Career | Can I be a Product Manager without a Technical Background?

The short answer is, absolutely yes! The more elaborate answer is, you have a lot of homework to do!

I get this question all the time from aspiring PMs. Lots of them are intimidated by the computer science degree requirement in the job description. My guess is companies put the requirement simply to narrow down candidates faster. That’s why referral matters! But referral only gets your foot in the door. You still need to come up with the right strategy to make you stand out.

Note:

• This article is still relevant to people with a Computer Science degree. Establishing a clear value proposition, mastering technical concepts, and non-technical areas will only make you a stronger candidate.
• The article covers all PM job hunting resources, including specific things about Microsoft:

Resources for Aspiring Product Managers

• The article covers resources for aspiring PMs and early in career PMs: