Routes into product manager/owner roles

[Blackberriesandplums]

What are the typical routes into a product manager/owner role? How do people usually get into it?

Thank you

I started as Business Analyst then PO and now PM that's fairly typical I'd say. I know people who have come from Delivery Roles or QA roles.

Are you in an IT related role currently? Business Analysis, Technology Adoption type role (similar to type of thing I do) or just any project delivery type role where you have become very familiar with the product /solution. If you're able to demonstrate that then I think those are viable routes.
There is a some flex in certain industries particularly where some roles are a fairly new concept.
Although if the industry isn't IT the route may be different.

@fishym2b I was typing before you posted. I concur.

If you aren't in an IT type role currently, then something on the ops side where you look at/work with processes/improvements etc is also a good route in.

Thank you both. My background is marketing - nothing IT related at all! What kind of entry level roles are good to look at?

Marketing is a good background there are lots of MarTech roles out there. Have a look online at open vacancies and figure out if you have any of the skills and update your CV to fit. I recently hired a PO who had a CRM background and met all the key skills needed for an entry level PO role. There is a good online Google course that covers the fundamentals of digital marketing if you don't have an IT background.

Thank you, good to know.

I've recruited people who don't necessarily have the industry experience but who have the right aptitude. There's loads of resources on YouTube and slideshare. Look at things around process improvement, agile project delivery is very focused on product 'sprints' and those type projects would usually utilise a product owner. Look at skills for a scrum master, delivery manager etc.

Is there any reason for the Product Owner role?

For what it's worth I'm going to be starting a Change, Release and Deployment role which, technically, I've not done before. But I've gained enough knowledge over the past 8 years or so to know what needs to be done and the interviewers obviously felt the same. So just try and get your foot in the door and sap up all experience, help out on things unrelated to your role, listen in meetings and research things you don't understand. It will slowly slot into place 👏🏽

Mostly from a BA role. But i have know testers and developers with a real affinity with end users do well as a PO. Also people in operational roles who have been the 'super user/lead user' in an implementation that was significant in their department etc have also crossed over. Scrummasters who want to work more on the 'what' then the 'how' can cross over well as they will partnered with a PO and understand the rile well.