A few years ago, I found myself in a familiar cycle—restless, ambitious, and searching for a career that felt like the right fit. I was good at a lot of things, but nothing felt truly right. I wanted a role that challenged me, allowed me to be strategic, and gave me room to grow.

That’s when I stumbled upon Product Management. The role felt ambiguous, dynamic, and filled with potential. It required a mix of analytical thinking, creativity, leadership, and problem-solving—things I had always gravitated toward. It seemed like the perfect marriage of my skills and interests.

But here’s the thing: liking the idea of something is very different from living it day to day.

So if you’re considering a pivot into Product Management, I have one piece of advice—pause for a moment. Take a breath. And ask yourself:

• Do I actually enjoy the day-to-day work of a Product Manager?
• Am I drawn to the problem-solving, collaboration, and ambiguity of the role?
• Does this career path align with my long-term vision and values?

If you’re unsure, let’s break it down.

How to Triple-Check if Product Management is Right for You

Making a career switch—especially into something as nuanced as Product Management—requires more than just a gut feeling. It takes research, conversations, and deep self-reflection.

Step 1: Understand What Product Managers Do Daily 

Before diving into applications or bootcamps, get clarity on what PMs actually do. Because contrary to what many believe, PMs don’t just “own the product vision.” They spend their days:

• Managing stakeholder expectations
• Translating user needs into business requirements
• Analyzing data and making trade-offs
• Communicating across teams—engineers, designers, executives
• Prioritizing ruthlessly in the face of constraints

If that excites you, great. If not, it’s time to reassess.

Step 2: Talk to Real Product Managers

Nothing replaces real conversations with people in the field. You’ll learn things that no job description will tell you. 

Here’s how to find them:

1. Leverage LinkedIn: Search for Product Managers at companies you admire. Start with 1st and 2nd-degree connections.
2. Tap Into Your Network: Ask friends if they know a PM willing to chat.
3. Join PM Communities: Engage in Slack groups, Discord channels, or Facebook groups like Women in Product or Mind the Product.
4. Use Free Mentorship Platforms: Websites like ADPList and Ten Thousand Coffees connect you with experienced PMs.

• Attend Webinars & Events: Many industry meetups introduce speakers—reach out to them after the session.  

Step 3: Schedule Informational Interviews (the Right Way)

Once you’ve identified PMs to talk to, here’s how to make your conversations count:

✅ Keep it focused: Don’t waste time with vague questions like “What’s it like to be a PM?” Instead, ask:

• “What’s something you didn’t expect about Product Management?”
• “What’s the most challenging part of the role?”
• “If you were switching careers today, what would you do differently?”

✅ Be prepared: Research the person beforehand. If they’ve written blog posts, read them. If they work in an industry you’re curious about, have thoughtful questions ready. 

✅ Give value back: End the conversation by sharing something useful—a relevant book, article, or insight based on what they’re passionate about.

✅ Follow up: Send a thank-you note and keep the relationship alive. Networking isn’t about one-time asks—it’s about long-term connections.

Step 4: Ask Yourself the Hard Questions

After talking to PMs and learning more about the role, it’s time for brutal honesty:

• Can I see myself navigating constant ambiguity?
• Am I comfortable making decisions with limited information?
• Do I enjoy leading without authority—influencing others without direct control?
• Do I thrive in cross-functional collaboration (a.k.a., constant meetings)?
• Am I excited by problem-solving and trade-offs—not just the idea of “building cool things”?

If these questions make you feel energized, that’s a strong sign. If they make you hesitate, pay attention to that, too. 

Where Do Product Managers Come From? 

The beauty of Product Management is that people enter the field from all kinds of backgrounds. You don’t need a CS degree or an MBA—just a strategic mindset, a strong ability to learn, and a knack for solving problems.

PMs often come from:

• Entrepreneurship: If you’ve started a side project or a business, you already understand product thinking.
• Marketing or Sales: PMs need to deeply understand users and market needs—skills that marketers already have.
• Engineering: Many developers transition into PM when they realize they want a bigger hand in what gets built, not just how.
• Design: UX Designers often become PMs because they bring a user-first perspective to product decisions.
• Operations & Consulting: People with strong problem-solving and business strategy skills often thrive in PM roles.

Final Thoughts: Is Product Management Your Next Step?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Product Management is an exciting, high-impact career—but it’s not for everyone. The key is to be honest with yourself.

If the challenges of the role energize you, start networking, taking courses, and building product-thinking skills. If it doesn’t, keep exploring—there are many career paths that align with strategy, problem-solving, and leadership. 

So, where do you land? Could you see yourself thriving as a PM, or are you still unsure?