Impact of prior work experience when switching industries?
Like many pursuing an MBA, I'm looking to change industries (management consulting into tech), and potentially change functions (interested in corporate strategy or product manager roles).
I have no work experience in the tech industry, and no experience in product management. Clearly some of my classmates applying for these positions would have more relevant work experiences than I do. Does my lack of experience put me at a big disadvantage when recruiting at the most competitive tech companies (i.e. FAANG)? Given that most tech companies don't ask for grades during recruiting, I'm worried I won't be able to distinguish myself against classmates with more relevant work experience.
Posted Feb 25, 2019, 3:29 PM UTC
15
Yes, you will be at a disadvantage, more so at some FAANG companies than at others.
Google PM roles are strictly for people with engineering backgrounds. You won't be in the running there.
Apple, Netflix and Facebook hire very few PM's from MBA programs. Most of their PM's are former software engineers who rose through the ranks. Not much for you there either.
Amazon hires MBA PM's droves including people with no technical background. Amazon is your best bet among FAANG although they also reserve true PM roles for those with technical backgrounds. Amazon PM roles handed out to candidates with no background in tech are more akin to marketing.
Microsoft pm is somewhere between FB/Google/Netflix/Apple and Amazon in terms of its appetite for MBA's. It might work out for you.
I read a comment here a few days ago that went "MBA's love FAANG. Not the other way round". It rings true.
EDIT: Even if you were to make your grades known to these companies, they couldn't care less. Prior experience is king for them. It is not like consulting or IB where an MBA acts as a complete reset and your pre MBA experience is almost not even a factor at all.
What do you think is a realistic path into PM given my background? Is it possible to get this kind of role immediately post-MBA?
There are companies other than FAANG that would be happy to hire from top MBA for their pm jobs. You may also be able to make a jump from Amazon (which is easier) to another FAANG a few years down the line. Generally, the less engineering focused a company, the easier it will be for MBA's to break in.
Get into a Tech company through another function and switch internally. Get experience with PM internships during the school year/Summer with smaller companies willing to take a chance on you. Build up technical skills. Build and launch a technical personal project.
Your consulting background should give you credibility when it comes to the communication side of PM but you'll need to find ways to boost your technical literacy to demonstrate that you can work with and influence engineers.