Why I Pivoted from Product Management to Sales
At least two people have said to me, “I thought you were in product?” Well, I was—until last summer, when I worked at AWS and had some major realizations.
How I envision cloud companies
In June, I shared on Instagram that I’d be stepping back from the hustle, announcing that I had declined a return offer to do so. The months from June to October were filled with highs and lows. Some days, I felt incredibly rested and at peace; other days, I questioned everything, wondering what I was doing with my life.
Through this period of reflection, I came back to a core realization: I value freedom, but I also need stability. I need enough predictability to ensure survival, yet I crave the freedom to be creative and make an impact. It’s this balance that helps me thrive.
After my internship with AWS last summer, where I worked on post-sales execution of client promises as a Customer Solutions Manager Intern, I began to seriously consider a career in sales. Sales seemed to offer not just the potential for a higher-end lifestyle—like traveling and dining out at the company’s expense—but also a role that fit my personality. People have often described me as ambitious, outgoing, and relationship-oriented, traits that align well with sales. Even my interests—reading about leadership, negotiations, storytelling, and selling—reflect the skills required to succeed in this field.
Although I haven’t officially started the role yet and anticipate the grind of cold calls and emails, sales already feels like a better fit than anything else I’ve explored. I’m drawn to how success in sales is tied to a clear metric: revenue. It’s exciting to think about being on the front lines, making a tangible impact on a company’s growth.
Unlike product management (PM), sales roles are more abundant for new grads. PM can be a great fit for certain personalities, but opportunities for fresh graduates are limited. Many PM roles are reserved for experienced professionals because PMs often act as superpowered translators, bridging design, development, sales, and marketing. Startups, for example, typically prefer hiring senior PMs who can execute independently rather than training new grads. Meanwhile, sales roles, especially Sales Development Representatives (SDRs), are in higher demand than supply.
During my time at AWS, I noticed that companies are often structured as half sales and half engineering, with PMs squeezed in between. The ratio of PMs to engineers can be as high as 1 to 10, making PM positions scarce. While it’s possible to land a PM role, it’s often a longer journey that starts in marketing or another specialized field. In contrast, sales offers a more direct entry point for new grads.
I knew sales was the right track for me when I realized I was genuinely curious and excited to learn about it. For example, as I prepared for sales interviews, I eagerly researched cold-calling techniques and even watched Mark Cuban’s masterclass on selling. In contrast, I never felt motivated to finish PM books like Cracking the PM Interview. Instead, I’ve always been drawn to honing my speaking, persuasion, and storytelling skills—areas where I naturally excel.
That’s not to say I’m without doubts. I’m nervous about hitting quotas, whether my team will be as supportive as they seem, and the possibility of failure. But a small voice inside reminds me not to dwell on the fear of falling but to focus on the possibility of flying. Sales challenges me to dream even bigger about what life could look like.
Looking back, I’ve been selling my whole life. In elementary school, I went door-to-door selling chocolates for school fundraisers, feeling proud when my mom and I exceeded our quota. In grade six, I participated in an entrepreneurship competition, creating and pricing products to attract classmates. In high school, I founded a dance club, growing its membership from scratch by leveraging my network. I even funded my K-pop concert tickets by reselling others at win-win prices.
Throughout my life, I’ve loved understanding problems and finding creative, win-win solutions. This curiosity and my drive to connect with people reflect my strength in building relationships—a skill I hope to continue cultivating in sales.
People often say that when choosing who to marry, “You know when you know.” While I expect moments of confusion ahead, I’m grateful to be stepping into a career path that feels more like clarity than chaos.
This isn’t to say that product management isn’t a great field—it’s fantastic for the right people. Instead, I hope this post encourages students like me to explore career paths we may not have considered before.
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Quick update: The post above was written around October 21, 2024, before I officially started the role. Now that I’m two weeks in, I’m so happy to say—I’m loving it! Saying no to Amazon to hold out for something that felt like a better fit was definitely the right move. Honestly, I’m still in disbelief I found a place this good. The manager, the product, the company/brand equity, the pay, the food—it all just clicks. Best part? The job is actually fun! I’m really into the competitive side of it and how it’s helping me build on the stuff I love, like storytelling and presenting. I know it won’t always be sunshine and rainbows, but this feels so different—in a good way—from any internship I’ve done before. Super excited to see where this goes!
To all my younger friends out there: Take a guess at what you love, and go chase it! And whatever you're doing (or not doing), be real with yourself—ask yourself why.