How to Break into Product Management Role

Explore alternative ways to break into Product Management that suitable for you

There are several ways to break into the PM role. If you are a fresh graduate, you can apply as Associate Product Manager. Many companies open programs for fresh graduates that are interested in becoming Product Manager. This is the most straightforward path to get the role. But what if you’re no longer fresh and already enrolled in non PM careers for a while?

Many people are already successful pursuing this role from many different backgrounds (i.e doctors, music engineers, business analyst, lawyer, etc.). So it is still highly possible to make it. Here are the possible alternative ways to increase the chances of getting into PM role and its pros and cons:

• Internal Transfer

• Reach out to your network from different company

• Apply to Niche Product According to Your Expertise

• Cold Call

Internal Transfer

Keep your eyes open to check whether there are open vacancies for Product Managers in your current company. Approach the hiring manager to have the conversations about the job. You may or may not tell your current manager but make sure they don’t hear about your interest from a second source.

Pros:

• You are already familiar with the product and environment to collaborate with so you can relatively focus more on improving. your product skills.

• Hiring manager is already familiar with you and it takes less risks

Cons:

• Usually you are only allowed to move only if you already got a substitute for your current role.

• Might feel awkward with the previous team

Reach out to your network from different company

New hire is always a big risk. When I was Design Manager, I realized that three things that I need to check about the candidates is:

1. Skill

2. Personality fit

3. Aspiration fit

These 3 points are critical and have high uncertainty factors. Even after the manager interviews the candidate, it is still hard to fully assess whether a candidate is really a good fit or not. Hence, if the candidate is someone that the hiring manager has already known, it greatly reduces the uncertainty point for number 2.

So if you have colleagues that are currently hiring PM, it would be your best bet since they can vouch for your work ethics.

Pros:

• Easier to approach and gain informations

• Might feel more comfortable to ask for feedbacks

• Can get a mentor while at it

Cons:

• Not everyone have direct networks to PM hiring managers

• Some people might feel uncomfortable contacting old acquaintances

Apply to Niche Product According to Your Expertise

“I am an accountant. I don’t have any works related to PM worth mentioning in my resume. What should I do?”

Try applying for companies that build accounting products.

If you have particular expertise, applying to companies that serve the same field will highly increase the chance to get accepted. Your experience as an expert can be the competitive advantage compared to other candidates.

Pros:

• Your previous experiences become competitive advantage

Cons:

• Less options for available job vacancies

Cold Call

Another option for breaking into PM You can approach the hiring manager. You can contact them and prepare questions about the PM role they are hiring. Don’t worry about whether you might bother them. Based on my experience as a hiring manager, being approached feels really good because it actually helps my job and even gives them extra points since it means they put extra effort for research and do something out of the box. A very good trait as an employee.

Luckily now LinkedIn have feature that shows #hiring badges. This can make your life easier to find the hiring manager and connect with them.

Pros:

• Can get a mentor while you are at it

• Dont have to have networks

• Bypass HR screening

Cons:

• Being ignored

• It might be uncomfortable to approach strangers

So that’s alternative ways to approach the employers. See other materials for preparing to get into the PM Role here