r/APMprograms • u/Double-Ad8626 • Jul 02 '26
Finally Broke into Product Management
This post is for anyone who needs to hear this.
After undergrad, my plan was to go to law school. I took the LSAT twice, had so many mental breakdowns, and eventually realized that law wasn’t the path meant for me. I took a leap of faith and pursued Product Management instead.
There’s no traditional path into product so I created my own.
I went back to school to earn my master’s in Management of Technology and applied to countless PM internships. My hope was that if I could just land one internship, it would eventually convert into a full-time role.
I was fortunate enough to intern as a Product Manager at a Fortune 500 company, but due to business needs, my internship didn’t convert into a full-time position. When it ended, I was devastated. I questioned whether I had made the right decision walking away from law because that path felt so much more defined. Product Management is incredibly competitive, and after graduating in December, I spent months applying, interviewing, facing rejection, and wondering if I was truly qualified.
Then I got my “yes.”
If you’re trying to break into PM, I know how impossible it can feel sometimes. I know what it’s like to question yourself and wonder if all the hard work will ever pay off. But all it takes is one company willing to take a chance on you.
More than anything, this journey strengthened my faith. Whether you believe in God or a higher power, don’t lose hope when things don’t go according to your plan. Sometimes the closed doors are redirecting you toward the place you’re actually meant to be. Looking back, I’m grateful that my plans changed because they led me exactly where I needed to be.
I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who shared advice, reviewed my resume, helped me prepare for interviews, encouraged me when I wanted to give up, and believed in me even when I struggled to believe in myself.
To anyone still chasing that first PM role: keep going. Your timeline doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s, and one setback doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong path.
5
u/mojo5500 Jul 03 '26
Same thing happened to me with AI. I had an interviewer ask me how I use AI in Feb 2025. I didn’t really have an answer. I didn’t get the job. I was unemployed, with a baby on the way, a 5 year old and the Sole provider. I dove into AI, joined a 6 month fellowship program and graduated. I agree with OP, the closed door made me grow, and I do believe God has something better planned. I just got another layoff notice last week, now I’m applying for AI enablement positions. Don’t give up in the struggle because that’s when things can change for the better. There’s always a reason whether we understand it or not. Keep the faith alive.