Ask HN: Move to product management at 35?
35 is a great age for a PM, especially since PM’s often start elsewhere — maturity is a plus here. I’d say there are 3 main ways into it — as an engineer, who starts to do PM-type stuff on a team where there’s no PM. As a designer, who starts to do PM-type stuff on a team where there’s no PM. Or as an MBA who has a good sense for engineering and design. Certifications generally don’t mean anything — communication and leadership skills, good judgment, experience and a proven track record are what matter. But all those things can be demonstrated in previous non-PM roles, in order to make the initial switch.
Also, if you want to be a PM then you’d better enjoy meetings, slides, people, and communicating & convincing all day long, day-in day-out. If those make you say an enthusiastic “yes that’s me!” then jump right in. If not… you’re gonna have a bad time…