Ask HN: Move to product management at 35? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Move to product management at 35?

#71

Post by h1boo » Sun, Mar 04, 2018, 8:37 PM UTC

While PM role means different things in different companies (even between teams in bigger companies) let me tell you what you will miss the most transitioning over from Eng:

You can no longer hit a button to compile your work and see the output (even if it is a small part of the whole). As a PM from initial proposal to outcome is typically 6 months or more. And you fill that time with negotiation, communication and a whole lot of politics (the good and bad sides). Then you may see the outcome you had envisioned (but no guarantees).

It is just, different. Be prepared.

Re: Ask HN: Move to product management at 35?

#72

Post by maxxxxx » Sun, Mar 04, 2018, 8:45 PM UTC

It makes me sad to hear people thinking they are too old for something at 35. Unless you make it big financially there is a good chance you will have another 30 years ahead of you. That means you are just at the first third of your career.

Do what you think you want to do. I thought about getting an MBA or PhD at that age and thought I was too old. Now I am 51 and thinking how easy and useful it would have been to do something at 35. Later in life you will almost always regret things you didn't do earlier.

Re: Ask HN: Move to product management at 35?

#73

Post by timr » Sun, Mar 04, 2018, 8:51 PM UTC

tigershark wrote: post #39

iamphilrae wrote: post #3

Surely your age will assist you here (I’m 35 too). Unlike software development which is typically a “young mans game” due to the constant need to learn the latest thing (I know, sweeping generalisation), Product Management requires significant past experience of products. As a developer, I’m sure you’ve worked on many successful and non-successful products, and have a good insight as to what went well and not. I thin…

“Unlike software development which is typically a “young mans game” due to the constant need to learn the latest thing” Why? As an old developer you don’t need to constantly learn new things?

Because software development generally doesn't reward experience. Technologies change with the wind, and a new grad has just as much experience on the latest JS Foo Framework 0.1 (released yesterday!) as someone with 20 years of industry experience. In addition, older folks say negative things like "don't use JS Foo 0.1 in production...it was released yesterday, and there are battle-tested frameworks to do the same thing in $boring_old_language". This makes younger programmers frowny and sad, and less likely to work overtime in exchange for pizza. After all, those old guys don't know anything, or they wouldn't be using such boring, messy code in the first place!

You do gain some generalizable skills over time (and there are always exceptions to the rule) but in practice, older developers are more expensive versions of that which can be bought at a college career fair -- and the marginal difference in efficiency is offset by the young turks' propensity to work long hours while being paid in snacks.

Re: Ask HN: Move to product management at 35?

#74

Post by rrjanbiah » Sun, Mar 04, 2018, 9:10 PM UTC

ingend88 wrote: post #13

I strongly think that the certifications are not critical. I moved in PM around the same age since Google offers rotation program for Engineers to try out PM. I would be happy to chat with you along with providing some insights into PM interview training. DM me.

Not sure how to DM you. No contact info in your profile too. TIA

Re: Ask HN: Move to product management at 35?

#75

Post by neofrommatrix » Sun, Mar 04, 2018, 9:12 PM UTC

op00to wrote: post #65

I'm older than 35 and currently executing a plan to shift to PM. I have no worries that I'm too old.

Do you mind sharing your strategy to shift to the PM role? DM me if you'd like. I would really appreciate it.

Re: Ask HN: Move to product management at 35?

#76

Post by neofrommatrix » Sun, Mar 04, 2018, 9:15 PM UTC

ingend88 wrote: post #13

I strongly think that the certifications are not critical. I moved in PM around the same age since Google offers rotation program for Engineers to try out PM. I would be happy to chat with you along with providing some insights into PM interview training. DM me.

Thank you for the offer. I'm not at Google, but one of the enterprise software companies in SF. I will definitely DM you. Would love to get some advice/insights into the process.

Re: Ask HN: Move to product management at 35?

#77

Post by neofrommatrix » Sun, Mar 04, 2018, 9:23 PM UTC

libovness wrote: post #21

Would strongly recommend anything by Marty Cagan, including http://svpg.com and https://svpg.com/inspired-how-to-create-products-customers-l... Avoid certifications at all cost

Thank you

Re: Ask HN: Move to product management at 35?

#78

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Mar 04, 2018, 9:36 PM UTC

bitL wrote: post #47

oblio wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends on what you want. If you want some sort of "purity of code", that's great. If you want more (especially control), you'll never have it. Except for your side projects.

Technical co-founder with controlling equity is the role you meant, not side projects. Like most co-founders of big tech companies nowadays.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Move to product management at 35?

#79

Post by mrisoli » Sun, Mar 04, 2018, 9:39 PM UTC

neofrommatrix wrote: post #62

xab9 wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can say it's none of my business, but may I ask you why would you like to change?

I cannot ask for advice and counter with a "none of your business" when asked questions. That's not how any of this works. Thank you for your question. I can probably write an essay on this, but here's a TLDR version. I do like coding, and will definitely continue working on my side projects. Although programming pays quite well, I'm not sure of the long term payoffs of continuing as a programmer (unless you are one…

That's interesting, I find myself in a similar position.

I like coding and I like to improve my coding skills and knowledge, but I feel I am more of generalist than a specialist, I am always lurking around HN, PH, IH, looking at products, trying to always get a little bit more about product strategy, marketing, design and UX.

I have considered a transition into a PM role but I'm still not sure I'm quite ready to step away from the developer role, a part of me would like to have an awesome project that I could build my own company around but I'm just not there yet either.

Either way, I'll be lurking the responses in this thread. Good luck with your move.

Re: Ask HN: Move to product management at 35?

#80

Post by dasil003 » Sun, Mar 04, 2018, 9:41 PM UTC

bitL wrote: post #47

oblio wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends on what you want. If you want some sort of "purity of code", that's great. If you want more (especially control), you'll never have it. Except for your side projects.

Technical co-founder with controlling equity is the role you meant, not side projects. Like most co-founders of big tech companies nowadays.

Founders of big tech companies deal with politics on a level you can’t imagine.