Career Transition: From HR to Product Management

Alok Shrivastava and a student from an IIM One Year Full Time program had a career clarity discussion. The student had a diverse HR and recruiting background and was seeking a pivot into Product Management or consulting roles. This blog will help you for a domain switch or career transition.

Student: I started my journey right after engineering with Markets and Markets as a market research intern. I always aimed to break into business-facing roles. I was even targeting FMS for several years due to its famed ROI, though I now realize ROI is more than just salary.

Alok: A very honest way to start. What came after the internship?

Student: I joined XP (name changed), a US-based RPO. I worked on passive talent sourcing using LinkedIn, alumni databases, and Meetup groups. This was back in 2014 when LinkedIn adoption in India was still low. Later, I moved to an Australian recruitment firm for end-to-end hiring, but the time zone difference made it hard to sustain.

Alok: When did you make your corporate transition?

Student: In 2018, I joined Xcertis (name changed)—a Series D-funded SaaS company. I led talent acquisition for Europe, India, and Singapore. Within a year, I was managing GM and VP-level stakeholders. It was intense but rewarding. I even tried transitioning to the product team through a connection with the VP of Product, but he moved to Google before it could materialize.

Alok: That could have been a great shift. What came next?

Student: I moved to Bangalore and joined Xkit.ai (name changed), a conversational AI startup, as one of their early hires. I reported directly to the CEO and CRO. I handled high-value hiring, including roles up to INR 1 Cr. I later transitioned into a people partner role covering performance management, compensation benchmarking, and HR generalist tasks.

Alok: So when did the MBA happen?

Student: I got a shortlist from MDI in 2019 but chose the IIM one-year program later. Initially, the transition to campus life was tough—first time staying in a hostel, cultural adjustment, etc. I joined the Corporate Interaction Committee, but honestly, I wasn’t fully engaged in the first couple of terms.

Alok: That’s understandable. What roles are you targeting now?

Student: I had interviews for GTM and sales roles with Persistent Systems and Quantiphi but didn’t convert. I tried to connect my recruitment background to business value in the interviews. Right now, I have a shortlist from TechRA for their Change Management Practice.

Alok: Let’s talk about product management. Your resume must show product-specific actions—like user research, requirement gathering, MVP testing, working with developers, and tracking KPIs.

Student: I understand. I tried mapping transferable skills to the JD using the STAR framework—especially around market research and benchmarking.

Alok: That’s good. Make sure your resume includes sample work. For instance, you said you evaluated ATS tools? That’s a great example of product analysis. Include criteria used, vendor comparison, and outcomes.

Student: We evaluated multiple tools, ran tests, and selected one. I’ll add that as product teardown work.

Alok: Perfect. Also mention being an end-user of internal HR tools. Any feedback you provided to improve the platform makes you a stakeholder in the product lifecycle.

Student: Got it. At Xkit.ai, I also helped redesign role nomenclature—from “Account Executive” to “Director, Enterprise Sales.” It attracted better talent.

Alok: Excellent. That’s a business impact story. Frame it like: “Improved quality of hire by optimizing role nomenclature and attracting more senior talent.”

Student: I also recruited a key account executive who helped close our largest telecom client.

Alok: Another story worth telling: “Closed critical hire from a Tier-1 competitor, contributing to company’s largest enterprise win.”

Student: Should I build separate resumes for consulting and product roles?

Alok: Absolutely. Even if 70% of your resume remains unchanged, customize the rest to speak the language of the target role.

Student: What’s my action plan then?

Alok: Three things:

Update your resume with Situation-Action-Result structure, showcasing product-centric contributions.
Do product teardowns of HR tech tools—document insights and send to hiring managers.
Reach out to 60+ professionals across consulting and product in the next 30-45 days.

Student: What kind of firms should I target?

Alok: Think Darwinbox, Freshworks, Big Four (EY, Deloitte) in their transformation practices, and product-led SaaS firms. Your HR-tech experience is a unique edge.

Student: I’m also considering working with a career transition coach to tighten my pitch.

Alok: That’s exactly what we offer at GoCrackIt – career transition services. As your career coach for transition, I help you refine your story, identify transferable skills, and align them with industry expectations. GoCrackIt provides specialized coaching for career transition—whether you’re making a pivot from HR to Product, Consulting, or even a complete career shift.

Student: This was very helpful. I’ll get started right away.

Alok: All the best. Focus your energy, tailor your narrative, and back it with tangible examples. That’s how career transitions succeed.

Career Transition: From HR to Product Management

Get More Insights

From “Banker” to “Dealmaker”: How a Mock Interview Bridges the Gap Between Experience and Impact

Mastering Risk Management: A Guide for MBA Students and Professionals

Leveraging Structured Thinking in Career Transitions

QUICK LINKS

POLICIES

CONTACT

2024 GoCrackIt – All Rights Reserved

DESIGNED & DEVELOPED BY UMANSHI