Will switching to non technical PM from mechanical eng boost my TC?

SpaceX
epicmeal

Go to company page SpaceX

epicmeal
Nov 11, 2021 11 Comments

I’m thinking about trying to switch to non technical product manager from mechanical engineering. Will switching improve my TC/TC career progression? #pm #product #productmanager

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  • Facebook
    XiJinPoooh

    Go to company page Facebook

    XiJinPoooh
    I don’t know anything about mech engineering but as a pm I can tell you that when I switched to product at amazon 3 years ago, I was making 150. I got promoted last year to 190. Then jumped to FB and am now >300. And senior level PMs at FAANG can make 375-500k. Im pretty sure mech engineering doesn’t pay that much.
    Nov 11, 2021 5
    • Facebook
      XiJinPoooh

      Go to company page Facebook

      XiJinPoooh
      I don’t have a software background or technical skills. I was a business undergrad with no mba or anything. I think you could certainly jump to pm without going through a software role first, but it depends on where you can find the opportunities. I was very fortunate that i found my path at Amazon, since I transitioned in from a program manager role. However, this was 3-4 years ago before everyone and their mother wanted to be a PM. Now it might be tougher to swing such an internal transition. But I’ve known plenty of people who have transitioned without a software or tech background. Main thing is to network and find opportunities to do PM type work to build experience, and find sponsors who can help vouch for you and help with the transition. I built a strong relationship with the PM mgr of the team I wanted to join, and after 6 months he finally got headcount and brought me on. There’s no one size fits all approach so you just have to be creative and persistent in how you get there.
      Nov 11, 2021
    • SpaceX
      epicmeal

      Go to company page SpaceX

      epicmeal
      OP
      Thanks for the advice!
      Nov 11, 2021
  • So if you do not have some PM experience it’s hard to shift
    Nov 11, 2021 1
  • Juniper
    hotsauce1

    Go to company page Juniper

    PRE
    Mercury Systems
     hotsauce1
    Following…wondering the same thing
    Nov 11, 2021 0
  • PM is a little hot right now - I switched from Analytics to PM in my currently role and moving to Amazon soon as PMT - I was down leveled to L5 but that’s fine I only have 2 years as PM exp but Amazon will help me get the next role.
    Nov 11, 2021 0
  • Interested
    Nov 11, 2021 0