Switching careers with Product Management? You’ve put your blood, sweat and tears, not to mention time and immense efforts into your career. It’s been a few years since you started your professional journey and gained some name for yourself. But now you are wondering how to switch careers to another field.
Back to Square 1?
It is natural to get worried about being at the bottom of the ladder again. But do you know, there are ways you can bypass being there at the bottom and being considered as a name to reckon with in the entire new industry.
Product management is a relatively new field and is in high demand for some time now. It is hence attracting a big number of talented people out there. But, not everyone got the sweet chance to transit into this expertise right at the beginning of their careers and most of the interested professionals got no other choice than transit from different functions.
When someone starts to think how do I change career, there is always a fear that surrounds their minds of starting from the bottom all over again. The fear is really considerable, as it hits your position as well as the pay-check and in some cases, it hits you on emotional level too.
However, there are ways to avoid such situations, especially when you are preparing yourself to move into PM territory. Read further to save your precious years and know the best way to change careers.
How to Switch Career Paths?
Get Well-Equipped
If you’re wondering how to switch career paths, transition into a Product Management Role can be a smooth ride for you, but you will have to work a bit hard before your transition begins. There are plenty of courses out there to help you and train you to become a product manager any company would love to hire. But you have to choose wisely, by evaluating their pedagogy, pedigree and teaching methodology. Pragmatic Leaders is one such course provider which has helped numerous professionals in their transition into product management roles.
A Bright Portfolio
It could be a wise decision to work on some independent projects, even if it is during your course and training, such experiences help to build your portfolio and give you the confidence while going for those final rounds of interview and negotiating your pay-check and other in the new role.
Also Read: Key Takeaways for Product Managers from Cricket
Heard about IJP?
Internal Job Postings, IJP this sweet acronym changed the trajectory of lots of careers across the world and industries. What is sweeter than working in the same environment you nurtured in and taking up a better role and responsibilities? IJPs are the your safest bet during the transition into any new functional role in any industry. It goes in as a promotion as well as it gives you a whole new level of confidence when you got familiar faces around you, especially at such critical juncture of your career where you’re considering switching career paths.
Cross Functional Management
One has to understand that a PM (Prime Minister as well a Product Manager, pun intended!) has to work with a myriad of departments, right from designing to tech to finance to marketing.
It is highly advisable to gather as much knowledge possible of these departments while you are preparing for your transition into a PM role. Not only will it give you the confidence about your new role, but will also help you develop leadership qualities.
Help From Pals or Mentors
A few calls always work! When everything fails, a good communication with your friends and your mentors can help you to correct. Strong referrals for your desired role and that can prevent your career from taking the nose dive. Especially while transiting into a new functional role. Many times a good recommendation from an internal manager goes a long way in the hiring process.
