Transition to Product Management (2025 Guide)

Considering transitioning into product management from another role?

Product management is a booming field. It's a cornerstone of almost every forward-thinking tech company and is routinely considered one of the most attractive roles and career paths in tech.

Success in a product role doesn't require a deep product management background.

Many great product managers started their careers as:

• Project managers,
• Software engineers,
• UX designers,
• Business analysts,
• and more.

Below is a comprehensive overview of the essential skills and strategies needed to transition to a product management role, no matter your current job title.

What is a product manager?

A product manager leads the development and growth of a product.

This includes:

• identifying and validating market opportunities,
• defining the product vision and strategy,
• and working cross-functionally to bring the product to market.

The primary responsibilities of a product manager are:

• Conducting market research,
• Defining product vision and strategy,
• Planning and road mapping feature releases,
• Leading product teams,
• Defining go-to-market strategy,
• Tracking analytics and metrics,
• Building user relationships,
• Managing stakeholders.

Jumping into Product Management

The nature of the product manager’s job is diversified.

Product managers are involved in many things, hence their nickname “mini-CEOs.”

No matter their background, successful product managers must develop and foster the skills needed professionally or through personal projects.

Develop the Skills

Product management is such a broad discipline within an organization that an individual PM cannot develop and master all the skills involved.

You'll inevitably have strengths and weaknesses depending on your professional background and personal preferences.

Product managers need specific skills and qualifications to be successful. These include:

• Strategic thinking: The ability to think strategically and make informed decisions based on market research and user needs.
• Problem-solving: The ability to identify and solve complex problems, often involving multiple stakeholders.
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential for communicating product vision and strategy to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Leadership: The ability to lead, manage, and influence cross-functional teams, including engineers, designers, and marketing teams, among others.
• Technical knowledge: Knowledge of the technical aspects of product development, such as software development, can be helpful, but it is not always necessary.
• Knowledge of user experience (UX) principles and best practices: user research, user-centered design, user feedback and testing, user empathy, user-centric metrics, accessibility, user onboarding, and user retention, with the ability to apply these principles in the development and design of products.
• Business acumen: Understanding key business concepts such as finance, marketing, and operations can help make informed decisions that align with the overall business strategy.
• Industry knowledge: Knowledge of the specific industry in which the product operates can help predict market trends and customer needs.
• Project management: Strong project management skills to effectively plan and execute the product development process.
• Data analysis: Understanding data analysis, metrics, and experimentation is critical for tracking product performance and making informed decisions.

A degree in business, engineering, or a related field can provide a sound foundation, but on-the-job experience and mentorship can be just as valuable.

Many books, courses, and online resources are available to help you develop the skills and qualifications needed to become a product manager.

First PM Job

There are a couple of strategies to transition into product management, regardless of your starting role.

The most common ways PMs get their first role in the product are:

• An internal, lateral move,
• Getting a junior PM position at a different company,
• or joining a startup.

The Lateral Move

One method of transitioning is through an internal lateral move within your current organization.

This means moving from your current role into a product manager role.

Thinking of a lateral move?

• Does your current company have a product management department or team? Do they have open positions?
• Have you worked with product managers at your company before?
• Have you cultivated relationships with the product teams?

Even though you are already employed by the company, you’ll still need to make a case for why you’re an excellent fit for the product management role.

You’ll need to come prepared to highlight your previous experience, achievements, and any skills or qualifications that make you a strong candidate.

The Junior PM Position

Another common way many product managers get their start is by obtaining a junior product manager (or even associate product manager) position at a new company.

Junior PM roles will help you gain experience, develop skills, and learn the ropes of product management.

Look for companies and industries that align with your interests and skills, especially if you don’t have a product-related background or role.

On your resume, emphasize your experience with:

• product development,
• project management,
• UX design,
• and/or market research.

A junior role likely won't have the same autonomy and responsibility as a senior product manager or product role in a startup.

Still, it will provide you with a firm foundation in product management and open up opportunities to move up the career ladder later.

Startups

The most ambitious but potentially exhilarating option is joining a startup in a product role.

By nature, startups tend to be less rigid than FAANG+ companies.

For example, they may be more open-minded towards your non-traditional product background than a Big Tech company.

Nevertheless, startup culture is certainly not for everyone.

Depending on the organization, industry, and product, the work can be incredibly demanding, and the company's ultimate success is not set in stone.

Jumping into product management this way requires high flexibility, adaptability, risk tolerance, and some good ole gumption.

These roles at growing companies can allow you to directly impact the company’s success and learn and grow as a product manager.

Step by Step: Making the Transition

No matter the role you’re starting from or the strategies you’re taking to get there, here are some general tips on making the leap:

Step 1: Networking

Networking is essential for transitioning to a product management role. If your company employs product managers, establish relationships with them.

Ask to get lunch with them during in-office days to ask about what they’re up to. These connections can be invaluable for learning about what it takes to become a product manager and help you land a job.

Join virtual communities like Exponent to connect with product leaders online, too.

Step 2: Gain PM experience.

As much as possible, look for opportunities to gain experience in product management within your current role or through a side project.

If you work with product managers at your organization, ask if they need any help with something, even if it’s not necessarily within the parameters of your job description.

This can help you develop the skills and qualifications needed to be a successful product manager.

Step 3: Prepare for the job search.

Prepare for the job search by researching companies and roles, tailoring your resume and cover letter to the role, and practicing for interviews.

Step 4: Ace the interview

During the interview, highlight your relevant experience, skills, and qualifications. Be prepared to give specific examples.

To feel confident, practice interview questions, work on mock interviews, and connect with an interview coach.

Jumping into product management might take time, so be patient and persistent.

Be open to different roles early in your career, such as an associate product manager or product specialist.

These roles can act as a launch pad and help you develop the skills and experience to advance to a full-fledged product manager role.

PM Interview Prep

Landing a product job requires more than just applying!

1. Create an excellent PM resume: Companies like Google receive over three million applications yearly. 80-90% of candidates never pass the resume screen. Ask friends, mentors, or our tech resume coaches to review your resume. Use our PM resume template if you need help getting started.
2. Prepare for interviews: The product management interview process will test your product sense, product design, product strategy, analytical and estimation skills, and behavioral fit with the company. Review the most frequently asked PM questions and answers.
3. Review the company: Each company has a unique mission, products, and approach to PM interviews. Spend time understanding how they envision their place in the world. How could you help them achieve that vision? 
4. Practice: Even the most knowledgeable candidates can feel nervous during the interview. You can practice with Exponent's free peer-to-peer and AI PM mock interview portal. Every day, PM candidates role-play in 1:1 mock interviews and give feedback.
5. Interview: All the preparation and hard work you've done have led up to this moment! It's time to turn on your camera and nail those PM interviews!