9 answers
Juulia
Student
Southampton
1
Question
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Tech PM Career
How to become a software project manager without tech experience?
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9 answers
Kevin Faucher
Teaching/Software Development
4
Answers
New Castle, Delaware
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
While having technical experience can be helpful in becoming a software project manager, it's not always a requirement. Here are some steps you can take to become a software project manager without tech experience:
Develop project management skills: Project management is a key skill for a software project manager. Consider taking project management courses or certifications, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Learn about software development: While you may not need to have technical experience, it's important to understand the software development process. Consider taking courses or reading books on software development methodologies and technologies.
Gain experience in project management: Even if you don't have experience in software development, you can gain project management experience by managing projects in other industries or fields. Look for opportunities to manage projects in your current job or volunteer to lead projects in your community.
Network with professionals in the field: Attend industry events and meetups, connect with project managers on LinkedIn, and reach out to software development companies to learn more about the industry and potential opportunities.
Consider getting a degree in project management: While not always necessary, a degree in project management can provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to be an effective software project manager.
Be open to starting in an entry-level role: Starting in an entry-level role, such as a project coordinator, can provide you with the experience and skills needed to advance to a project management position.
Remember, becoming a software project manager is a process, and it may take time to gain the necessary skills and experience. However, with dedication and persistence, you can achieve your goals and become a successful software project manager.
Develop project management skills: Project management is a key skill for a software project manager. Consider taking project management courses or certifications, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Learn about software development: While you may not need to have technical experience, it's important to understand the software development process. Consider taking courses or reading books on software development methodologies and technologies.
Gain experience in project management: Even if you don't have experience in software development, you can gain project management experience by managing projects in other industries or fields. Look for opportunities to manage projects in your current job or volunteer to lead projects in your community.
Network with professionals in the field: Attend industry events and meetups, connect with project managers on LinkedIn, and reach out to software development companies to learn more about the industry and potential opportunities.
Consider getting a degree in project management: While not always necessary, a degree in project management can provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to be an effective software project manager.
Be open to starting in an entry-level role: Starting in an entry-level role, such as a project coordinator, can provide you with the experience and skills needed to advance to a project management position.
Remember, becoming a software project manager is a process, and it may take time to gain the necessary skills and experience. However, with dedication and persistence, you can achieve your goals and become a successful software project manager.
Thank you, Kevin!
Juulia
Steve Burns
engineering management
8
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Steve’s Answer
Attempting to be a product manager in a domain that you don't have at least some level of practical experience is IMO inviting frustration for yourself and your co-workers. The reason for this is that you will not understand what is going on -- and more importantly -- what is going wrong with a project. You will be constantly "lost" in the conversation, the engineers will not respect you, and you will have nothing to add the process other than to say "Hmm, maybe try harder?"
Ask yourself: why do you want to pursue a career in which you don't understand how stuff gets done? Maybe it's because someone said that tech jobs pay well. That is generally true, but only for people that do them reasonably well, and there is nothing that will allow you to fake actual understanding. Not understanding makes you feel and look stupid -- who wants to live like that? No amount of money will make that enjoyable.
figure out your motivations.
consider careers in which you have at least some curiosity and enjoyment of the domain. You don't need to be some ace coder to enjoy and 'get' software development.
Ask yourself: why do you want to pursue a career in which you don't understand how stuff gets done? Maybe it's because someone said that tech jobs pay well. That is generally true, but only for people that do them reasonably well, and there is nothing that will allow you to fake actual understanding. Not understanding makes you feel and look stupid -- who wants to live like that? No amount of money will make that enjoyable.
Steve recommends the following next steps:
Rui Alegre
Technical Program Manager
2
Answers
Lisbon, Portugal
Updated
Rui’s Answer
Hi Juulia,
You already have some really good answers here and with valuable advices.
I would add a suggestion for a free course where you can learn the skills for becoming a project manager: Google Project Management: Professional Certificate (www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-project-management). In fact, in this platform you can find a lot of useful resources in terms of courses. And don't forget that getting your hands on is the best way to learn so, you could even apply what you've learned to a personal project you have.
You already have some really good answers here and with valuable advices.
I would add a suggestion for a free course where you can learn the skills for becoming a project manager: Google Project Management: Professional Certificate (www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-project-management). In fact, in this platform you can find a lot of useful resources in terms of courses. And don't forget that getting your hands on is the best way to learn so, you could even apply what you've learned to a personal project you have.
Mara Allen, PMP
4
Answers
San Ramon, California
Updated
Mara’s Answer
Transforming into a software project manager without prior technical knowledge may seem daunting, but it's certainly attainable. Begin by acquainting yourself with the fundamentals of software development and project management. Enroll in some online courses. Connect with others and seek guidance; engage with professionals in the software field. Networking allows you to gain valuable insights, learn from others' experiences, and potentially unlock new opportunities. Concentrate on developing skills relevant to project management, such as communication, leadership, problem-solving, organization, time-management, and teamwork.
