Facebook Product Specialist/Development Specialist
Early career professional wanting to break into Product Management. I have a lot to learn with regards to career progression, I am happy to say that there are a couple different opportunities for me at Facebook. (Interviewing) Product Specialist Product Development Specialist What is the internal perception of these roles? Neither position is very technical, so how likely is it to move up the chain? I did some preliminary scouting on LinkedIn and not very many people have made the transition from Product Specialist - Product Manager. Product Development Specialist seems to be even more rare. Also are internal employees eligible for RPM? Not afraid of doing the dirty work and learning for a couple years. The TC for both positions is fairly low for FB <100k, which I’m fine with but just want to know what I’m getting into. Any and all thoughts for both the product specialist side and product manager side at Facebook? Thanks!
Facebook is an incredible place to work with unmatched benefits and you're surrounded by the best minds in the industry who push you to be your best. On that note, DON'T BE A PRODUCT SPECIALIST. It's the armpit job of Facebook and the leadership of the Product Operations org is laughable. The leader of the org has never once checked his white male privilege and has made a career out of replying to everyones questions with a question which somehow has confused people into thinking he's capable. Also it's near impossible for a product specialist to switch into Product Manager role. You need a VP to sign off for you to even interview. For TPM, you can interview without VP sign-off but if given the role, you'll be down-leveled since Product Specialist is not a "technical role"
Serious? I’m interviewing too...
How's Product Specialist versus Project Manager in regards to Product Manager and Program Manager prospects?
Well I wouldn’t say it’s the armpit of fb, but it does seem to suck in most regards. Low tc, no recognition, no career growth, low impact, etc.
What was the TC for product development specialist? Asking for a friend
Did you end up getting either role? Did they tell you the TC was less than $110k? I'm interviewing for the PDS role next week but that TC seems way too low. Would love to hear your experience!
What location are you interviewing for?
Did you interview for this role?
Extremely difficult for internal candidates to move to RPM. It’s a competitive program by design but I think they make it even harder for internal folks to apply. I’ve seen a couple of cases where strong PS didn’t make it to RPM but made it as a PM elsewhere. TPM is another career path after PS and you may be better set up for a PM role then, but it’s also a longer track.
Is this position suited for a transition into PM work? Would it be best to take this and hope to make it or pursue a different route? Are internal opportunities available to people in this role? Thanks for your help.
Some PS sit with Product teams so proximity to learning so definitely there but there’s many criteria for transferring internally, either to RPM or to PM. I actually heard that your chances are better if you apply directly to PM. I would recommend, take the role for what it is. It’ll take you at least a year or two, depending on what level you come in as, to move internally to RPM/PM. But don’t take it as your only path.