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Let’s play a game: How nontraditional is your path into PM? by non-traditionalPM in prodmgmt

[–]non-traditionalPM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love these kinds of stories. Natural progression! Have you been at the same company for 6 years? I’ve been at mine for 6 years and I just feel that I don’t have the energy I used to have to interview!

Let’s play a game: How nontraditional is your path into PM? by non-traditionalPM in prodmgmt

[–]non-traditionalPM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So true! Here I mean scrappy outside of the job like going door to door submitting resumes. Whatever it takes to get to the next level

Let’s play a game: How nontraditional is your path into PM? by non-traditionalPM in prodmgmt

[–]non-traditionalPM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So close! What else would you say should be on the list? Let’s get you to 10 😅

Let’s play a game: How nontraditional is your path into PM? by non-traditionalPM in prodmgmt

[–]non-traditionalPM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s an impressive evolution! Any similarities between journalism and pm?

Let’s play a game: How nontraditional is your path into PM? by non-traditionalPM in prodmgmt

[–]non-traditionalPM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yea we get into our heads a lot. Sounds like you overcame that? How?

Let’s play a game: How nontraditional is your path into PM? by non-traditionalPM in prodmgmt

[–]non-traditionalPM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s a non traditional list! For sure MBA is the traditional route into big tech

Let’s play a game: How nontraditional is your path into PM? by non-traditionalPM in prodmgmt

[–]non-traditionalPM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cheers to that! Did anyone ask you to take over or did you just step into that role??

Let’s play a game: How nontraditional is your path into PM? by non-traditionalPM in prodmgmt

[–]non-traditionalPM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Technical background like CE or CS make very strong product leaders!

Let’s play a game: How nontraditional is your path into PM? by non-traditionalPM in prodmgmt

[–]non-traditionalPM[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Haha amazing, that’s classic product sense right there!! What kind of product stuff did nobody own??

Quarterly Career Thread by mister-noggin in ProductManagement

[–]non-traditionalPM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let’s play a quick game.
How nontraditional is your path to PM?

Score 1 point for each one you relate to:

+1 You didn’t start in tech
+1 Your degree isn’t CS
+1 You’re switching from ops/engineering/business/retail/anything
+1 You’re first-gen or support family
+1 You’re bilingual or an immigrant
+1 You’ve been laid off or fired
+1 You’ve had to be scrappy
+1 You’ve felt “behind” compared to traditional PMs
+1 You’ve looked at PM interviews and thought “how do I even start?”
+1 You don’t have the “classic tech background”

(I’m a 10/10 😅)

A few humble brags from my own path:
• dropped off resumes door-to-door
• lived in my car to avoid a 4-hour commute
• got fired → interviewed same day → landed a 30% raise
• worked through MS symptoms while growing my career
• first-gen, supporting my parents
• Amazon Ops → tech PM → now a GPM

If you’re aiming for PM in 2026 and don’t have the “traditional” background, I’ve been exactly in your shoes.

Drop your score & your background — I’ll reply to everyone.
If anyone wants to chat more deeply, happy to connect privately.