I got thrust into Product mgmt duties for an internal tool and quite enjoyed being part of 'what to do' as opposed to having been part of the 'how to do'. I talk to the end-users and breakdown stories for the engineers (one of who is me), follow up with users for feedback and also define product strategy and future. It's used by about 300 people so nothing too fancy. It takes up about 30% of my time. I've read cracking the PM interview, the design of everyday things, and Nudge. I enjoyed them and feel that it's a career move I might flourish in. I feel that I have an advantage with my strong technical background to foray into this field, but I have my doubts: 1) Would I take a bump in seniority/pay? I'm a senior full-stack engineer currently, YOE = 7 2) Is having performed partial PM duties enough on a resume to appeal to companies? 3) What can I be doing at my current role to convince prospective interviewers (and myself) that I can be a good PM? #pm #productmanagement
1. TC will get impacted but not a lot because it's a new role so people judge you by number of PM yoe 2. Internal yes, external tough 3. Keep doing what you are doing and make yourself the go-to person for the tool. Work with a PM leader who you admire, ask for advise/mentorship on PM issues in current project and opportunity to move into their team.
1. But that's the thing..I go from 7 YOE to 1 YOE, and I don't see how that'll get me near the same TC I'm at now.. 2. That's what I hear. Transfers are hard enough at apple, let alone a transfer to a new team and a career move 3. Thank you, I am already the go-to person. I work directly with the PM leader as well, though they don't have a team, it's just one person. We don't have an internal tools PM division.
#1 is more complicated. 7 yoe engg + 1 yoe pm is definitely not same as 1 yoe pm only. But it's also not same as 7 yoe pm. It's will be in between closer to total yoe ranges but probably on the lower side. For #3, pm leader as in a manager of PMs. Find someone higher up maybe in a different team. If they don't have headcount they can't help much.