Considering changing career I've been a software product manager for several years, product oriented before that, but came from an analyst background.

Anonymous

September 30,2021 at 10:48AM UTC

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Considering changing career

I've been a software product manager for several years, product oriented before that, but came from an analyst background. I'm tired of the politics and stress of product management, but I don't know where to go. I'm not organized enough for project management, and my original analyst days feel far behind. I am afraid to start over. Has anyone been in this situation before and what did you do?

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Dominique ChamelySeptember 30,2021 at 11:38AM UTC
You could take a refresher course in new forms of analysis that connect or refresh your relationship to the work. What is it you loved about the analyst days that you don’t have any more? And, can you have a PM assistant or partner? Skill-share with someone who doesn’t know the ropes but can document and track?
AnonymousSeptember 30,2021 at 9:31PM UTC
I think I liked being an expert and being able to be "right" with data. I know I would miss being forward thinking and imagining a new feature or product. Both roles gave me the ability to solve stakeholder problems.
Amy ReichardtSeptember 30,2021 at 12:56PM UTC
How are your writing skills? Would tech writing be relevant with your product base? I imagine your product knowledge is out of this world.
AnonymousSeptember 30,2021 at 1:10PM UTC
I spent a lot of time, research and informational interviews deciding my best path forward. It takes soul searching then research and time. Hard work but once you uncover your true path it's very rewarding.
After I figured things out, I created a strategy if what I needed to do to get there. I went back to school and earned the certificate I needed then had my resume professionally written in line with my new plan to my skills & experience transferred or at least made sense.
Then I joined a professional organization in my new field, networked and began applying. I was hired after 6 months with a slight reductionin salary. (During my research and education I kept my current job so I was earning $ and benefits).
It takes research and planning but if you do the work and really put in the effort to get clear (no one can do this for you), it is like night and day.