Transitioning from Engineering to Product Management
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The document provides guidance for engineers transitioning to product management, detailing key skills needed for PM roles, including technical, product, industry, and business expertise. It emphasizes the importance of experience, networking, and crafting a PM-focused resume while preparing for interviews that cover behavioral, product design, estimation, and technical questions. Additionally, it discusses the mixed opinions on obtaining an MBA for career advancement in this field.
![My Background
• Engineer @ Google, Microsoft & Apple
– 3 Years on Google Hiring Committee
– Interviewed 150+ candidates
• Founder of CareerCup.com
• Author
– Cracking the Coding Interview
– The Google Resume
– Cracking the PM Interview [Product Management]
• Interview coach for acquisitions & acquihires
McDowell | CareerCup.com](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/transitioningfromengineeringtoproductmanagement-june2014-140617023527-phpapp01/85/Transitioning-from-Engineering-to-Product-Management-2-320.jpg)
Transitioning from Engineering to Product Management
- 1. Transitioning from Engineering -> Product Management Gayle Laakmann McDowell
- 2. My Background • Engineer @ Google, Microsoft & Apple – 3 Years on Google Hiring Committee – Interviewed 150+ candidates • Founder of CareerCup.com • Author – Cracking the Coding Interview – The Google Resume – Cracking the PM Interview [Product Management] • Interview coach for acquisitions & acquihires McDowell | CareerCup.com
- 3. slides Technologywoman.com -> Speaking engagements -> ctrl-F for “master” McDowell | CareerCup.com
- 4. What PM jobs are open to you? Product Manager (“PM”) == “Associate Product Manager” (Google, Yahoo, Facebook, etc.) == “Program Manager” (Microsoft) McDowell | CareerCup.com
- 5. The Perfect PM Technical Skills + Product Skills + Industry Expertise + Business Expertise McDowell | CareerCup.com New PMs have some but not ALL of these skills.
- 6. Smart Gets Things Done Strategy & Vision Leadership Customer Focus Product Design Analysis & Synthesis Action Oriented Prioritization Project Management Technical Skills Communication
- 7. Strategy & Vision Leadership Customer Focus Product Design Analysis & Synthesis Action Oriented Prioritization Project Management Technical Skills Communication ENGINEER
- 8. Acquiring Skills • At your company? – Help out a PM • Outside of work? – Design your own app • Formal education – Coursera, General Assembly – Books • Show initiative, leadership, & design McDowell | CareerCup.com
- 9. Should you get an MBA? • VERY mixed opinions in SV • Gives you “business” knowledge – Marketing, accounting, pricing, etc. • Effective way to career hop – … at the top schools & local schools • But it’s a very expensive way to do that… McDowell | CareerCup.com
- 10. Getting the Opportunity McDowell | CareerCup.com
- 11. A PM-Focused Resume • That cool algorithm isn’t that useful • Focus on: – Leadership – Design – Initiative • ACCOMPLISHMENTS McDowell | CareerCup.com
- 12. Landing the Opportunity • Hard to jump companies & roles • Leverage your expertise – Dev tools PM? – Got industry expertise? • Blog & be active online • Network, network, network McDowell | CareerCup.com
- 13. The Interview McDowell | CareerCup.com
- 14. What to Expect in the Interview • Behavioral Questions • Product Design • Estimation Questions • Business Questions • Technical Questions McDowell | CareerCup.com • Gets things done • Problem Solving • Communication • User-Focused Thinking • Relevant Skills
- 15. So, tell me about yourself… McDowell | CareerCup.com
- 16. Your Two-Minute Pitch • I am a … at … • In college, I studied … • Then I worked for … • Then … • Now I’m … • Outside of work, I … McDowell | CareerCup.com • Sprinkle in highlights • Show the WHY • Connect yourself
- 17. Preparing for Behavioral Qs McDowell | CareerCup.com Job 1 Job 2 Leadership/Influence Mistakes/Failures Challenges Successes Teamwork Select 5 Key Stories. What do they say about you?
- 18. Structure 1: Nugget First • Lead with your “thesis” / nugget – Grabs the listener’s attention – Gives them context for where you’re going. McDowell | CareerCup.com A: I’m most proud of my leading my company’s pivot. Last year, … Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
- 19. Structure 2: S.A.R. ituation ction esult McDowell | CareerCup.com S A R What was the issue? What did you do about it? What was the impact?
- 20. Product Design Questions How would you design an calculator for the blind? Design an elevator for a building. Pick a Google product. How would you improve it?
- 21. Product Design Questions: Why? • Communication & Structured Thinking • Ability to understand the user • Creativity • Business instincts / skills
- 22. Product Design Qs: Approach 1. Ask questions to resolve ambiguity 2. Understand the user & use cases. 3. Structure the problem 4. Solve piece by piece Put the user first.
- 23. What to Expect in the Interview • Behavioral Questions • Product Design • Estimation Questions • Business Questions • Technical Questions McDowell | CareerCup.com • Gets things done • Problem Solving • Communication • User-Focused Thinking • Relevant Skills
- 24. McDowell | CareerCup.com Follow Me Online: Facebook.com/Gayle Twitter.com/Gayle Quora.com TechnologyWoman.com