If you’re a software engineer/developer who enjoys figuring out who your customers are, what their needs are, and why they behave the way they do, switching over to Product Management is an ideal transition. After all, who better to collaborate with a Tech team than someone who has been in their shoes before? But how do you transition from Coding to Product Management and what lies in store for you?
However, are your coding skills transferable to Product Management, and if so, what are the different steps you can take to get started? We’ll cover this and look at the steps you can take for transitioning into PM roles.
What Skills Do Coders Bring to Product Management?
A technical background is definitely not a prerequisite to getting into Product Management. However, certain technical skills will give you an advantage when transitioning into a PM role.
Firstly, your technical background is your first go-to tool for distinguishing yourself from the competition. Your technical experience, along with your understanding of code and architecture, can help you serve as both a leader and an advocate for the engineering team.
In a PM role, you will also collaborate and engage with multiple teams. With a technical background, you'll find it much easier to communicate strategies to others effectively.
This can be useful, especially since the average PM spends nearly 32% of his or her time collaborating with various stakeholders.
How Do the Salaries Compare?
It can be difficult to do an in-depth comparison of the salaries of Product Managers and engineers to determine which role pays more. Here’s a quick comparison of a broader range:
- How much does a Senior Software Engineer make in India? As per Glassdoor data, the average base salary of a Software Developer in India is INR 8 lakhs.
- How much does a Product Manager make in India? As per Glassdoor data, the average base salary of a Product Manager in India is INR 20 lakhs.
So, it’s easy to see that Product Managers are well-paid. Check out this detailed breakdown of Product Manager salaries in India - What Is a Product Manager's Salary in India?
Steps To Transition Into Product Management
Education
Getting trained/certified in Product Management is an excellent first step in developing foundational knowledge. A well-structured training program can fill knowledge gaps and expose you to various aspects of PM roles.
Lateral Transitions
An internal transfer within your own company is a popular way to make the transition. If you already work with a PM team, consider meeting with them to learn more about their roles, start suggesting ideas, and pick up side projects until a PM position becomes available.
Build A Product
Find a problem, figure out how to solve it, and proceed through the various stages of development to launch. Building a product from the ground up is a great way to develop skills that frequently overlap with Product Management.
Check this out: How To Become A Product Manager & Build Products For Million+ Users, Ft. Ewin D, Ex-PM @Microsoft
Networking
Connecting with and learning from the right people can potentially open doors and give you your first shot in this field. The good news is that if you already work in technology, you're in a unique position to make some crucial connections.
Switching careers and venturing into uncharted territory can surely be intimidating, but many professionals have successfully made the transition to Product Management. The good news here is that if you are on the fence about this decision, you can take up a part-time Product Management program and then make the jump, not only within your own company but across sectors.
In this 5-month long, well-rounded program,
- 80+ Hours Of Learning With Industry Experts Who’ve Worked With Booking.com, Amazon Flipkart, SDN India, etc.
- Get invaluable industry exposure by working on 2 Live Industry Projects with our live project partners.
- Jump into a Management role by learning in-demand Product Management topics like Product Roadmap & Strategy, Testing, Design Thinking, Product Design, etc.
- Master In-Demand Tools Like Mural, Balsamiq, Draw.io, SQL, Power BI, etc.
- Learn by analyzing unique Product Management case studies, real-life examples & in-class exercises.
Additional Benefits That Help You Crack Any PM Interviews!
- Ace any Product Management interview with AltUni Career Services: Get a chance to interview with AltUni’s recruitment partners; 1-on-1 sessions for CV editing, mock interview, & profile building.
- 3 Industry-recognized certifications by AltUni & live project partners.
At the end of it all, you'll have the tools needed to transition to Product Management and become a successful Product Manager!