Can I break into product management with a non-technical background?
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It depends. For some roles Technical Background is not necessary, but for other PM roles dealing with technical products, it is. Having a technical background won’t ever hurt, and it usually helps. All else equal, I would choose the candidate who has a technical background.
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If you’re currently working in consulting, business, finance, marketing, or really any other non-technical industry or field, it’s definitely possible to break into Product Management. To be a successful candidate, you’ll need to show your recruiter that you’re serious about Product Management, passionate about technology, and skilled in leadership and communication.
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The first stage of successful product management interviewing is getting past the resume screen. Your resume should highlight these skills :
Communication. How have you communicated with cross-functional teams or executive-level management?
Ability to execute on projects. Can you set deadlines and lead teams to complete tasks in a timely manner?
Vision and leadership. How have you set the vision for your team’s goals and direction?
The following are some skills that you can add that might play to your specific strengths. None of the below are required, but are nice-to-have.
Data Analysis. Do you know SQL? Do you know how data informs product decisions?
User Studies. Have you collected data for qualitative or quantitative research ? Do you know how to use this feedback to inform decisions?
Market Research. Do you have a solid understanding of industries related to technology? Do you know how to conduct market research?
Design. How does your design experience relate to product launches?
Many more. This isn’t a complete list. Customize your list of skills based on your background, and based on the type of product management role you’re applying for.
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The main reason you can expect to find work as product manager over the long term, even if you don’t have a technical education or professional experience in a technical role, is the same reason you can enjoy a PM career even if you don’t have a sales background. As a product manager, you are part of a team of experts.
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Technical skills are necessary to be a successful product manager because of all the technical aspects involved such as programming languages and data analysis. However, soft skills are also essential because they help them work better with other people on their team.
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Great product managers possess skills that can be divided into two categories: soft and hard. Soft skills are the interpersonal aspects of a product manager’s job, while hard skill is more related to programming languages or data analysis. Let’s take a look at few technical skills product strategists should have: Data analysis skills, SQL language knowledge, Product roadmap development, Software development skills, Knowledge in Agile methodology, Market research skills, Prototyping abilities, Basic knowledge of coding, Data structures and algorithms, Product strategy creation skills, UX, UI, and design abilities, Marketing understanding.