I want to work towards becoming a PM, what can I do?

Yelp / Design
littlebitt

Go to company page Yelp Design

PRE
The Walt Disney Company
 littlebitt
Sep 30, 2017 13 Comments

I graduated with a sociology degree and have been in sales for a few years, and recently at Yelp. But I want to transition into becoming a pm, as it seemed like something I'm interested in doing. What are the next set of steps that I should take?

Should I take a course at general assembly or productschool? I don't see myself going back to college to start over.

What's the reality of getting a job as a PM for a sociology major? Any help would be appreciated.

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  • Paysa
    jiDx56

    Paysa

    jiDx56
    While more than half of individuals who call themselves product managers in any capacity have a bachelor’s degree or higher, continued learning is the name of the game for upward mobility in this competitive field.

    Here are some educational resources that technical product managers use to keep their skills sharp and stay ahead of emerging trends in the industry:

    Industry podcasts
    Blogs
    Books
    Meetups and networking groups
    Courses and training

    You can find a lot more info on the subject here:
    https://goo.gl/HZxdaf
    Sep 30, 2017 0
  • Yelp
    txJdhs

    Go to company page Yelp

    txJdhs
    You can try going to enterprise-side PMs
    Sep 30, 2017 1
  • OGSystems / Design
    xwVk84

    OGSystems Design

    BIO
    Lead Product Designer and aspiring Product Manager
     xwVk84
    For me, it was a 6-year journey to get into a PM career vertical. But I'm there now, so I can tell you what worked for me.

    First - read books and listen to podcasts. If you need recommendations, put out another post - I'm sure it'll get great engagement. But build up your base knowledge of what makes good product (dev, design, biz). You'll need this to become a "thought-leader" in your current role.

    Then, look for opportunities to apply that knowledge in your current role. Go above and beyond. Ask to help your PM or product owner. Learn to think like them and take on additional tasks that you can then add to your resume as having that experience. This will help strengthen your resume when you apply for positions.

    And don't be afraid of taking another position that isn't a PM position, but will boost your resume for a future application. I strategically took 4 positions over a span of 6 years that kept moving me closer to PM work, and I looked for opportunities to apply my PM knowledge in each.

    Finally, view this work as a "season." It helps give you the stamina to keep moving toward a goal that might take a few years to achieve.

    Hope this helps.
    Sep 30, 2017 2
    • Yelp / Other
      leedlelee

      Go to company page Yelp Other

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      The Walt Disney Company, Yelp
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      Have questions seek answers
       leedlelee
      Did you go through this with / without a bachelors? Were you also switching careers? I'm not even sure what entry level PM position is called
      Sep 30, 2017
    • OGSystems / Product
      NotADouche

      OGSystems Product

      BIO
      Lead Product Designer and aspiring Product Manager
       NotADouche
      I had a bachelor's, but part of my journey was getting my MBA. But I don't think that's necessary. Recruiters want to see what you're capable of and what you've done in your last/current roles that will translate to impact in the role you're applying for. There's a lot of free info out there you can learn from instead of paying for a degree.

      And PMs usually come from engineering, design, or business backgrounds so you can start a career in one of those and move up, or you can aim for a Product Owner role. That's a step below a PM usually
      Sep 30, 2017
  • Getting a PMP certificate can help getting an interview, but I heard the course itself is not really useful.
    Sep 30, 2017 2
    • Yelp / Other
      leedlelee

      Go to company page Yelp Other

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      The Walt Disney Company, Yelp
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      Have questions seek answers
       leedlelee
      Even for someone who wants to switch fields?
      Sep 30, 2017
    • Uber
      notreally

      Go to company page Uber

      notreally
      what? pmp?

      here is a solid advice: stay the f away from MS. they have no idea what product management means.
      Sep 30, 2017
  • Yelp / Other
    leedlelee

    Go to company page Yelp Other

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    The Walt Disney Company, Yelp
    BIO
    Have questions seek answers
     leedlelee
    Thank you all for your insight!
    Sep 30, 2017 0