Masters for PM
Hi, I am an aspiring product manager and would like to get thoughts on the three master degree I am looking at 1. MS in Data science 1. MS in CS 3. MS in Human centered design engineering at UW I have no coding background but have self taught python along with DS and Algo concepts. I understand that Google FB looks for tech background in PMs. I'm currently in operations and really want to move into PM. Please help!! Edit: have MBA already....stuck in Ops role as I don't have PM experience. Looking for a way out. Thanks #pm #product #productmanager
Masters will make no difference in getting PM job. Ability to get business requirements and translate them into prioritized tech stories with acceptance criteria, together with ability to measure success, correct course and influence others will.
MBA w/ coding will make you invincible.
None of them will lead you on a PM path. A combination of all three will, you don’t have to know exactly how it works, but you have to be able to talk to the people who work it and understand. And then do PM work on top of it
If you get these masters that you list, you probably also need an MBA. I suggest you get some kind of coding/tech cert like a general assembly or something then go for a top 15 MBA. That would make you almost certain to land a FAANG PM job.
Yes, and that faang will 100% be Amazon. MBA graduates very rarely crack true fang (at least at graduation)
Better than lyft 😆
You can explore the program master in product management at cmu
Do MS in CS. Work as SWE for 2-3 years and then become PM. You will get more respect from engineers 🤣. Also it will help in PM job
Thanks guys...I have done the edit. I have MBA already but kind of hot stuck in ops role right after my MBA. Looking for a way out
One option, would be to go work at a startup / smaller company to break into PM?
Breaking in can be hard. If your company doesn't have a PM rotation program where teams can trial you out before committing to you as a PM then a startup is probably the best way to get the necessary experience and the coveted PM title. I did this myself since I became a PM after several years of doing other things in the industry and the experience taught me some valuable PM skills.
Take up Masters in the field you would enjoy the most. Masters is not going to help you get a job at fang or anywhere else. But it will help you learn, get a different perspective and open some doors. After that it’s more about how you leverage what you learn. I have a masters and not an mba and I am PM (got offers from all google, fb and Apple and previously worked at Amazon) I thoroughly enjoyed my grad school and would do it again in a heartbeat. I enjoyed the learning and a lot of things I learnt have helped me throughout. I did it in CS but took a lot of courses outside my department and I would recommend you look beyond doing masters just for a job.
Just saw the update. It’s difficult to move from ops to PM. The only way I can think of is to stretch and start getting PM experience where you are. Masters may not be very helpful. You can work with your manager to identify projects where you see opportunities to define requirements, create user stories and take up responsibilities to get it executed. You will have to fight to find those/make up those opportunities and then do it above your day to day job. Good luck!
Please add 4th option: no masters