As long as the human race survives along with their burgeoning purchasing power, there will never be a dearth of new products hitting the market every year. No wonder, Product Managers are highly sought-after in a variety of industries. Between 2017 and 2020 the number of job openings for product managers has more than doubled. With an average of $110,916 and an incredibly high level of work satisfaction, it is evident that competition in this field is also intense.
There's also a reason that many career-minded individuals are rushing to become product managers. Beyond the pay and potential for growth, product managers are able to work on thrilling and demanding projects where they get to oversee the development of new products for the company and come up with new ideas through conversations with customers as well as data analysis.
In other words, product managers are accountable for monitoring the entire lifecycle of products, and that includes determining the strengths of the product as well as the preferences of customers who would be interested in purchasing it. In addition to being able to determine the worth of a product for the consumer and for companies, product managers also need to be adept at interacting with people. This is why a blend of communication, creativity and organization skills is high on the list of qualities that companies seek in a potential candidate for the project manager’s role.
Role of a Product Manager
As a capable product manager, you will be accountable for the below-listed roles. So, you might as well make sure to mention your competence in these in the resume you draft:
The definition and implementation of the vision for the product, directing end-to-end product development lifecycle
Coordinating with external and internal stakeholders to assess the need for a specific item
Recognizing potential customers and the best way to get the support of potential customers
Being accountable for the proper product at the right time and everything else that goes with it
Being able to design pricing strategies that maximize profits and market share, and make customers happy
What is Product Management?
Product management is a subject that has seen significant growth in recent years with many businesses around the globe realizing that proper management of their resources is crucial for their overall growth. In Product Plan’s State of Product Management Report for 2021, the interest in managing products has doubled in the United States.
During recruitment, hiring managers look for individuals who can bring more to the table. This is exactly why it is important for you to consider yourself as the ultimate product and treat your resume as a product demonstration. When it comes to building a stellar resume, you need to showcase your creativity, communication and analytical skills in the one-page long resume you come up with for an interesting project manager opening.
This article has been penned to provide you with the perfect guideline on how best to craft a winning resume that would impress hiring managers and showcase your skills as a competent Product Manager. To start with, you could also begin by selecting the apt resume template and reaching out to HiCounselor for a second opinion on how to customize or highlight your skills as a Product Manager.
Creating the Perfect Product Manager Resume
Take a look at the key elements needed to create a near-perfect resume for a product manager role.
Self-Reflection
You must be aware of the value you provide to your employer. When most candidates are asked about the worth they can offer to the company, many just mumble an array of abilities, experience and computer science degrees. Some might even blurt out that they've served as the owner of some product in three different organizations. Unfortunately, this is not what hiring managers are looking for.
The value of a good product manager isn't in your experience and skills. Instead, the importance of a manager is in the ability to make decisions. As a manager of products, you're responsible for the lifecycle of your product, its roadmap and the vision of the product. In this capacity, you're accountable for making thousands of important decisions each day, which range from "what should we do during this time" and "how do we handle this request from a customer" to "how can the product's price be set" to "how can we respond to any new competitor action".
Understanding Your Value
Believe in yourself as a distinct product. Find out your uniqueness. Find out what makes you happy and the things you can do that are better than everyone else. Perhaps you have a technical background, which allows you to communicate with the engineering team more effectively than product managers who do not have this sort of expertise.
Take note of the problems you can solve that others aren't able to solve. When you reflect on who you really are as a person, your strengths and what your core values are, you can determine the fundamental value proposition you can offer to any company that employs you.
Extensive Market Research
A vast majority of candidates send their resumes to all kinds of firms without conducting any research in the first place. A piece of advice: do not cause any suffering for hiring managers by sending out hundreds of low-value, untargeted resumes. It is important to recognize that every hiring company experiences discomfort and that different organizations experience different challenges.
If you'd like your resume to be viewed as a success, it is important to comprehend the struggles of the company hiring you so that you can tailor your resume to suit the company's needs. Do everyone a favor and research what each company is looking for.
Utilizing Market Research
Once you've completed market research, it's time to write a unique resume that is specific to the company you'd like to apply to. For instance, if you're applying to five different companies, it is necessary to create five different resumes. It is impossible to present your product to a potential buyer without altering your sales pitch. Therefore, it is important to be the same when applying for product manager job openings.
Keep in mind the basic elements that will ensure your product's success: viability, desirable and practicality. You can't expect anyone to choose you for a job in the event that you do not present yourself as a desirable and viable candidate for the position. The best method to accomplish this is to approach every company with a distinct strategy. If you're not interested enough in a certain product manager job to invest hours preparing a resume for it then you're definitely not motivated enough to join this company and make it in the long run.
What Else to Add in a Product Manager Resume
Remember the section on skills that everyone insists upon? Create the perfect balance of soft and technical skills while showcasing your capabilities as a product manager. Here is what you can include:
People Skills: The role of a Product Manager and responsibilities demand a lot of cross-team collaboration. This requires excellent communication skills to communicate your message across to other teams in the simplest way possible.
Strategy: Product managers' responsibilities include the entire process of conceptualizing the product through its marketing. This means you have to conduct research and analyze data to formulate an approach to move from one step to the next, which makes it an essential quality of a product manager to include on your resume. The responsibilities of a product manager include data analysis to make the best choice. Alongside strategic thinking, the product manager needs to be analytical in order to look over the data and come up with ways to make the best product.
Users Experience: A different important product manager's ability that must be included on your resume is the user experience. When designing products, the user is the main focus and you must know their wants and needs.
Organizing: The role of a product manager requires lots of multitasking and prioritizing. This is why you should showcase your ability to organize and show how you managed to meet deadlines and assign resources.
Leadership: As a manager, you'll have to inspire employees, make difficult calls, and present your vision to everyone. Therefore, emphasize your leadership abilities as well as real-world experiences that led to successful outcomes. In the end, product manager tasks and responsibilities are important in the creation of products that meet the needs of both the company and its customers.
Experts at HiCounselor always insist that the best way to land a job interview as a Product Manager is to have a well-formatted resume that highlights the relevant skills and demonstrates achievements. However, do keep in mind that hiring managers will be reviewing hundreds of resumes. While a great resume will get you a job interview, how you answer the questions posed by hiring managers will ultimately determine if you land your dream job.
If you need personalized assistance in landing an interview and finally excelling at the different interview levels, HiCounselor can help you get started on the right track. To start with, you could also begin by selecting the apt resume template and reaching out to HiCounselor for a second opinion on how to customize or highlight your skills as a Product Manager.
HiCounselor has forged technical advances to transform the hiring landscape for job seekers and recruiters alike. Our career accelerator program provides job seekers with coaching and mentorship from industry leaders employed at FAANG companies while recruiters ally with HiCounselor to empower their hiring strategy and hone in on the best candidates. Learn more about HiCounselor here and reach out to us on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
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