Switching from developer to product owner? Consider these pros and cons first
Find out if it’s the right move for you
How do the roles differ?
In a nutshell, product owners are responsible for deciding what to build next. They will always make these decisions with the end-user in mind. They turn customer problems and queries into user stories and also prioritize these stories in the product backlog.
They need to:
On the other hand, a product developer is tasked with developing or enhancing a product in order to meet their customers’ needs. Developers write, test, debug, and maintain applications.
They need to:
Who would be a good fit for this role?
As you’ve probably gathered by now, the product owner role isn’t for everyone, it takes a certain kind of person to throw themselves into this title and make it their own.
Firstly, you’ll need to be strong in soft skills such as communication, organization, and critical thinking to align your entire team.
Secondly, the role requires a vast amount of technical knowledge and a solid understanding of the market.
Finally, the best product owners are decisive and fair. When faced with vast amounts of feedback, they need to sift through it all to find out what aligns with the project’s vision and goals. To do this, you need to be comfortable with saying no.
What are the pros?
Okay, but what about the cons?
What about money?
Of course, salary is often dependent on the amount of experience you have and the company you’re working for. But, there’s no harm considering what you could potentially earn in both roles.
According to the Indeed salary calculator, the average salary for a product developer is €55,346 per year. A product owner on the other hand makes around €70,607. Obviously, money isn’t everything but it’s definitely a factor that you have to consider.
With any career move, you need to spend time thinking about your options before taking the plunge. Either way, you’re sure to have an exciting and varied career in this field.
Whether you decide to go the developer route or you realize being a product owner is for you, check out theHouse of Talent jobs boardfor the latest and greatest career opportunities.
Story byRebecca OKeeffe
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