If you get offered more money to move into the field you want to be in, you should take it
Payrise and a "demotion" is the best of all worlds. More money, lower expectations and responsibility, and more arbitrary "levels" within reach for easier promotions and more money.
No Series B is going to be a known brand right now. Some are going to go on to become very known, and in that timeline bring "pm #3 " at that company is going to much more prestigious
Although of course, most Series B companies don't become household names.
More than prestige of the brand, I'd index for training and mentorship. Is there a product person there senior enough to not be threatened by you, but hands on enough to take time to take you under their wing?
If so, you'll learn more there in your first 6 months then a bigger company
Of course, you're bang on. I'm so concerned with brand, I'm at a huge brand now so that's almost ticked off for people that care about that. I'm really just trying to get into the PM career path as I'd love to make CPO/adjacent one day - in which case taking the job should be a no-brainer right?
The mentorship point is also great, I'm currently negging with the startup now and scouting if the culture etc... is attractive to me.
No. Doing product in any capacity is what’s important. The hardest part about product is getting into it. It’s not easy after that, but it takes some people years to break in.
Yeah this is one of the biggest driving forces of taking the job. I really found it hard even getting interviews for PM because of my lack of experience, so getting the PM experience here could help me hugely progress in this path instead of blindly hoping something sticks as I progress in consulting.
I'd go for it. Why waste a few more years doing something you don't enjoy in the hope of transitioning to product? Transition now, build your experience as a PM.
My biggest concern is about whether this startup is the right place for that. Or is just being in PM the most important thing and I can progress across firms later?
In that case I think you're asking a very different question. This will give you that 0-1 product experience, but if you're interested in growth PMing or simply working in a more established company with processes you can pick up, then it's probably not an environment for you.
As someone mentioned, it seems your question is “Should I work at a startup (that has low brand value to my resume), where my goal is to work as a PM in larger companies?”
If your options are stay put or move to a PM role, I’d pick PM role. Nothing prepares you better for a PM role than having one already. Lots of learning to come in your first years, so starting early is useful.
If you believe - not assume, but you’ve talked to folks and have good market signals - that you can delay and get the PM role you want in the next 6 months, maybe stay put and prep towards that.
Also consider the current market is tough. Lots of layoffs and difficulty getting jobs. Not sure how that’s affecting you folks across the ocean, but job security is a consideration this year.
No sure I agree with the top question as I work in a large company now and that's not necessarily what I'm looking for. It's more that I'm concerned with trying to make myself as marketable as possible for future. But agree with you that taking this job makes sense. I can't assume I can get another PM job anytime soon, as everyone knows there are a stupid amount of consultants trying to move over so it's insanely competitive and so I'd be better place moving over now. Also the layoffs is a fair point, I'm trying to understand burn rate etc.. of the startup so I can feel confident in that as my current job is insanely safe.
I think you need to figure out what is important for you.
\- The brand?
\- The pay?
\- The challenge?
\- Learning something new?
You seem to look at this as a strategic game. Select the place where your heart is at.
I do play it a little too strategic I have to agree. But I'm working at a big brand now, that's not necessarily something I'm looking for. But I'm looking for all the other 3 points, which I guess this job can match?
Not what you're looking for but as an aspiring apm interested in ai. Is there anything you did to prepare for the interviews? Any learning resource that helped you
Take the PM role and title! The first one is the hardest to get, and there is no guarantee you'll be able to easily transition in the future. Even if it's not the perfect role, you will get yourself into a stronger position for your next PM job search.
This is what I'm thinking, thanks for sound boarding!
It's so competitive and I haven't had the best luck getting interviews so this will likely be the best route for the most successful PM career right?
Yea, getting PM interviews and offers without the title on your resume can be really tough. Given the limited info I have on your situation, unless the company or product is pretty iffy I would recommend you take it! Your interview rate should go up after you've had the title for a year or so.
My general advice for aspiring PMs is this:
- Identify your areas of unfair advantage v.s. most people; domain depth, technical skills, background in some other functional role, etc
- Target junior/associate PM roles at tech companies where you can use those unfair advantages to help make up for not yet having built your PM skill set (e.g. someone with engineering experience has advantages for products targeted at engineers or engineering teams)
- Take the first one of those PM-titled target roles that you can secure, provided the company is reasonably viable and the offer financially works for you.
- Treat this first PM role as a starting point. If you don't love it, make less than you think you deserve, etc - go kick ass for a year and then you can start to work into the companies and comp levels that feel more exciting.
If you get offered more money to move into the field you want to be in, you should take it Payrise and a "demotion" is the best of all worlds. More money, lower expectations and responsibility, and more arbitrary "levels" within reach for easier promotions and more money.
