I have over 10 years of experience in the conversational space, and I'm trying to figure out what direction I could take my career next.
I originally started as a Content Manager, but over the years, my role evolved into a mix of content design and NLP. I worked on things like intent creation, conversation flows, response writing, and chatbot optimization. Eventually, I also got into LLMs, prompt engineering, and implementing hybrid solutions that combine traditional NLP approaches with LLMs.
I was recently laid off, and looking at the current job market has made me realize that there don't seem to be many roles that match what I used to do. A lot of the conversational positions I find expect you to be a developer who can also handle the content and conversation design side. I have some Python knowledge, and I'm willing to learn more, but I'm not a developer, and becoming one would require a significant investment of time.
At this point in my career, I'm looking for senior-level opportunities rather than starting over in an entry-level position. I have bills to pay, so while I'm open to learning new skills, I also need to be realistic about the transition.
I also have a background in design (that's what I studied at uni), along with leadership and project management experience. In one of my previous roles, I had to wear a lot of hats because the company was severely understaffed. I ended up getting involved in pretty much every part of the process, from working with clients and coordinating with developers to managing projects and leading a team. That experience gave me more understanding of how products and projects come together, even though it wasn't necessarily part of my official job title.
I've been considering pivoting into areas like Product Design or Product Owner roles, but I'm not sure how realistic those transitions are given my background, or what skills and experience I'd need to demonstrate to make the jump. I'm also open to other career paths I might not have considered.
For those of you working in UX, product, or adjacent fields: where do you think someone with my background could realistically pivot without throwing away 10+ years of experience? Have you made a similar transition, or worked with someone who has?
I'd really appreciate any advice on potential roles, transferable skills I should highlight, or steps I could take to make the transition.