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Ask DT: How can I transition from a Data Engineer to Product Management?
6 points by vishalzone2002 3284 days ago | 6 comments
Based on side projects that I do I have realized I would enjoy Product Management more. My current company has not really entertained my decision. When I apply to other companies for a PM role, they reject my application and then contact me for a Data Engineer role. Is there anyone who has made the transition of software/data engineer to PM successfully?


1 point by LevonK 3282 days ago | link

As a Jr. PM you will probably get paid far less than a Data Engineer, are you ready for that?

Where are you located? are you willing to relocate? Got a linked in profile you can direct me to?

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1 point by arkg_98 3284 days ago | link

I'm looking for folks like you who want to move from Engg to PM. Please reach out to me at ag2828(at)caa(dot)columbia(dot)edu

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1 point by skadamat 3284 days ago | link

You have a few different options:

1. Get an MBA, ideally a top 5-10 program (below 20 is probably not worth the bill, might be better to get work experience instead). Do a PM internship, get full time PM role.

2. Get a transitional role that is the intersection of a set of skills you already have and a set of skills you're seeking. Product Engineer / Applications Engineer are great roles for this (moving from analytics stack to actually building product). Sales Engineer isn't a bad option either since you'll often do client-facing / and slightly more business oriented work with a foundation in technical work. It also matters the industry you're in, size of company you're in now, size of company you want to end up at, industry you want to end up at, etc. Think about it hard! A bad plan is better than no plan (not my words). E.g. for a healthcare PM role, you need healthcare experience, so maybe a sales eng / product eng role at a health company is a good transitional role.

3. Look for Associate Product Manager positions. You'll be working under a senior PM and gain valuable expertise + get a stamp!

3. Look at associate project manager or project manager positions. This isn't product work usually, more people management. Can be hard to get with a data eng. background but you never know, esp if its in the same industry/ vertical as your background.

4. Start a company; you'll be doing most of the work a PM does. Even if it fails, you'll most likely be able to combine data eng. background + startup exp. to get a PM role at some series A or B startup.

5. Apply to PM positions anyway! Specifically focus on those where there's a fit. If you're a hadoop / spark data engineer, look at the PM positions at companies like Cloudera or Databricks! Etc

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2 points by LevonK 3282 days ago | link

>Get an MBA

This is legacy thinking. We would prefer CS/Stats people for a Data product owner.

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1 point by skadamat 3284 days ago | link

Feel free to ping me directly as well ([email protected]), and I can see if anyone in my network is looking for "Data Product Managers"

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1 point by jbeach 3284 days ago | link

Yeah, in start-ups. The human resources world is as myopic and risk-averse as you will ever find. Essentially, anyone who has not stayed in the same field their entire life has no chance of even getting an interview by a medium to large company. Which is good, essentially, because large bureaucracies have little to offer, anyways.

If you are really sure you want to make this career change, then get an MBA. But do not expect to be challenged during such a program.

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