[nibs]

Depends on the org. I went from sales to PM, so I had to learn the engineering knowledge to the point that I could properly scope and spec things. I have been building websites since I was 10 so I was not green by any measure, but up until this point I was employed as a salesperson.

I think if you are coming from the engineering side, you might want to read up on sales. If the PM as mini-CEO of a product holds true where you work, the CEO mainly sets direction (for the product) and develops the business.

So sales (as in talking to customers) is really the part you may have less experience with. I think that exposure to real, imperfect, angry, complaining, confused, biased, excited customers is a good education in this. Your goal really is to interface the market/customers with the product/operations.