Like most product managers, the Cranky Product Manager is obsessed with any hard customer data that she can get her hands on. So, a while back, she started up a page on Facebook to hopefully learn a bit more about you. It was really fun. No, not in the Disney Land rollercoaster WOW kind of way but in the quiet satisfaction of sipping a great cup of coffee on a beautiful terrace kind of way.
Anyway, it was fun to see your profile photos. After all, you all have a picture of the Cranky Product Manager’s jean-clad posterior, so now we’re even, right? It was also interesting to learn how FEW of you actually live in the Boston Route 128 or Silicon Valley areas. Because those two areas are the center of the CPM’s world, you see. She assumes EVERYONE lives there because she has a very myopic worldview — it’s all about HER dammit.
To learn even more about y’all, the Cranky Product Manager did a Facebook poll of your industry and job functions. 193 of you responded. She promised to share the results with those of you who HATE! DESPISE! DETEST! LOATHE! Facebook. So, here are the results…
Shock of all shocks, an overwhelming 73% of you are in software or online services.
The vast majority of you are either product managers or product marketers (62%). This surprised the CPM because some of her biggest traffic spikes are when developer sites post links to her blog. She thought more engineers were reading — they are only 6%… Maybe those guys drop by but then get all offended and leave….
And now for regular demographics. Probably not surprising, but of those who chose to reveal their gender, about 36% were female. That’s a much higher ratio than the CPM has encountered in the workplace, but not entirely surprising because the CPM’s PM sistahs can relate to her experiences that are unique to being female in this crazy software product world. Such as being forced to dance with 4-5 geeky men at once at any work-related function with a DJ.
Aslo, you’re kinda old. It seems like the average age for product manager is getting older, wouldn’t you say? At least that’s the CPM’s personal experience:
OK, wasn’t that interesting? Now get back to work.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
One little thing; the poll could only be taken by those with a Facebook account… how much has that skewed the results?
(Male, 52, mainly developer I’ve done my time in product management, UK based)
No doubt, it has skewed the results. But this audience is hardly representative anyway, as it only covers the cynical and bitter in our profession.
There are PM’s who aren’t cynical and bitter?
JB (Male, 43, works in a barn in a fly-over state)
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