Ask HN: What's it like transitioning from SWE to PM?

Re:Ask HN: What's it like transitioning from SWE to PM? by foreigner on Thursday February 03, 2022 @01:15PM (#30196287)

At first I liked it a lot. I could be confident that the product we were building was worthwhile (unlike in engineering where I just had to take the PM's word for it).

But after a while I started to flounder. I couldn't figure out what we should build next and didn't know what to do. I had no training whatsoever. I tried to study PM methodologies but there are a million competing ones, a bit like self-help books. I don't really know how one becomes a good PM.

(Edit) To clarify I am no longer in this role. After that experience I've been working on creating my own startup, which is like SWE and PM combined, minus the salary.;-)

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Re:Ask HN: What's it like transitioning from SWE to PM? by cwitty88 on Thursday February 03, 2022 @01:52PM (#30196849)

Yea I really appreciate that candor. I am quite worried that I would end up the same way. I think that is what is worrying me and has me asking this question.

Have you tried any courses or read books on how to discover initiatives from the company's strategy and goals? It sounds like maybe the company doesn't have those clearly defined if it is hard to figure out what to do next, granted I know nothing about your company and product team makeup. Best of luck!

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Re:Ask HN: What's it like transitioning from SWE to PM? by tragictrash on Thursday February 03, 2022 @01:33PM (#30196556)

Thanks for your honesty and insight. We need more people like you.

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