the best channel for Google. Don't know about Facebook. PM is not a technical role at FB but it is very data-driven. You need to be able to clearly show that you're analytical, which is easier to prove for Consumer FinTech, Marketplace PMs, Payment PMs, Banking analysts, Management Consultants than engineers. Are you trying to switch from enterprise to consumer?
Absolutely. Dont be afraid to connect with recruiters and give the best of your experience. To prep for interview the best resource is C.Lin books. Ping me if you need help. I'm in the process of preparing for FB and G. Good luck!
Which books are these?
Info on books and process before iview please.