Transitioning Into the Role of Product Manager

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As an early to mid-career professional, there may come a point when you realize that your career is heading in the wrong direction. While many people “stick it out” and hope for the best, others get serious about making a change. These people are open to transitioning into a new job in a new field — with product management one of the top choices. 

If you’re interested in transitioning into the role of product manager, let’s make sure you have a basic understanding of what a Product Manager does and what skills are required to transition to PM. 

Picture a Venn diagram, a Product Manager operates at the intersection of Technology (the how/feasibility), Design (the what/desirability), and Business (the why/viability). Depending on the role, product and business needs, a PM may lean in more on one side than the other, and not necessarily sit right at the center of the three.

Now that you’ve had a basic understanding of what a Product Manager does, , you must wonder what are some skills required to become a Product Manager. Check out this screenshot from one of my recent LinkedIn posts:

This will also help you decide if product management is a good fit for you and whether you have the transferable knowledge, skills, or experiences to transition to PM and where the gaps are . 

M.V.P. Framework

I’ve put together what I like to call the “M.V.P. Framework” for transitioning into the role of product manager. Let’s dive into the finer details of each point.

M: Mindset

Three things immediately move to the forefront in regards to mindset:

• Why do you want a career transition?
• Why do you want to become a product manager?
• You must be willing to work hard, build up confidence, and make the necessary trade-offs to make the transition happen.

Here are some pointers to help bring more clarity to your mindset and decision:

1. Understand your motivation

What are you looking for in a new career? More money? More responsibility? The opportunity to contribute more? Working with a talented team? Solving interesting, meaningful problems?

Knowing your core motivation allows you to make decisions and trade-offs as you transition. 

2. Reflect on what you enjoy about work

What have been the best moments of your professional career? What doesn’t feel like work to you? Is there a common pattern?

Compare your answers to your understanding of a product manager role. 

3. Reflect on what you don’t enjoy about work

Compare and contrast the things you dislike about your career against a product manager role. No job is perfect, but this step allows you to understand what you’re potentially getting into. 

4. Balance your likes and dislikes

Compare your likes and dislikes. Use this knowledge to decide if becoming a product manager is a good move based on your career goals.

5. Don’t limit yourself to one option

It’s easy to focus on the one career path or the one company that everyone is talking about. But if you limit yourself to one option, you could miss out on something better. An open mind can do wonders as you plan your transition. 

V: Value Proposition

You’re 100 percent on board with the idea of transitioning into a product manager role, but don’t start applying for open positions just yet. This is where you pin down what your unique “superpower” is. The knowledge you gather here helps you position yourself for success. Here are the steps you should take:

• Conduct a personal SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis: What transferable skills and strengths do you have? Are there any weaknesses that require your attention? The main thing is to compare your skills against those required for an entry-level PM job.
• Find opportunities: There’s no shortage of opportunities for PMs. Make a long list based on details such as the size and stage of a company, business model, and type of PM. 

You should lean in to your strengths and relevant experiences and find related PM opportunities that value what you could bring to the table.   Minimizing your degree of freedom can help you stand out in a competitive PM job market. 

P: People, Project, and Process

There are three P’s to focus on as you prepare to transition into a product manager role. 

1. People

The three groups of people include:

• Hiring: Hiring managers, referrals, and sponsors for internal transfers. 
• Mentorship and guidance: Mentors, especially people who are one step ahead of you in their PM career.
• Support systems: Mock interview partners, family, and friends. 

Thoughtful outreach and regular check-in with individuals in all three categories is crucial to making a successful transition. 

2. Project

Start by examining current and past experiences. Do you have any product-related experience or knowledge? How about product design? Engineering? Marketing? Have you built your own product?

If you lack product-specific experience, look for opportunities within your current organization to “wear the product hat.” Another thing you can do is build your own product. This shows your ability to manage the process from start to finish.

Here are some areas of focus when polishing your experience:

• Carefully read the job description and tailor your resume accordingly.
• Use your resume as a highlight reel.
• Show how you have gathered product experience throughout your career.
• Reframe your current experiences from a PM lens.
• Learn to speak like a PM and tell a compelling story
• Quantify the results and impact you were able to deliver

3. Process

Process=practice. This is where you prepare to ace the interview process. There’s a lot you can do here:

• Review lists of potential questions and answers.
• Partake in mock interviews with experienced product managers.
• Take an online PM interview prep course.
• Vary your focus: design, strategy, metrics/analytical, and execution.

Also, make rest and recharge part of the process. There will be days when you’re stressed, anxious, and wondering if you made the right decision. Proper rest will allow you to recharge so you can continue to push through. 

Summary

It’s never easy to decide to transition to a new career. Furthermore, it’s natural to feel fear, stress, and anxiety along the way. On the plus side, the right approach can go a long way in putting your mind at ease and helping you seamlessly move into the product management field.