Creating a product manager resume is akin to selecting the ideal song to match your mood - daunting and overwhelming. However, your resume acts as your gateway to the professional world, showcasing the most notable moments of your career. Nevertheless, the real challenge lies in discerning what to omit. Let's face it, Product Management is no walk in the park. Every organization uses the resume to evaluate how good of a fit you are in their product management team. After all, product managers are also products. Continue reading to find out how to perfect your resume to enter the PM space.
Before diving into how to perfect your resume, let’s talk about common mistakes every aspirant makes.
Navigating the “Product Manager” Resume Minefield: Pitfalls to Steer Clear Of
Your resume or CV should tell your professional story, regardless of whether you're a young candidate seeking an Associate PM role or an experienced PM vying for a Head of PM position.
But with so many experiences to reflect on, including college activities, summer jobs, volunteering, and projects, it can be challenging to condense everything into a single piece of paper. One common mistake is taking up too much space, with some applicants submitting even 7-page CVs. To avoid this, it's essential to discern what matters and tailor your resumé to the role you're applying for.
With the don'ts out of the way, the next question is: how can you craft an exceptional Product Manager resume?
“Your resume is yet another product — it’s an opportunity for you to hone your skills and showcase your strengths in product management.”
Now that we have established the aforementioned fact, it's important to recognize that every product must provide value. To begin with your resume, you need to understand your own value. The introspection of your strengths, product beliefs, and identity will determine the unique value you offer to a company.
Start by prioritizing brevity, like designing a feature with constraints, as even experienced leaders can fit their experience onto a one-page document. It's a challenging task, but you're vying for a coveted role.
One big confusion everyone has is Summary vs Competencies. Summaries have little impact on tech resumes; focus on relevant achievements, competencies, and skills.
Does this mean you have to write off volunteering, interests, or hobbies? It depends on the job you're applying for. If you're targeting a position in a sports media company, for instance, highlighting your love for sports can help. But keep this section brief, as your work experience and education are more critical.
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Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]
If you want to stand out quantify your impact. Mere claims of delivering innovative experiences or transforming industries are simplistic and lack substance. Qualitative descriptions require tangible evidence to support them.
Use the above-mentioned formula as a foundation to craft a narrative showcasing your expertise in data management and other skills, effectively communicating your accomplishments to potential employers.
If you want to dodge the dreaded Applicant Tracking System (ATS), sprinkle your Product Manager resume with precisely placed keywords. Think UX design, strategic planning, analytics, and organizational skills. Keywords are key!
If you are not sure where to find them, start by checking the well-crafted Product Manager job descriptions. They contain nearly all of the keywords that you should be using!
Let’s take a look at Unilever’s job post on Product Manager - Nexus.
If the company has separate sections for skills & competencies, you are halfway there. If not, check the underlined ones in the below image. You’ll find such keywords under roles & responsibilities and about the role sections.
Now you know how to write your resume, check out this article on interview questions: The Ultimate Guide To Ace Any Product Management Interview
Product Management Resume Checklist With Key Points
Formatting Your Resume
- Opt for a standard one-pager with sensible spacing, titles, and a serious font.
- Graphics-heavy resume suits creative PMs, but consider the company's preference.
- A personal website offers the best combo to display your achievements and build your profile.
- Explore alternative approaches like apps, songs, videos, and games, but consider the company's preference.
Nothing's worse than pouring your soul into a creative project and getting rejected! Try to accommodate the company’s preferences.
The Bottom Line
So, that was all about the resume guide for product management and we hope you were able to garner a sufficient understanding of the entire process.
Product management sure is a rewarding field, be it in terms of pay, growth potential, recognition in society, or job satisfaction. But with millions of aspirants chasing the same dream, it gets extremely difficult to break into and you need expert guidance to acquire real-life skills that will help you begin your journey in the right direction.
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