Product managers are extremely important when it comes to product development. Product management positions help create new products, perform market research and ensure all product launches are operating smoothly. Essentially, product managers are responsible for creating and maintaining a strong product strategy for a company. If you’re interested in taking on this role, then here are a few things to consider while writing your product manager resume.
Product managers are responsible for understanding a product’s life cycle. You have to contain knowledge of product designs, creating product visions, and tying in user experience. Several product managers have experience in product design and product management. So, when writing your resume, focus on these skills, as well as responsibilities from previous roles that show you can handle similar tasks for a product manager job.
The structure and format of your resume are extremely important. That said, the structure may differ depending on which resume format you use. The three main formats that job seekers use are chronological format, functional format, and a combination of both.
A chronological resume highlights your professional experience, while functional resumes highlight more of your skills. A combination of both emphasizes both knowledge and skills. You can create a professional resume with any of these formats, but your sections may look a little different. Here is what to include in each resume section:
Your resume header gives hiring managers and recruiters a quick look at who you are. For this section, include your name and contact information, like your phone number and email address. You can also add a link to your LinkedIn profile if you have one. A header is included in most resume templates.
Next, you’ll want to write a resume objective or resume summary. This section is short, usually two to three sentences, that summarize your top skills or achievements (an objective also adds a statement about your career goals, and is better for first-time job seekers). Look to use quantifiable metrics in this section that will stand out to potential employers (e.g., “Managed product launch team of 15 employees”)..
For this section, make sure to include both hard skills and soft skills to show your wide range of abilities. A few bullet points to consider adding to your skills section include:
When deciding what product management skills to put on your resume, it’s important to refer back to the job description. What types of skills does this job require? If you have these skills, then make sure to include them in your skills section.
Your work experience section is highly important for a product manager position. Since it’s such a large role, and you’ll likely be taking on large company responsibilities, most hiring managers want to see that you have experience in the field. However, if you don’t have direct experience with product management, make sure to list experience with similar jobs, like generalized management or product design.
While you don’t need a college degree to be a product manager, some people opt for higher education. That said, whether you attended college or received a high school diploma, make sure to list your most recent academic credential in this section. You can also add any certifications, achievements, or awards you received for good performance in this section as well.
While a cover letter isn’t always necessary to include with your resume, it doesn't hurt to write one. A cover letter can quickly showcase your achievements and let hiring managers know you’re eager for an interview. If you’re struggling with your job search, check out a product manager resume example to help get you started.
If you don’t have a ton of product management experience, then highlight relevant accomplishments from other jobs. You can connect your experience in other fields to how you can benefit a new company as a product manager.
Additionally, if you don’t have much work experience, then you can touch on academic achievements or internship experience.
Writing an outstanding resume is all about using the right keywords. Since your resume will likely go through an applicant tracking system (ATS), it’s important to highlight everything the job listing is looking for. You can use a resume template to get started, then add keywords that pertain to the job you’re applying for.
