1YOE as a strategy consulting generalist, interested in breaking into PM. Would love to know which books / courses will get me in the best shape for PM, and if it’s worth looking into with my currently level of experience. Thank you!

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I’m Product manager for 3 years now prior I had a background in sport and working with kids. To land my first PM job it took me 6 months in a big company. Then I move to a startup and then scaleup.
Some advices:
1. Connect with PMs join PMs group on Facebook on LinkedIn
2. Resources there are a ton of books, courses and ressources, subscribe to medium there are ton of articles, join a PM book club, podcasts.
3. learn agile/scrum/lean/waterfall and product good practices
4. Work on yourself, develop empathy, learn to think like someone that will use a product, demonstrate emotional intelligence. Team player mindset.
5. Learn Product manager interviews frameworks ( Product sense, product execution, product strategy)
6. Make your cv professionally oriented to PMs jobs and ask PMs to review
7. Go to workshops etc..
8. learn to do product task.
9. Learn to give and receive feedback but most importantly use that feedback to grow

To be honest coming from a non traditional and non business background it was very difficult it tools a lot of work and applications.
If that is the path that you have chosen you need to persevere and do more that is a very competitive role but not inaccessible.
Have a look at startups and other type of companies also when you apply some role would have the same description as a PM job but would be called something else just make sure to check.

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Hey there! I’m so interested in your background and transition to PM. I too come from a career in education working with kids (and adults) and transitioned this year to consulting. But I’m so curious now about product management and how to make that leap without a tech or business background.

As someone who’s been trying for a year now after consulting and tech experience - good luck! It’s been absolutely brutal haha. I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s 2 ways to do it - either break into a tech company with good mobility and transition internally after a year or two OR go to an early enough stage startup that will give you a shot. Almost impossible to have a brand name company directly hire you into PM - maybe Amazon for a non tech PM role but even that requires more experience.

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So long as you spin your consulting experiences to highlight PM-related experiences, it’s doable. Especially for non-tech PM roles. I am joining Amazon for a non-tech Sr PM position later this month.

That said, I have 8 YOE. Most of Amazon’s PM roles are for L6. You would need more experience to make the jump. There are few L5 PM positions posted, but they do exist. I believe they have a 2-3 YOE requirement though, if I recall.

Your best bet would be to try and join a Tier 2 or Start Up Tech company as a PM. Or join Amazon or other Big Tech as a Program Manager and transfer after 1-1.5 years to Product Management.

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Here you go

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You can also try jumping to a smaller consulting firm that’s more flexible to share PM responsibilities with you while you work in the capacity of a strategist. Try Toptal or Propelland.

For what it’s worth this is a super common transition people use business school for. Lots of people hired by established tech companies as PMs with this route.

Another reading list

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I missed these notifications, but thank you all so, so much for sharing. There are some really valuable insights and perspectives here!

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