Career change as a product manager

Career change paths

• PR officer

  Also: Press spokesperson

  With on-the-job training

  In press and public relations, you maintain media contacts, write press releases and handle communications for companies or organizations.

  What you bring:

  You can tailor messages to target groups and write persuasive copy.

  How to get there:

  Companies and agencies train marketing professionals in media relations. Courses on press work and crisis communication take a few days.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €5,318gross per monthMedian salary

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• Online marketing trainer

  Also: Marketing lecturer in further education

  With on-the-job training

  As a trainer or instructor, you teach marketing and online marketing to employees, self-employed people and participants in further training courses.

  What you bring:

  You know tools and channels such as search engine advertising, social media and web analytics from hands-on work.

  How to get there:

  Training providers, chambers and academies hire practitioners as instructors, often on a freelance basis, and a trainer course of a few weeks helps. Making this your main job usually only works once you have many assignments.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleHome office possible

  €5,254gross per monthMedian salary

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• Marketing consultant

  Also: Management consultant for sales and marketing

  With on-the-job training

  As a consultant, you help companies improve positioning, prices and sales channels, either as an employee or self-employed.

  What you bring:

  You can analyze markets, customers and channels and derive measures from them.

  How to get there:

  Consulting firms bring experienced marketing professionals up to speed on projects. If you go self-employed, it is best to start with clients from your network and a clear focus.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleHome office possible

  €6,311gross per monthMedian salary

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• Customer success manager

  Also: Account manager for marketing software

  With on-the-job training

  At software vendors, you look after business customers, help with the rollout and build customer relationships.

  What you bring:

  You know marketing software, analysis tools and the needs of marketing departments from using them yourself.

  How to get there:

  Software vendors give you product training of a few weeks. Part of the pay is often performance-based.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an officeHome office possible

  €6,745gross per monthMedian salary

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• Employer branding manager

  Also: HR marketing officer

  With on-the-job training

  In HR marketing, you design campaigns, career pages and presences at trade fairs and on social media.

  What you bring:

  You know how to reach target groups and build a brand, and that is exactly what employers need when they are looking for skilled workers.

  How to get there:

  Companies train marketing professionals in HR processes and recruiting. Courses on employer branding take a few days.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible

  €5,147gross per monthMedian salary

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• Head of IT

  Also: IT project manager

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As an IT project manager or head of IT, you steer projects, budgets and teams and are responsible for keeping the systems running.

  What you bring:

  You know systems, requirements and departments and can bridge the gap between technology and senior management.

  How to get there:

  This move often happens internally through project or team lead roles. Certificates such as PRINCE2, PMP or Scrum help with applications. You do not need an additional degree.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €7,647gross per monthMedian salary

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• IT security consultant

  Also: Information security officer

  With on-the-job training

  As an IT security consultant or information security officer, you assess risks, set up security management based on standards such as ISO 27001 and support audits.

  What you bring:

  You know architectures, interfaces and processes and see where systems can be attacked.

  How to get there:

  Employers often ask for certificates such as ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, CISSP or IT-Grundschutz Practitioner. The courses take a few days to weeks, or longer with exam preparation. For the CISSP, the provider ISC2 requires five years of work experience in information security. For critical infrastructure and government agencies, security clearance checks often apply as well.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible

  €5,295gross per monthMedian salary

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• IT trainer

  Also: Computer science lecturer in further education

  With on-the-job training

  As an IT trainer or lecturer, you teach software, data analysis or IT basics at training providers, at manufacturers or in companies.

  What you bring:

  You can explain complex systems clearly and have probably trained users before.

  How to get there:

  Training providers and training companies hire IT specialists with presentation experience, often on a freelance basis at first. A course in teaching methods helps. To train IT specialists (Fachinformatiker) in an apprenticeship, you need the trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung) under the AEVO.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,449gross per monthMedian salary

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• Technical writer for software

  Also: Documentation specialist

  With on-the-job training

  As a technical writer, you write manuals, online help and interface documentation for software.

  What you bring:

  You can describe systems, processes and requirements precisely and know what users need to understand.

  How to get there:

  Software vendors hire IT specialists who write well directly. Courses in technical writing, for example with a professional association's certificate, take a few weeks to months.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €4,728gross per monthMedian salary

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• Software developer

  Also: Backend developer

  With on-the-job training

  As a software developer, you turn requirements into code yourself and test and maintain applications.

  What you bring:

  You know data models, interfaces and programming languages and have often built prototypes already.

  How to get there:

  Employers hire analysts with programming experience directly. You learn missing languages or frameworks on the job or in courses of a few weeks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €5,986gross per monthMedian salary

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• Managing director

  Also: Executive director for sales and marketing

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As managing director or member of the executive board, you also take on finance, HR and strategy for a company or a subsidiary.

  What you bring:

  You know markets, customers and revenue planning and have led teams successfully.

  How to get there:

  You usually make this move in your own company, at a subsidiary or at a medium-sized business that wants a sales-focused leader. You can deepen your knowledge of controlling, balance sheets and labor law in management courses.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €8,555gross per monthMedian salary

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• Economic development officer

  Also: Location marketing officer

  With on-the-job training

  In economic development or city and regional marketing, you attract relocations, look after local companies and develop campaigns for the region.

  What you bring:

  You can market a location like a product, address target groups and build contacts with companies.

  How to get there:

  Cities, districts and regional companies train career changers from marketing and sales on the job in funding programs and administrative procedures. A university degree is usually expected. The jobs are often in the public service or at municipal companies.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people
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• Lecturer in vocational continuing education

  Also: Teacher in further and continuing education

  With on-the-job training

  At chambers, academies and training providers, you teach courses such as certified senior specialist for marketing (Fachwirt für Marketing) and prepare participants for the exams.

  What you bring:

  You can explain marketing and sales with practical examples that learners recognize from their working lives.

  How to get there:

  Training providers and chambers look for lecturers with practical experience, usually on a freelance basis. Trainer aptitude (Ausbildereignung) or a trainer course of a few weeks helps you get started. As a main job, this usually only pays if you work for several providers.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,254gross per monthMedian salary

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• Business teacher at a vocational school

  Also: Teacher via the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg)

  With a degree

  Through the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg), you teach future commercial clerks at vocational schools, for example in marketing communication, retail or office management.

  What you bring:

  You know marketing, sales and business administration from your studies and practice.

  How to get there:

  With a master's or diploma degree in economics, the alternative route into teaching at vocational schools is possible, depending on the federal state. You teach and qualify alongside work, usually for one to two years. You often need a second subject.*Regulated by law (State law: teacher education acts and alternative-route regulations of the German states).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €5,140gross per monthMedian salary

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• Computer science teacher via the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg)

  Also: Teacher for computer science and mathematics

  With training or an exam

  At secondary schools, you teach computer science and sometimes mathematics as an alternative-route teacher (Seiteneinsteiger).

  What you bring:

  You can explain programming, databases and logical thinking and have usually studied computer science or a related subject.

  How to get there:

  Alternative-route teachers (Seiteneinsteiger) teach while completing a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst), usually about 18 to 24 months. The federal state decides whether your degree is recognized for two subjects.*Regulated by law (State law: teacher education acts and alternative-route regulations of the German states).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €5,466gross per monthMedian salary

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Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.