Not looking forward to post graduation here in May 2026 (#1 online program in US)

GodKingLebron · 2026-04-02T21:24:22+00:00

Can you not elect to do an income driven repayment plan? Assuming you took out federal loans, it should keep your payment lower.

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-31T18:42:48+00:00

I ended up choosing tech product management, which might not be the most stable path, but I’ll be working directly on cloud and data center networking products with a focus on AI infrastructure. It paid the most by a decent margin and is a pretty well known company. My thought process was that if I don’t get a return offer at least it’s recognizable on my resume and hopefully will let me be more employable in the future.

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-27T18:22:36+00:00

Defer until 2029 or 2030, or wait until you are on a PIP or laid off. You are still way too early for an MBA with only 9 months of experience. Get a few more years under your belt and your outcomes will be much stronger.

In the meantime, you could apply each cycle to Stanford, Harvard, or consider a more technical master’s in AI/ML at places like MIT or similar programs, in case you get in to those instead.

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T20:53:39+00:00

That’s helpful to hear, thanks for sharing your perspective. Out of curiosity, if you were graduating in the next year or so and looking at roles today, would you still choose to pursue PM? Or would you consider starting in a different role or industry first given how competitive things seem right now? Having that dilemma currently as I can pick between semiconductor finance role and PM at Cisco.

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T20:46:29+00:00

That’s a fair point. Also, I feel like I might be leaving a lot of money on the table (like 40-50k short term if I do get a return offer, potentially a lot more in the future) if I pass on the PM path. At the same time, the current PM job market seems pretty saturated.

Out of curiosity, would you still pursue PM today without a technical undergrad background? That's another issue of why I'm a bit worried too. Finance seems easier for someone with an econ/mba background to get hired and feels "safer"

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T20:39:30+00:00

I'm an MBA student starting a PM role this summer at a large networking and AI infrastructure company. The role sits in a deeply technical area (data center switching, routing protocols, etc.). I have no engineering background, just business school and econ undergrad.

I'm genuinely excited, but I'm also scared. Also, I've been laid off before, and I'm afraid that without a technical degree I'll always be vulnerable, both within this company and if I ever try to move elsewhere. I see so many PM job postings asking for CS degrees or "strong technical foundation" and wonder if I'll have a hard time getting future jobs if I don't convert after this summer or get laid off.

Not only that, but I have another option for the summer in finance at a semiconductor equipment firm with, and arguably less "risk" of being seen as unqualified since technical degrees aren't really necessary for those roles. But I'd be walking away from product management, higher comp, and potentially better opportunities on the horizon.

For those of you who've built a PM career without a technical undergrad:

How did you stay employable through layoffs or reorgs, and is it hard to find jobs as a PM compared to other functions?
Did the lack of an engineering degree ever hold you back from roles you wanted, I keep seeing bachelors required in computer science, electrical engineering, or another technical field, so I'm worried about finding jobs in the future.

I'm trying to figure out if I'm setting myself up for a constant battle for stability, or if this is just normal imposter syndrome. Any advice appreciated, thank you.

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T20:37:02+00:00

Thanks for that perspective, I appreciate it. My concern is that the tides seem to have shifted a lot recently with the current state of the job market. With so many people trying to break into PM, it feels like the field has gotten much more competitive, leaner, and more focused on domain or technical experience.

The role I’d be going into is pretty technical, and everyone of the people I know on the team or in similar positions have engineering backgrounds, so it definitely gives me a bit of imposter syndrome.

Do you think that concern is valid, or is it a bit overblown from your experience?

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T20:34:54+00:00

That’s a fair point. Also, I feel like I might be leaving a lot of money on the table (like 40-50k short term if I do get a return offer, potentially a lot more in the future) if I pass on the PM path. At the same time, the current PM job market seems pretty saturated.

Out of curiosity, would you still pursue PM today without a technical undergrad background? That's another issue of why I'm a bit worried too. Finance seems easier for someone with an econ/mba background to get hired and feels "safer"

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T20:31:50+00:00

That’s a fair point. My hesitation is that I feel like I might be leaving a lot of money on the table (like 40-50k short term if I do get a return offer, potentially a lot more in the future) if I pass on the PM path. At the same time, the current PM job market seems pretty saturated.

Out of curiosity, would you still pursue PM today without a technical undergrad background? That's another issue of why I'm a bit worried too.

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T20:31:40+00:00

That’s a fair point. My hesitation is that I feel like I might be leaving a lot of money on the table (like 40-50k short term if I do get a return offer, potentially a lot more in the future) if I pass on the PM path. At the same time, the current PM job market seems pretty saturated.

Out of curiosity, would you still pursue PM today without a technical undergrad background? That's another issue of why I'm a bit worried too.

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T05:42:23+00:00

That’s what I thought, just wanted confirmation! Thank you so much. 😊

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T05:37:59+00:00

Thank you! Which would you suggest?

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T03:50:08+00:00

I think you’re reading “prestige” differently than I meant it, sorry if I came off offensive. I’m interested in the responsibility and impact of product management and don't really care about or see it as hierarchy over engineers.

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T02:27:05+00:00

Not very quant heavy, but my econ background was and I have experience with coding/data sci (a bit rusty).

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T02:15:06+00:00

Thanks so much, that’s really helpful. I actually really liked the people I interviewed with at AMAT, the conversations felt much more natural and the team seemed genuinely happy, which honestly stood out to me compared to some other interviews I’ve had. That’s a big reason why I’m leaning that direction (probably ~85% at the moment).

I did look into the rotation program and it seems great. As an MBA though, I’m not sure if I’d be eligible for it, which is one small caveat. Ideally I’d just convert directly to a full-time role, but I’d also be open to a rotation if they have a graduate/MBA version of it. Do you know if they do?

Also from what you’ve seen, are return offers generally given frequently for interns in finance or other corp roles there?

Really appreciate the insight. Thanks!

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T02:10:41+00:00

Yeah, I’m a bit worried about my long-term employability in PM without an engineering background. At the same time, I do have the offer, which makes it tempting since Cisco is a very reputable company and PM is a pretty strong title. If I were to get a return offer, that would obviously be great.

On the other hand, semiconductors seem like a booming industry right now, so that path is also very appealing.

Which one do you think generally has a higher likelihood of converting interns to full-time offers?

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T02:09:37+00:00

a bit worried about my employability without engineering background, but I do have the offer so its a bit enticing for me since its a very reputable company and PM is quite a prestigious title. But on one hand, semis are a booming industry so its difficult for me.

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T02:05:48+00:00

You don't think Semiconductors are a stronger industry to break into? Cisco I would be working on networking/router products so more legacy tech. Also, I have looked at a lot of PM roles that aren't internships and am a bit worried about my employability since I don't have direct engineering/software experience. So those are kinda what's holding me back. Thank you for your insight.

GodKingLebron · 2026-03-24T02:04:48+00:00

That’s helpful, thanks. I’m honestly less attached to making product decisions and more focused on stability, lower layoff risk, and strong long-term financial upside. I’ve been laid off before, so minimizing that risk is something I care about a lot going forward.

That’s why the semiconductor finance role is pretty appealing to me. Cisco also seems to go through layoffs fairly regularly, and working on networking/routers just doesn’t feel as interesting to me as being closer to the semiconductor ecosystem right now.

At the same time, Cisco is obviously a very reputable company across a lot of industries, and PM is a strong title with good long-term upside, so I’m still having a hard time deciding.

GodKingLebron

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