Any advice for a PM wanting to go back to development

Question

I have been an interactive project manager for about 7 years now and considering going back to my first passion which was HTML. As a producer I am up to date on how technology has progressed in the 7 years I have been away from TextEdit but my development expertise in now pretty much gone.

What should I do to make the move back? Does taking night classes help? How can I ramp back up into code and move away from project management which is just boring to me these days.

In my google searching I see alot of movement from developer to PM but not much talk about back. Does anyone have any experience doing so?

Thanks,

Steve

Answer 1

I was not as far into PM as you before stepping back, but here's my thoughts:

1. Take on a small project in your own time, as a developer, as a volunteer if necessary. Maybe a web site for a local sporting club or church or whatever you are involved in? (Be careful though - make sure thay understand this is a one-off! Make actual content changeable by them.)
2. Take on a couple of small paid contracts.
3. Increase the percentage of your work that is in the field you want over time.

Remember that your PM experience, even if you are not working as a PM, is valuable to potential employers. Let them know that what you are now looking for is development work, and you no longer want to be a PM, BUT at the same time let them know that your PM experience can and does make you a better developer, in terms of project organisation and completion.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I actually think there are quite a few developers who get promoted to a PM and then decide it’s not right for them. (I know I do sometimes).

I think you can more easily transition back to a developer at your current company, rather than doing at another one. Therefore, the following advice is figuring you’re going to stay put.

1. I wouldn’t recommend immediately marching into your boss’s office and proclaiming your re-discovered passion.
2. When you do have ‘the talk’ with your boss make sure you’re positive. Explain how the skills you gained as a manager will make you a better developer, have a replacement PM in mind, and have a good idea of timing the transition.
3. Target your learning on those technologies that are being used at your current company. As a PM, you should know this.
4. Accept the fact that you’ll be doing most of your learning outside of your current job for the first few months.
5. Begin pitching in on small development tasks on your current project. (Know the pieces of the application, know how to assemble and build the code, review the code in various modules, etc).
6. It’s up to you to figure out what learning methods (classroom, self-study, books, etc.) work best for yourself. However, most people learn by doing, so struggle through developing a small application you dreamed up.