u/Creative-Zucchini392

Hey everyone!

I’m a Data Engineer with a CS and Data Science background (1 year of experience).
I'm looking to pivot into Product Management and would love to connect with current PMs. I'd be super grateful for a quick 15-minute chat to learn about your journey and hear any advice you have for making the switch.

If you’re open to a quick call or connecting on LinkedIn, please send me a DM or leave a comment!

Thanks so much!

I graduated in 2025 with a CS/Data Science degree and have been working full-time as a Data Engineer for the past year here in Chicago.

I’m actively prepping to pivot into Product Management, but I’m seeing a weird gap:

**New-grad APM roles** often filter strictly for current students/immediate grads.

**Standard PM roles** often ask for 3+ years of prior PM title experience.

To bridge this gap, I’ve put together a product portfolio with case studies that translate backend technical pipelines into business impact and user outcomes.

**For Chicago recruiters, hiring managers, or PMs open to connecting:**
If you're hiring for entry-level/associate product roles (hybrid or on-site in Chicago), shoot me a DM - I’d be happy to share my portfolio and resume directly!

For PMs who made a similar early jump: what was the single most convincing way you proved product thinking before having the official title?

Drop a comment or send a DM. I would love to hear your thoughts!

I graduated in 2025 with a CS/Data Science degree and have been working full-time as a Data Engineer for the past year here in Chicago.

I’m actively prepping to pivot into Product Management, but I’m seeing a weird gap:

New-grad APM roles often filter strictly for current students/immediate grads.

Standard PM roles often ask for 3+ years of prior PM title experience.

To bridge this gap, I’ve put together a product portfolio with case studies that translate backend technical pipelines into business impact and user outcomes.

For Chicago recruiters, hiring managers, or PMs open to connecting:
If you're hiring for entry-level/associate product roles (hybrid or on-site in Chicago), shoot me a DM - I’d be happy to share my portfolio and resume directly!

For PMs who made a similar early jump: what was the single most convincing way you proved product thinking before having the official title?

Drop a comment or send a DM. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Hey everyone,

I’m a 22-year-old grad based in Chicago with a double major in Data Science and Computer Science (Class of 2025). I have a little over a year of full-time experience working as a Data Engineer, and I’m actively looking to transition into product management and product-adjacent roles.

Here is a quick snapshot of my background:

Education: B.S. in Data Science and Computer Science (Double Major)

Experience: 1+ years as a Data Engineer (strong technical foundation, data-driven mindset, and cross-functional collaboration)

Target Roles: Product Manager (APM/PM), Product Owner, or Product Analyst

Location: Primarily looking for hybrid or on-site roles in Chicago

The Struggle: Like many people right now, the job market has been pretty brutal. Breaking into product from an engineering background hasn't been easy, and the traditional application black hole is definitely real.

If anyone has any advice on positioning a technical double major and data engineering background for product roles, knows of any companies in Chicago currently hiring junior product talent, or just wants to connect with folks in the Chicago tech scene, I would love to hear from you.

Feel free to drop a comment or shoot me a DM. Thanks for reading!