Though the journey may demand additional effort and persistence, it's crucial to stay devoted and proactive in your quest for a software project management career. With the proper mindset, dedication to learning, and a well-planned strategy, you can successfully transition into this role.
Though the journey may demand additional effort and persistence, it's crucial to stay devoted and proactive in your quest for a software project management career. With the proper mindset, dedication to learning, and a well-planned strategy, you can successfully transition into this role.
Marc Blumberg
Network Planning
4
Answers
New Jersey, New Jersey
Updated
Marc’s Answer
I would read articles about the industry best practices. Agile, XP, LEAN, Scrum, Kanban, TDD, CI/CD are all important to understand. You might even consider getting a professional certification such as PMI-ACP or SAFe Agilist.
Cynthia Huang
Project Management
2
Answers
Taipei, Taiwan
Updated
Cynthia’s Answer
I'm not major in engineering but I'm the engineering project manager in my whole career. I truly believe it's not a hard requirement to have tech expertise to manage the certain area, the most important thing is your attitude. You must have strong ownership, great communication skill, good interpersonal skill first and then you could learn from those stakeholders you work with so that you could develop knowledge you need to be a good project manager.
Dana Oredson
Principal Software Engineer
9
Answers
Des Moines, Iowa
Updated
Dana’s Answer
Hello,
As others have said, if you want to pursue a career as a project manager, getting certified with PMP is a must.
That said, much of software development is done using Agile methodologies. Project Management is usually for Waterfall methodologies.
Agile development typically does not use project managers, but instead uses a role typically referred to as "scrum masters".
Scrum masters typically like a project facilitator, handling such Agile ceremonies (meetings) like:
* Daily team stand-up meetings ("scrum")
* Sprint retros (weekly, bi-weekly, whatever team cadence is)
* Stakeholder review/share-out
* Tracking down and facilitation to remove roadblocks
* Networking/facilitating communication among and between teams
* Ensuring team plans/objectives align with the greater organization (company)
* Work with product owner, engineering lead and user-experience leads to plan upcoming work
Read more about the role of scrum masters, if you are interested in working with software engineers.
Read more about PMP certification if you are interested in old-school project management.
As others have said, if you want to pursue a career as a project manager, getting certified with PMP is a must.
That said, much of software development is done using Agile methodologies. Project Management is usually for Waterfall methodologies.
Agile development typically does not use project managers, but instead uses a role typically referred to as "scrum masters".
Scrum masters typically like a project facilitator, handling such Agile ceremonies (meetings) like:
* Daily team stand-up meetings ("scrum")
* Sprint retros (weekly, bi-weekly, whatever team cadence is)
* Stakeholder review/share-out
* Tracking down and facilitation to remove roadblocks
* Networking/facilitating communication among and between teams
* Ensuring team plans/objectives align with the greater organization (company)
* Work with product owner, engineering lead and user-experience leads to plan upcoming work
Dana recommends the following next steps:
Liz Hagag
Marketing Analyst
3
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Liz’s Answer
Hi there! Project management skills can be honed in various industries. Tech experience is a plus, but not always required for a project management role within the tech industry. Highly recommend improving the following skills to break into a project management role. Best of luck!
Project management skills:
- organization skills
- leadership
- team management
- taking large projects and breaking down into smaller pieces
- time management
How to develop those skills:
- Courses / bootcamps for project management
- Seek out leadership opportunities
- Scrum alliance certification / courses | https://www.scrumalliance.org/
- Tech courses | https://www.linkedin.com/learning/subscription/project-management-cert-prep-ceu or https://www.pluralsight.com/
Project management skills:
- organization skills
- leadership
- team management
- taking large projects and breaking down into smaller pieces
- time management
How to develop those skills:
- Courses / bootcamps for project management
- Seek out leadership opportunities
- Scrum alliance certification / courses | https://www.scrumalliance.org/
- Tech courses | https://www.linkedin.com/learning/subscription/project-management-cert-prep-ceu or https://www.pluralsight.com/
Sharon Duong
Sales Enablement
2
Answers
Fort Worth, Texas
Updated
Sharon’s Answer
Find a university/college that is known for these types of programs where companies will actively recruit from to hire when you graduate or participate in internships.
Consider majors in computer science or business. Business degrees have the added flexibility of not requiring too much technical experience/knowledge but focus on business objectives and outcomes. By doing this, you can be a project manager for anything. Some of the best project managers are ones that tend to not be very technical.
Start entry level in a professional services or consulting firm. They teach you and you learn on the job.
Pursue certifications that don't require college but focus on overall project management and process (ITIL & PMP).
Consider majors in computer science or business. Business degrees have the added flexibility of not requiring too much technical experience/knowledge but focus on business objectives and outcomes. By doing this, you can be a project manager for anything. Some of the best project managers are ones that tend to not be very technical.
Start entry level in a professional services or consulting firm. They teach you and you learn on the job.
Pursue certifications that don't require college but focus on overall project management and process (ITIL & PMP).