Finding Your Path: How I Transitioned Into Product Management

This post in the PM Career Insights series addresses the question, "How did you get into Product Management?"

Product management is an exciting and multi-faceted career that attracts professionals from various backgrounds. As someone who transitioned into product management, I often get asked, "How did you get into Product Management?" In this post, I will share the insights and steps I took for those who are considering a career in this field.

Identifying the Spark

The first step in any career transition is identifying your interests. What is it about product management that appeals to you? Is it cross-functional collaboration, customer focus, strategic thinking, or something else? Reflect on why you are drawn to this field.

Although I had been acting in the role of a product manager without holding the formal title, I became aware of the discipline during a project at Telenor Pakistan. There, I met Junaid Basir , a former program manager at Microsoft, who introduced me to the formal aspects of product management. What particularly caught my attention was how Junaid used user stories to illustrate customer needs, business requirements, and technological capabilities. This approach dramatically shifted my thinking from a technical or business-centric perspective to a more user-centric one.

Learning About Product Management

Dedicate time to understanding the roles and responsibilities of a @product manager. Read books, articles, and watch videos to gain a comprehensive understanding of what the role entails.

When I moved to Norway to join Telenor Digital, I found myself again assuming the role of a Product Manager as I led the AppControl project. Tor-Arne Fosser was kind enough to take that chance on me. Although I didn't have an official title, I felt compelled to formalize my knowledge. I enrolled in a Product Management specialization on Coursera to upskill, acquiring the vocabulary and process skills that I felt I lacked.

Tip: Recommended Read

“Cracking the PM Interview” by Gayle McDowell and Jackie Bavaro is a highly recommended book for aspiring product managers.

Acquiring Relevant Skills

Product managers require a combination of business acumen, technical knowledge, communication skills, and user empathy. Work on acquiring and sharpening these skills.

While I had already gained technical knowledge through my undergraduate studies, and business acumen through experience and formal education, I lacked the skills to converse with customers effectively. In my view, this is one of the fundamental skills needed to succeed as a PM. My time at Ignite, a startup incubator program at Telenor, served as a boot camp in customer discovery. With mentorship from Lisa Long and expertise from a user researcher Nathalie Jonkers , I spoke to over 300 users in less than three months. This experience provided me invaluable insights into understanding customer needs without biasing them, a critical skill for any Product Manager.

Tip: Take Online Courses

There are numerous online courses tailored for aspiring product managers, such as those offered by Coursera , Udacity , Udemy , and Linkedin learning . I recommend this specialization on Coursera by Alex Cowan at University of Virginia Darden School of Business .

Gaining Practical Experience

Practical experience is invaluable. Look for opportunities within your current role to take on product-related responsibilities or engage in side projects that allow you to apply product management concepts.

After my stint at Ignite, I returned to my job at Telenor Digital. An opportunity to work on an API platform presented itself when Arild Nilsen , a former colleague now leading that team, told me he was looking for a PM. I saw this as the perfect setting to gain hands-on experience while working closely with engineers, thus deepening my product management skills in a more technical environment. Being the only non-coder in a team of over ten back-end and infrastructure engineers helped me overcome my imposter syndrome.?

Tip: Look for opportunities within the company

I usually recommend people start by looking for opportunities to transition into a PM role within their current company. These organizations are generally more willing to take a chance on someone without formal experience, as opposed to applying for a new role in a different company where the lack of a formal title or extensive experience can be a barrier.

Building Meaningful Relationships

Networking is crucial. Connect with current product managers, attend meetups, workshops, and conferences to build meaningful relationships that can provide insights, guidance, and potential opportunities.

After becoming interested in product management, I began talking to other PMs at Telenor Digital, like Ingrid ?degaard , who was the PM for Appear.in (now Whereby). When she heard about my work on AppControl, she invited me to share my insights in an internal talk. In the audience was Lisa, who later asked me to share my story at ProductTank Oslo, introducing me to the ProductTank community and its meetups.

Tip: Informational Interviews

Conduct informational interviews with product managers to gain a deeper understanding of their daily responsibilities and career paths.

Crafting Your Story

As you transition into product management, it’s crucial to create a compelling narrative that links your past experience and skills with your aspirations in the field.

While working on AppControl, I saw an internal job posting for the role of Head of Product. Despite not feeling fully qualified, I applied. Gunnar Robert Sell?g , the then Chief Product Officer, generously invited me for an interview. After hearing my story, he recognized that I had been performing the role of a product manager informally. Although he believed in my potential to become a great head of product one day, he advised that I first acquire the necessary execution skills by working daily with a product team and engineers.

Navigating the Job Search

Once you’ve gained the required skills and knowledge, begin your job search. Tailor your resume to highlight only the relevant skills and practice for interviews.

When applying for the Product Manager role at a different company with no prior connections, I focused my resume solely on projects that involved product thinking. This helped me get shortlisted for an interview at Kahoot! in Oslo. I had followed the company since my time at Startuplab . I had a clear narrative for why I wanted to join Kahoot! specifically, which further strengthened my application.

Tip: Tailored Resume

A tailored resume focused on the informal product management roles and responsibilities you have previously held, or transferable skills, is essential to catching the eye of recruiters.

Persistence and Adaptability

Transitioning to a new career is a marathon, not a sprint. Be prepared to face obstacles, adapt your strategy when needed, and be persistent. This has been the central thread throughout my career.?

Transitioning into product management is a journey. It requires self-discovery, continuous learning, acquiring relevant skills, gaining practical experience, networking, and perseverance. By identifying your interests, honing your skills, connecting with people in the industry, and crafting a compelling story, you can navigate the path towards a rewarding career in product management.