Any certifications worth investing in?

Question

I'm transitioning into Product Management from Project/Program Management.

Getting my PMP made a big difference and is a preferred qualification by many employers.

Some companies do list SAFe certifications and I've seen PMI's ACP listed... but seem to be more common on Scrum Master and Product Owner positions.

That said, I do feel like I don't have a lot of good examples of "professional" development teams. As software isn't really a strong domain expertise at my company and most projects are for the development of internal nitch tools... vs. SaaS applications or applications developed for revenue generation.

So gaining some knowledge of what "should" be going on... vs. what is going on... I am sure could be beneficial towards future opportunities.

OreoDomino2424 · Accepted Answer

Unfortunately you're transitioning during a tough job market. You'll be competing for positions with experienced PMs. I recommend aiming for the Product Owner jobs, which are likely less competitive, and getting a certification around that. You could change to PM later on when the job market improves, or make a move inside your company.

Good luck!

ProductMan · Answer

I made a similar transition a few years ago. I found someone with a start up idea and helped as the PM for a bit to gain some credibility and experience for the CV and it helped a lot in interviews. Trying searching Reddit and GitHub for people needing someone to lend a hand with the strategy and structure of their projects. Good luck!

Prodanon · Answer

Personally, no. experience is mostly desired and specific niche experience in the products being built is highly coveted and even more coveted than product experience. Product is easy to learn but hard to do. Learning a whole industry and the rules, regs, etc. takes many years to master even for seasoned PMs.

sunshineswell · Answer

I would generally avoid SAFe since those companies are mostly struggling (personal experience) and have had good success with the PM course from Udacity

Sadus · Answer

PS: What are the general technical expectations at your more typical "big tech" companies? In my company, PMs are typically paired with Solution Architects, Developer Leads, etc... So other than being able to clearly articulate customer requirements and priorities... the "how" seems to be less required of them.

Is this true in "big tech" as well? Or is there an expectation of people being former developers / high level of technical knowledge....

Any certifications worth investing in?

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