Product Manager resume tips

Product managers play a significant role in growing a particular product for a company. They have a lot of influence in the way a product is developed and enhanced for further consumption. A good product manager may mean the difference between the success or the failure of a company.

Product managers looking for a new role often have to compete with other applicants who may or may not have the same qualifications. When searching for a new job, it’s essential to display your attributes in a manner that stands out against the rest. To show all the relevant experience in a single resume can be very challenging. It is important for the reader not to feel overwhelmed with information. Keep your resume simple, letting it highlight your skills rather than your capabilities. Its responsibility is to secure an interview, not to describe all that you can do.

Competent product managers are great at solving multifaceted problems and providing solutions. Therefore, product managers need to be inquisitive, orderly and have self-awareness. They surpass their expectations by acquiring and developing a team to implement steps to achieve realistic goals. Product managers need to be highly skilled in data collection, data interpretation, finding opportunities, linking teams, convening resources, and providing results.

Product manager jobs can be found in diverse companies, from medicine, retail, finance to tech. The following steps will help you write a winning resume for those jobs.

Have a specific resume for each position

Often, products are tailored to solve a precise problem, whether it is to improve efficiency or the experience when using it. Similarly, the resume is written with an exact purpose, making it easier for the recruiters to articulate if your skills will meet their requirements. Changing your CV to match the job you are applying for is something to always keep in mind.

This can be achieved by noting down the responsibilities and skill requirements when reading through a job advertisement. The next thing to do is to include them on that resume if you have prior experience.  Leaving out achievements or skills not stated in the advertisement is also worth considering. Generally, more information irrelevant to the role will not enhance the resume.

Your product manager resume will pass through the ATS (applicant tracking system). Relevant keywords are scanned to weigh if an applicant is suitable. Those that lack the required keywords are rejected automatically, even with the needed experience.  Relevant keywords should, therefore, be included as often, applications are run through ATS before getting to the recruiter.  Correct language use varies in different job posts; however, some common product managers resume keywords are used, such as roadmap, backlog, agile, prioritization, UX, research, product vision, and many more.

Show that you are a problem-solver

Since project management is so multifaceted, those hiring will want to be certain you are the right person. Including an outline of your problem-solving ability will look favorable on your resume. Hiring managers will want to be sure you have a good product understanding including the potential to solve intricate problems with the right information in an organized manner.

Problem-solving expertise may range from being a good team communicator, the ability to follow a problem-solving chart and leveraging of resources where possible.

Writing your resume using the above set of points will assist you to achieve a convincing resume with appropriate Product managers. These aspects are key for a company to succeed and grow their product.

Focus on the impact you’ve generated

When writing a product manager resume, emphasize your specific skills and accomplishments, not imprecise past experiences. Hiring managers often look for constant proved results in past roles. Hence, resumes must include detailed and concrete results from features and products they conveyed with figures if any.

Rather than writing your accomplishments in dot point form, include substantial information in a very precise and captivating way.

The best way to prove your skills is by transforming those dot points to include further detailed information by always starting with an action verb, mentioning the tangible outcome and then quantifying at the end.

It will be easy to distinguish your appropriate daily duties from your specified achievements by using ‘key achievements’ if you’ve only worked for one firm but operated several products.

Don’t be afraid to boast your technical chops

Product managers should familiarize themselves with the diverse frameworks, methodologies, and processes. Also, include in your resume whether you have expertise in frameworks like prioritization, HEART or AARRR, or with procedures like Waterfall, Kanban, Agile, or Scrum.

It is even more important to include them if they’re listed in the specific job ad. They can be added to the information on projects you’ve handled or in the skills section.

There is several software that project managers work with; thus, you may need to list them depending on what the job entails. Few of them include; Typeform, Trello, Hotjar, Pendo, Jira, and Visio. You may also want to note down your understanding of coding languages such as HTML, JavaScript, or CSS. Although, what you list may vary depending on the job type.

Remember that you’re still writing a resume

Common resume rules should also follow.

Be as brief as possible unless you are applying for an executive position. Focus on applicable skills set, experiences, and relevant achievements. Consider leaving out insignificant information.

Keeping it simple is key. List your prior work experience in reverse sequential order. This will enable the recruiters to spend less time on it. If you want to pinpoint your primary skills, consider a combination resume. When changing careers, a functional CV will work best as it gives you flexibility. The below point will help you decide on your suitable resume type.

Create a scannable resume, highlight headings on each section, brief dot points, and leave sufficient space for the hiring officers to swiftly comprehend your expertise and weigh if you are fit for the role. Also, adequately proofread your resume before submitting it to correct any mistakes. You may also ask someone else to go through it just to ensure nothing is left out.