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An advice to all aspiring PMs - think hard about why you want to get into product management. Good news - it's easier than you think. Bad news - it's not always smarter.
1/n (a cynical thread, if you're an aspiring PM, read it at your own better judgement)
1/n (a cynical thread, if you're an aspiring PM, read it at your own better judgement)
I talk to at least 2 people every week who're aspiring to become Product Managers or want to break into the field.
9/10 times, after hearing their stories fully & patiently, I want to give a 1-word answer, 'don't'.
I don't do that fearing I'll end up discouraging someone.
9/10 times, after hearing their stories fully & patiently, I want to give a 1-word answer, 'don't'.
I don't do that fearing I'll end up discouraging someone.
The one question I ask everyone in these conversations is 'Why PM?'
My conclusion after talking to many people - given the field doesn't require a hard & fast specialization, planning a transition feels easy. In most cases it pays more than their current role, it feels logical.
My conclusion after talking to many people - given the field doesn't require a hard & fast specialization, planning a transition feels easy. In most cases it pays more than their current role, it feels logical.
What I instead hear - 'inclination for building products' and 'it feels logical given I'm working closely with products/product managers'.
Few honest/aware folks admit the salary part, even fewer admit the visibility and attention part (those are good reasons btw!)
Few honest/aware folks admit the salary part, even fewer admit the visibility and attention part (those are good reasons btw!)
On inclination for building products, my recommendation always is to go out there and build a real product. Product management jobs in companies and building good products are not the same. We're not called 'product builders' but rather 'product managers' for a reason.
The word 'manager', which makes up for the most part of this role, gets missed completely!
The grey zone of leadership, communication, navigating in chaos, and most importantly, the EQ required to align domain experts towards a common cause.
Read this: https://medium.com/hackernoon/product-management-skills-no-one-talks-about-5d50debfb815
The grey zone of leadership, communication, navigating in chaos, and most importantly, the EQ required to align domain experts towards a common cause.
Read this: https://medium.com/hackernoon/product-management-skills-no-one-talks-about-5d50debfb815
On the part of it feeling logical given you're working closely with product/PM which feels like an incentive, is really a rule. This is exactly how your peer (who's also an engineer or a BA) is also thinking. Think hard about what's your differentiator here.
On the part of it paying high ties back to it still being a new, chaotic, and maturing field. There are still no standards in the industry on the scope of work for PMs and thus the salaries.
And early adopters in most such fields get incentivized down the line.
And early adopters in most such fields get incentivized down the line.
What gets missed? Less importantly, you're not an early adopter. And more importantly, demand/Supply curves.
As the field establishes, becomes mature, and the supply of PMs increase (already starting to happen), quality will become the only differentiator.
As the field establishes, becomes mature, and the supply of PMs increase (already starting to happen), quality will become the only differentiator.
Since there is no black & white to quality in PM - you can't 'still' give a PM test and determine aptitude - experienced folks will end up getting paid well (which is true for most fields).
The diminishing returns owing to higher supply and low natural demand (you'll hire 1 PM for every 6-10 engineers), and the constantly increasing demand/supply gap have already started.
When that happens, goods become commodities and the price goes down.
When that happens, goods become commodities and the price goes down.
So if your reasons are around money, think harder. Or better yet, learn stock trading. :)
Do anything, but don't join a blind race. Many of us have already run our blind race once trying to get into engineering or an MBA a few years ago. Don't make the same mistake again.
Fin.
Do anything, but don't join a blind race. Many of us have already run our blind race once trying to get into engineering or an MBA a few years ago. Don't make the same mistake again.
Fin.