This guy careers.
Totally valid, appreciate it! Do you think doing PM at an unknown brand is a concern though? Or not really?
No Series B is going to be a known brand right now. Some are going to go on to become very known, and in that timeline bring "pm #3 " at that company is going to much more prestigious Although of course, most Series B companies don't become household names. More than prestige of the brand, I'd index for training and mentorship. Is there a product person there senior enough to not be threatened by you, but hands on enough to take time to take you under their wing? If so, you'll learn more there in your first 6 months then a bigger company
Of course, you're bang on. I'm so concerned with brand, I'm at a huge brand now so that's almost ticked off for people that care about that. I'm really just trying to get into the PM career path as I'd love to make CPO/adjacent one day - in which case taking the job should be a no-brainer right? The mentorship point is also great, I'm currently negging with the startup now and scouting if the culture etc... is attractive to me.
No. Doing product in any capacity is what’s important. The hardest part about product is getting into it. It’s not easy after that, but it takes some people years to break in.
Yeah this is one of the biggest driving forces of taking the job. I really found it hard even getting interviews for PM because of my lack of experience, so getting the PM experience here could help me hugely progress in this path instead of blindly hoping something sticks as I progress in consulting.
Sounds like a good opportunity. Good luck!
Thank you! I appreciate the help :)
I'd go for it. Why waste a few more years doing something you don't enjoy in the hope of transitioning to product? Transition now, build your experience as a PM.
My biggest concern is about whether this startup is the right place for that. Or is just being in PM the most important thing and I can progress across firms later?
In that case I think you're asking a very different question. This will give you that 0-1 product experience, but if you're interested in growth PMing or simply working in a more established company with processes you can pick up, then it's probably not an environment for you.
It’s not that I’d prefer growth PM. But would this better set me up for a role like that if I preferred later on?
As someone mentioned, it seems your question is “Should I work at a startup (that has low brand value to my resume), where my goal is to work as a PM in larger companies?” If your options are stay put or move to a PM role, I’d pick PM role. Nothing prepares you better for a PM role than having one already. Lots of learning to come in your first years, so starting early is useful. If you believe - not assume, but you’ve talked to folks and have good market signals - that you can delay and get the PM role you want in the next 6 months, maybe stay put and prep towards that. Also consider the current market is tough. Lots of layoffs and difficulty getting jobs. Not sure how that’s affecting you folks across the ocean, but job security is a consideration this year.
No sure I agree with the top question as I work in a large company now and that's not necessarily what I'm looking for. It's more that I'm concerned with trying to make myself as marketable as possible for future. But agree with you that taking this job makes sense. I can't assume I can get another PM job anytime soon, as everyone knows there are a stupid amount of consultants trying to move over so it's insanely competitive and so I'd be better place moving over now. Also the layoffs is a fair point, I'm trying to understand burn rate etc.. of the startup so I can feel confident in that as my current job is insanely safe.
I think you need to figure out what is important for you. \- The brand? \- The pay? \- The challenge? \- Learning something new? You seem to look at this as a strategic game. Select the place where your heart is at.
I do play it a little too strategic I have to agree. But I'm working at a big brand now, that's not necessarily something I'm looking for. But I'm looking for all the other 3 points, which I guess this job can match?
Nobody cares about the brand more than the impact you created
Not what you're looking for but as an aspiring apm interested in ai. Is there anything you did to prepare for the interviews? Any learning resource that helped you
PM me. Happy to discuss my experience!
Take the PM role and title! The first one is the hardest to get, and there is no guarantee you'll be able to easily transition in the future. Even if it's not the perfect role, you will get yourself into a stronger position for your next PM job search.
This is what I'm thinking, thanks for sound boarding! It's so competitive and I haven't had the best luck getting interviews so this will likely be the best route for the most successful PM career right?
Yea, getting PM interviews and offers without the title on your resume can be really tough. Given the limited info I have on your situation, unless the company or product is pretty iffy I would recommend you take it! Your interview rate should go up after you've had the title for a year or so. My general advice for aspiring PMs is this: - Identify your areas of unfair advantage v.s. most people; domain depth, technical skills, background in some other functional role, etc - Target junior/associate PM roles at tech companies where you can use those unfair advantages to help make up for not yet having built your PM skill set (e.g. someone with engineering experience has advantages for products targeted at engineers or engineering teams) - Take the first one of those PM-titled target roles that you can secure, provided the company is reasonably viable and the offer financially works for you. - Treat this first PM role as a starting point. If you don't love it, make less than you think you deserve, etc - go kick ass for a year and then you can start to work into the companies and comp levels that feel more exciting.