Ask HN: How to approach first days on a new job as a senior PM?

#1

Post by LifeIsBio » Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 5:55 PM UTC

Inspired by this post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42656184

I'm starting a new job in a few days as a senior PM at a ~1000 person company, but I've never been a PM before. My career path has been: PhD -> Engineer -> Founder.

My time as a founder has given me some unique perspective on products in my space, but I'm less experienced with the day-to-day of a PM in a medium sized company. My exposure has been second hand watching the PMs while I was an engineer. Any advice on how to help ensure things kick off well?

Re: Ask HN: How to approach first days on a new job as a senior PM?

#2

Post by fullstackwife » Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 11:40 AM UTC

As a junior PM should have a mentor from within the company. Should this be your first step to find a mentor?

Re: Ask HN: How to approach first days on a new job as a senior PM?

#3

Post by epirogov » Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 5:21 PM UTC

perhaps try to find what you can pull from the responsibilities of other project managers to demonstrate your positive impact on the project for the next performance review

Re: Ask HN: How to approach first days on a new job as a senior PM?

#4

Post by Lionga » Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8:08 PM UTC

Love that "senior" PMs need to have exactly zero years experience as PM to be a senior PM.

Re: Ask HN: How to approach first days on a new job as a senior PM?

#5

Post by codingdave » Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 9:58 PM UTC

Lionga wrote: post #4

Love that "senior" PMs need to have exactly zero years experience as PM to be a senior PM.

I had the same thought, but if it is a 1000 person company, that is large enough that the seniority level of their title is just as likely to be based on the compensation band of their HR structure as much as having any relevance to their actual skills.

Re: Ask HN: How to approach first days on a new job as a senior PM?

#6

Post by daniel_iversen » Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 9:33 AM UTC

There’s probably advice and books and other things that PMs here and elsewhere can give you, but also get a network together with the other senior PMs and head of product/CTO I reckon and see what’s working and what’s not. Bit of a “listening tour” (and even outside product; what does sales and support think about the product, and about working with the product). One is not a substitute for the other and I’m sure there are some institutional aspects in the company that’ll influence how you manage the product and it’s roadmap. Our ex-PM Jackie who was/is very good also wrote a book specifically for this, that helped build Asana :-) Cracking the PM Career: The Skills, Frameworks, and Practices to Become a Great Product Manager https://amzn.asia/d/3CP2Jex

Re: Ask HN: How to approach first days on a new job as a senior PM?

#7

Post by mewpmewp2 » Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 9:34 AM UTC

Lionga wrote: post #4

Love that "senior" PMs need to have exactly zero years experience as PM to be a senior PM.

Depends how rest of his career experience has been. He was an engineer and he has been a founder. If the product is technical it very well makes sense for me that he is well beyond junior or mid level depending on overall experience.

Re: Ask HN: How to approach first days on a new job as a senior PM?

#8

Post by 3ple_alpha » Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 9:40 AM UTC

Depends if the project started with you or was ongoing. If it is the latter, defer to pre-existing coworkers to an extent at first.

Re: Ask HN: How to approach first days on a new job as a senior PM?

#9

Post by aneeqdhk » Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 9:41 AM UTC

- understand as much about the product as possible, primarily from a user point of view

- meet as many different verticals as possible and understand how they work

- speak with all other senior PMs and tech leads and understand their workflows

You're going to be working with multiple teams and stakeholders and it's crucial you have a mental map of how everyone's workflow is. You also will have an 'outsiders' view for the first 30-90 days as you look at the product with fresh eyes. Use this to drive insights for the product if applicable.

Lastly, don't ever stop customer meetings. It may not be on the agenda for other Senior PMs, but don't let that stop you. Customer meetings will keep your insights fresh and valid.

Re: Ask HN: How to approach first days on a new job as a senior PM?

#10

Post by jph » Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 9:44 AM UTC

I maintain a repo of topics for new PMs, plus one-page explanations, in web page format and also as a free ebook. Constructive feedback welcome.

https://github.com/sixarm/project-management-guide

This guide doesn't tell you what to do; it give you much of the lingo and a bunch of framework choices that you can use, or perhaps that the existing teammates are already using.