A successful job hunting process does not come easily or instantly. It results from hard work and different strategies that ensure you stand out to your potential employers. These strategies have undergone a massive transformation in the last decade. However, as an intelligent job seeker, you always have to be ready to adapt to the latest trends in the current environment. Whether you’re job hunting for the first time or are looking to transition to a new career in product management, worry no more. This article has all the crucial tips you need to ensure your dream job search journey turns into a huge success.

Build a resume that is worth reading.

Your resume is the primary document you need throughout your job hunting journey. It is the first touchpoint you have with your potential employers. Therefore, it clearly needs to be flawless and worth their time. Here are a few things to keep in mind when crafting your resume:

Include a top header and section headings.

Before starting on your resume, have a rough outline of the most significant things you want to include. Choose a resume template that suits your needs and plainly presents the information. Don’t forget to begin with a top header consisting of your first and last name, location, contact information, and email address. Including a LinkedIn profile link, should you have one, can also be a great idea.

After developing your outline, you can start working on the section headings. Include your educational background, work experiences, relevant certifications, and skills. Make sure you present them in chronological order, with your most recent job at the top. It’s also best to craft your resume with the particular job posting in mind. When in doubt, you can always look into product management job descriptions to decide the best skills to highlight in your resume.

Craft a keyword-rich resume.

For your resume to be worth reading, you have to make sure that it reaches the eyes of your potential employers first. In today’s modern world, the use of applicant tracking systems (ATS) is more common than ever. Without having a keyword-rich resume, it is almost impossible to progress to the next step.

To ensure that your resume gets noticed by the ATS, you need to tailor keywords specifically for each job. Use relevant keywords based on the company’s job posting. However, make sure that you do this appropriately. Do not directly copy the job description on your resume. Instead, pick specific keywords from it that you can use in your resume’s bullet points.

Audit your presence and flaunt your expertise online.

Did you know that 70% of employers admit to looking at candidates’ online profiles as an additional screening tactic during the hiring process? In this ever-growing social media age, neglecting your online presence might hurt your chances of landing your dream job. Therefore, before starting on an application process, keep in mind to do the following first:

Manage your online presence.

Look yourself up using Google and check what your prospective employers will find when searching for you. Keep your profiles up-to-date, whether on job board platforms or social media. This ensures your employers find the same professional online that they’ll soon meet face-to-face in an interview.

Optimize your LinkedIn profile.

As an aspiring product manager, you have to make sure that your LinkedIn profile is well-optimized and filled with content related to your industry. It isn’t enough to just have an account. You have to use it regularly and keep it updated as well. With an excellent profile, you’ll surely show up in employers’ searches and grab their attention.

Build your audience and network with them.

Connections are very powerful. This is why you need to stay connected with people in your industry, no matter where you are located. Online networking is increasingly popular since it presents excellent and sometimes unlikely opportunities. Use your online channels to interact with industry leaders. You never know what new opportunities can arise by simply connecting and interacting with your network.

Prepare for your interview.

The interview is the most nerve-wracking part of the process, as it is the most important one. After finally making it through the search and application process, the next challenge is acing your interview. Remember that remote interviews are becoming more and more common due to the pandemic. So, make sure you prepare for an in-person and a video interview. No matter which format, here’s some things to help you out:

Build a list of questions and practice your answers.

If you’re someone who’s been in quite a few interviews previously, use your experience to your advantage. List the most frequently asked questions to you in the past. Combine those with a list of the most common questions asked in product manager interviews. Here are some to start your list:

• How would you explain product management to a stranger?
• What type of customer research do you conduct? How often?
• How do you develop a product strategy?
• How often do you launch new features?
• What is the most successful product you managed? What made it successful? 
• What lesson did you learn from your most recent product launch?

Conclusion

Being well prepared in a job search is indeed challenging. Whether you’ve recently graduated or are looking for a new position, standing out in this competitive environment is a must. Hopefully, these strategies will help you grow closer to landing your next job as a product manager.