Path to PM at FANGMULA
Hi, I am curious about what are the various paths to a career in PM at FANGMULA, and which is most common. I am currently a management consultant at McKinsey (2 years), hold an MBA degree and worked as a Technologist at Goldman Sachs (4 years). Overall YoE 6. I am keen on pursuing a career in PM, with the ambition of working in one of the FANGMULA. 1. Should I start off with a PM role in a smaller company / early stage startup before I apply to these places? 2. What was your path like? 3. What is the typical YoE (if any) in the industry before one becomes a PM at these places? #pm #productmanager
Why don’t you use the MBB network and ask PMs at those companies who used to be MBB?
As former McKinsey I also would suggest to stay in MBB
Thanks tudaluda. That’s an option I am actively exploring. But a lot of those people joined 5-6 years back. I see fewer consultants make that shift today. Is that perception right?
I agree with people suggesting you to stay at MBB.. for a PM role esp at FAANG, your MBB experience might not matter much and you will have to start not at a strategic level, but somewhere at a point where u need to take a huge paycut! Everyone knows how smart MBB are and how strategically they can think. But shipping a product is very different from strategic consulting. It is not just ppt and excel 😂😂
What are you saying dude? PM at FB/ Google pays far more than MBB!
Yo, I’m doing (1) - I only have 2 YOE but chose to leave instead of becoming JEM. Am heading to a startup, but hopefully will be mentored by a product expert (10+ years at FAANG), which should be a good opportunity to learn for the next jump!
Thanks for sharing your path! Sounds like a really good stepping stone. In one of the responses above, there was a mention of taking a pay cut. Is that something you had to do when you joined this startup and if yes, how much was it compared to your McK salary?
Yep, I’m taking a 90% pay-cut, but that’s also because I’m heading to an emerging market. I don’t really care about pay though TBH, just interesting work. If you have a US visa, there are plenty of interesting startups that you can join that’ll pay well. If not, then your choices are far more limited unfortunately
How keen are you on product? The naysaying reactions in this thread stem from the fact that it seems like you have a good thing going. I made the jump from MBB to product by doing a product-adjacent role at a startup first. Transitioned into product within the first month. Startups tend to be more flexible on product experience which makes the jump easier. Startup has done very well, and I’ve been promoted to group PM. Cover my experience here: productlessons.xyz APM is another option but probably not ideal given your YOE. So would recommend startup or direct to a big tech company (knowing you’ll probably start in a product-adjacent role to start).
Thanks for the great advice! I am actually very keen. Having worked as a technologist and product owner at Goldman Sachs, I crave for the satisfaction that I used to get from bringing products to life. What are some of the product-adjacent roles in big tech companies that take MBB consultants? Would my prior tech experience help?
Product strategy; product analytics are good choices
Never understood why my MBA colleagues went to MBB over tech, even when they had tech offers. Most tech offers are now easily worth more than MBB after 1 year stonk vest cliff, and way less in hours per week.
You can definitely get into a PM role at amazon right away.
Try at Amazon first
1. Bigger company is better, especially if you have a consulting background. I suggest that you try with Amazon first, they like people with your profile (although you’ll likely be underpaid). Alternatively, shoot for a different role and transition to PM internally. 2. Software engineer to PM. 3. No requirement. There are PM positions for new grads.
Thanks!
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