<p>I know these to jobs a different, but does anyone out there have any experience or knowledge on these jobs? I'm really interested, but I'm not too sure what I should be majoring in and what kind of classes to be taking. Google's APM program really caught my attention, but I know other companies all have various forms of this job. Any advice?</p>
<p>In the software industry, a PM position usually requires a technical background (i.e. CS degree or similar). I was going to give a quick description, but this article I found yesterday does a much better job than I could: [url=<a href=“http://insideintercom.io/an-interview-with-ryan-singer/]An”>http://insideintercom.io/an-interview-with-ryan-singer/]An</a> interview with Ryan Singer | Inside Intercom<a href=“there’s%20a%20section%20in%20there%20towards%20the%20end%20titled” title=“The Role of a Product Manager”>/url</a></p>
<p>Project managers come from a variety of backgrounds. I have been one for about 25 years, and am PMP certified. My background is a business degree and MBA in Management Information Systems, but I was also a programmer for a few years. That mix of business and technical background has proven quite powerful. I am able to manage projects in a variety of industries and technologies, both IT and business process related.</p>
<p>There are project manager jobs that are more specific to certain technical skills. Specifically engineering projects typically require an engineering background. I know things like construction projects also use project managers. I think some business background is probably useful as well, since all project managers have to deal with budgets and procurement processes.</p>
<p>Project management is not for everyone. The best ones love variety and being on the learning curve. They don’t mind being on the hot seat (because everyone looks to them when the project gets behind, as it often does!). They tend to be good with people, but also have a backbone. Being smart is very useful, as you have to learn new stuff really fast and be able to direct traffic on a lot of different areas. Being organized is also important; sometimes organizing everyone else is a big part of your job.</p>
<p>Product managers are different, in my mind. They typically own and manage all aspects of a product (someone with more experience in this field could chime in if they have more info or a different opinion). I think of them as ultimately responsible for decisions and activities related to product planning, marketing, actual build of whatever the product is, issue resolution for the product, operations support, distribution, etc. Obviously they don’t do all of this themselves, but they oversee all aspects of a product. So it depends on what type of product you want to manage. For example, if you were a product manager for a financial services product or a consumer good like a cereal, a business degree is probably the best training. If you were the product manager for an airplane… some kind of engineering, plus probably some business background would be useful.</p>
<p>Wow thank you both! That was a lot of information packed into two responses. Yeah I ask this because I enjoy Computer Science, but at the same time I enjoy the hustle and bustle of business. So, this really intrigues me because one has to know technology and business to be able to talk to both sides of the group and it’s a great mixture for myself I think. I guess there isn’t one cut clear path as for schooling for this type of job, which makes me feel a bit better as it gives me some breathing room for the classes to take.</p>
<p>There are great opportunities in the “seams” like between IT & business. If you have two sets of skills, you can really take advantage of it. It has worked for me, and I advise my kids to do the same (I mean, look for cross-discipline opportunities and areas of interest that could be leveraged in the future).</p>
<p>Yeah that’s exactly what I want to do. I just need to figure out what kind of education and degree to get. I hear all the forms of MIS (BIS,CIS) will work, but sometimes I hear people saying to major in some Business degree and have a minor or take some Computer Science courses. Confusing!</p>