Ask HN: Moving from startups (mixed success) into product?

1 points by mertleee 1y ago ↗ HN

I've had a good few years working as a SWE / product engineer predominately in small startups. I've worked to found a few with some lackluster sales, one case breaking even the other making less than I would've as a new grad per year.

I'm starting to realize now entering my early 30's that startups probably just aren't for me. I'm realizing that I care more about my lifestyle and having a relationship than startup credentials or even money. Which at this point I think means a "real" job at an established profitable company as part of an existing team.

Looking at next steps I'm not really sure how to field myself to product orgs? I have some solid experience and I've interacted with enough real-vc's to think that I should be able to glean some credibility from them. That said, I think my ideal role at this point is as a product manager or some kind of relatively fast moving product role - not engineer.

Curious if anyone has done this. I'm floundering at how I can network my way in or understand what kind of companies to look at for this? Struggling at the moment given how bad the job market is. Ideally looking to be in Austin or New York - firmly decided the Bay is just not in my cards.

Really appreciate anyone willing to help here or share their thoughts - feeling lost / like I've given up on something that used to give me lots of joy.

4 comments

[ 1.8 ms ] story [ 31.8 ms ] thread

mmarian 1y ago ↗

Why do you want to go into product management? Easiest path would be to join a corporate as an engineer.

mertleee 1y ago ↗

Curious what you mean by "corporate"? I'd be down to join a google et al, however my background is pretty scattered with 1yr long engagements and I'd need months to actually leetcode up to the bar that I'd even start passing second round interviews at these companies.

Open to the idea that although I like software engineering I should just do something else? Product seemed decent, because it's still solving problems lest the technical side.

Any company that's not a startup. It doesn't have to be a FAANG (depending on salary expectations, of course). Just apply to more boring corporation, they'll be less picky. I joined one after a couple of 3-month stints at startups that failed.

I think you'd have a harder time to join any company as a product manager, given as you don't have experience in that role.

Thanks for your thoughts!

I think I'm just going to try to get a "boring" role for a few years and re-charge. Granted, anything making more than $50k a year as a "founder" will be a welcome change. Embarrassing as the recovery from this phase of my life is.