Moving away from being a developer....

[numnutz]

I've been a developer for the last 4 years, focused purely in the mobile space (Android, iPhone etc) and I'm getting rather fed up of it. The company I work for, has no opportunity to do anything other than code and I'd like to get a little more hands off the code.

Does anyone have any experience making the transition? My CV obviously reads as a developer, and companies looking for Proj Mans all want proven commercial experience, which isn't possible to get in my current role (biggest team I work with is 3).

Cheers!

 

[Hades]

It will be hard to make the transition straight into project management in a new company. As you have seen they need people with experience. You need to either get that experience at your current employer or move, as a developer, to a new company that will offer progression I to management in the future.

 

[NickK]

Project Management - go for PRINCE2 certification, funded off your own back.

It will open you to the language used, show you're serious and get you people considering your CV for junior project management (team lead) positions. I'll make no bones about saying - everyone and their cat has PRINCE2 in the PM world.

The commercial side is very, no make that light years away, from the normal developer mentality and you may not like the people, the pressure or the tasks you have todo.

Have you considered an architectural/team lead role in a different company first if this is your first company? A change of company will make a big change in how you perceive things.

 

[NickK]

I forgot to say how I moved away:

developer -> team lead -> senior developer (and TL/architect etc) - obviously used the technical expertise here.

Next senior developer -> Product specialist in presales that used my understanding of the products in depth. Fast learning the sales side of things

Product Specialist -> Technical Product Manager that used my understanding of the market and the technical understanding.. I had training for product management too at this point. Lots of travel to customers still in both roles. Covered for commercial product manager and had the responsibility for ensuring the product technical elements fit commercially (both financially and strategically).

Technical Product Manager -> Contractor (Product Manager) within the marketing area for a different market segment (although closely related)

Hopefully the next job will be Product Manager reporting to VP of Marketing. The market area is back close to my TPM days and I'd look to expand to profit and loss responsibility.