Several companies (including Google) have very good associate PM (APM) programs that offer recent grads rotations through a few different roles, mentorship, and a strong peer group. Several APMs end up with rapid upward trajectories at the company and many decide to jump into starting their own companies but it is rare to come across people who did this and regret it.
Some people go into industry or consulting for a bit, get an MBA, and then join directly as a PM. Another popular route (the one I took) is to be a startup founder and learn what works and doesn't on your own terms directly from your own customers.
SWE and PM have very different lifestyles - a PM's day is slammed with meetings and most of your output is email, presentations, spreadsheets, PRDs, dashboards...a SWE's day is more focused on code, ops, design docs - fewer interrupts and more focused. But you likely know this as you've lived both realities already! My advice would be to think about which path suits your disposition and to solve for joy, learning, and impact.
Several companies (including Google) have very good associate PM (APM) programs that offer recent grads rotations through a few different roles, mentorship, and a strong peer group. Several APMs end up with rapid upward trajectories at the company and many decide to jump into starting their own companies but it is rare to come across people who did this and regret it.
Some people go into industry or consulting for a bit, get an MBA, and then join directly as a PM. Another popular route (the one I took) is to be a startup founder and learn what works and doesn't on your own terms directly from your own customers.
SWE and PM have very different lifestyles - a PM's day is slammed with meetings and most of your output is email, presentations, spreadsheets, PRDs, dashboards...a SWE's day is more focused on code, ops, design docs - fewer interrupts and more focused. But you likely know this as you've lived both realities already! My advice would be to think about which path suits your disposition and to solve for joy, learning, and impact.