Patrick Lyons

Tell me about yourself and your journey into big tech.

My journey really starts back in high school and college. In high school, I interned at a civil engineering company to gain some initial experience. Then, I majored in mechanical engineering at UT Austin and earned certificates in Business and Computer Science. The combination of that early internship and my college experiences ultimately led to internships at AT&T, Boeing, and Microsoft.

The AT&T internship was in technology operations, and the Boeing and Microsoft internships were focused on supply chain. My resume was naturally leaning more toward supply chain, even though I didn’t major in it and wasn’t necessarily passionate about it but that’s what opened the door for me at Microsoft. I started in supply chain and transitioned into mechanical sourcing engineering, sourcing components for products like the Xbox, Xbox Controller, Surface Laptop, and Surface Pro.

However, post-COVID, that role required everyone to be in Seattle, and I found that I thrived working remotely in Austin, Texas. So, I sought out another internal opportunity at Microsoft and ultimately became a product manager.

Without a formal background in product management, can you speak to how you were able to leverage your transferable skills?

I’ve run my own online fitness coaching business for about 10 years. Over that time, I’ve created more than 12 unique product offerings, ranging from fitness coach certification programs for aspiring coaches to one-on-one fitness coaching for individuals with goals like fat loss, muscle building, or strength training.

Through my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve had to collect and analyze customer feedback, deeply understand customer needs, and translate those insights into comprehensive programs that meet clients where they are and help them achieve their goals. That process - ideation, execution, iteration, and launch - directly mirrors the product management lifecycle.

It was a matter of taking the skill sets I already had and the authentic stories I lived through entrepreneurship and framing them as answers to product management interview questions.

In your current role, what does a typical day look like and what are your main job responsibilities?

Day-to-day as a product manager involves working with cross-functional teams to create meaningful products that add value to customers’ lives. I work in the advanced and core calling spaces of Microsoft Teams. Advanced calling features cater to niche audiences, while core calling features are available to almost everyone using Teams.

The process begins with gathering customer feedback. This could come from our Customer Success Account Managers, who interact with customers regularly, or directly from customer forums where I meet with users to understand their needs. From there, I translate those insights into feature requirements, writing detailed specs that outline what we’re building.

In parallel, I collaborate with engineering teams, UX designers, marketing, and other product managers whose areas overlap with mine. We align on what’s feasible within our timeline, prioritize tasks (for example, P0 for must-haves, P1 for nice-to-haves, and P3 for future roadmap items), and begin development.

I track progress using Azure DevOps, holding stakeholders accountable - whether it’s UX for designs or engineering for implementation. Typically, I’m managing multiple features simultaneously, so there’s always an ebb and flow, ensuring no single period is too overwhelming or stagnant.

What advice do you have for others who want to break into big tech or do what you do?

The key is understanding that everyone in big tech once wasn’t in big tech. It’s not an impossible hurdle; there’s always a way to get your foot in the door.

At Microsoft, for example, they practice "screening in," not "screening out." This means recruiters and hiring managers actively look for aspects of your background that make you a good fit instead of focusing on reasons why you might not be.

For me, my entrepreneurial experience - taking ideas from concept to execution - showed I already had the skills of a product manager and could be screened in. Anyone can take the same approach. Look at the job description, identify the qualifications and requirements, and then reflect on how your own stories and experiences align with those needs. The goal is to frame your background in a way that clearly connects to the role.

Passion projects, entrepreneurship, or even school projects can provide valuable experiences. It’s just about telling the right story in a way that makes the recruiter think, “This person is a great fit because of XYZ.”

What’s your favorite thing about working at Microsoft?

By far, the best thing for me is the ability to balance my career with my own business. My fitness coaching business is a big part of who I am, and Microsoft’s culture allows me to thrive in both areas. 

Microsoft celebrates diverse interests and backgrounds, and for me, balancing both roles makes me more efficient. The time constraints force me to be more intentional and productive on both ends.

Another standout is the people I work with. Everyone has a growth mindset, and I’m constantly learning from my colleagues. The work culture is incredible - collaborative, challenging, and encouraging.

Finish this sentence. Outside of the office, you can find me:

Outside Microsoft, you can find me performing on stage at improv comedy shows, working on my fitness coaching business, hitting the gym, traveling to warm tropical places like Hawaii, and creating content that shares meaningful stories with the world.

“Is there a recommended way to format your resume when trying to break into the tech industry? For instance, corporate companies typically prefer list-like resumes, what does the tech field usually use?” - Elizabeth R. 

There are three main resume formats:

1. Chronological - lists work experience in reverse chronological order, with the most recent position first

2. Functional - focuses on professional abilities rather than chronological work history

3. Combination - blends elements of chronological and functional formats

Having reviewed countless resumes, even more important than the format is the content. Whether you opt for a chronological, functional, or combination resume, what’s most important to the recruiter reviewing it is that it includes relevant experience related to the role at hand.

With that being said, the most common resume format in tech is the chronological one (and in my opinion, the best format for its clarity and readability).   

For non-technical candidates, I recommend formatting your resume by experience, education, and skills. Summaries are optional (good for senior level candidates, those switching careers, or those with a career gap). 

For technical candidates, I recommend formatting your resume by technical skills, experience, and education. Again, a summary is optional. 

If you’re interested in seeing how I formatted my resume, feel free to check out my personal resume template which helped me land interviews at companies like Meta, Google, TikTok, Salesforce, and Uber.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read today’s newsletter! If you have any feedback, please let me know down below. Have a great rest of the week and see you in the next one! Cheers, Brenna

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Download my personal resume template: It has helped me land interviews at companies like Meta, Google, TikTok, Salesforce, and Uber.

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