With the increasing competition in the job market, it can be challenging to stand out and secure your dream position. In this blog post, I’ll discuss three essential things you must do to increase your chances of getting a job in product management. These tips will help you elevate your job search and land your next career opportunity in product management. So, if you’re a product manager looking to advance your career, read on to discover how you can increase your chances of getting hired in the competitive world of product management.

1. Use the force (of your network)

Using your network to find a job is the most effective thing you can do. In an article in Forbes, research shows that 80% of the available jobs are not even posted on online sites such as CareerBuilder and LinkedIn. You read that right. Kind of unbelievable isn’t it?!? So many people I know that are looking for product manager jobs have been disappointed by applying to hundreds of jobs they found online. The best thing they can do is tap into their network and look for hidden jobs.

What if you’re just starting out and don’t have an established network? Join one of the many product management online communities. I wrote about these communities in my blog post “50,000 Product Managers are waiting to connect with you!” And the title doesn’t lie.

If you were to join the four product manager communities I describe in that article, you would have access to 50,000 product managers that are actively engaging in a vibrant community where you can find jobs, learn about best practices and so much more. If you’re not already a member of an online community like this, I highly recommend you do so today!

2. Write an effective and impressive product manager resume

Even in this age of online applications, you have to have a great resume. Did you know your resume only has 7.4 seconds to make an impression? That’s according to a recent study conducted by Ladders. That’s why I’m sharing my guide for crafting the perfect product manager resume, which you can grab here.

If you’re like most people, you might feel this way about having to work on your resume. 👇

Many people have such a hard time writing about themselves either because they fear sounding boastful or worry they don’t have enough relevant experience.

Download my guide for crafting the perfect product manager resume and get the help you need to make the best first impression when applying for a job.

3. Interview prep (last step!)

Read, read, and read some more! Before you experience that magical feeling of being contacted to interview for a job, read as many books about product management as possible. I’ve got a great list of books and other resources here that I highly recommend.

Also, check out my article “7 books to help you land your first product manager job”.

Listening to podcasts is one of my favorite ways to expand my mind because I can do it while doing other things that don’t require a lot of thought, like folding laundry or walking the dog.

Check out these product management podcasts I recommend for upping your PM game.

Follow product management thought leaders these people on LinkedIn, Twitter, Medium, & Quora. These are just a few really good ones that I follow. Once you start following a few, you’ll quickly discover others.

• Marty Cagan
• Julie Zhuo
• Ken Norton
• Janna Bastow
• Eric Ries
• Jeff Patton
• John Cutler
• Melissa Perri
• Teresa Torres

Once you have an interview lined up, practice like you’re studying for an exam.

• Be prepared for the easy and tough questions you’ll likely be asked. Be prepared to answer design questions.
• Be prepared to take about products you love and hate.
• Be prepared to show off your skills and capabilities.
• Be prepared by doing your research so that you know the company and its products.

As a product manager, these are three critical actions you must take to increase your chances of landing a new job. By following these steps, you can position yourself as a strong candidate and increase your chances of success in the competitive field of product management.

If you’d like more help getting hired, consider joining the Product Manager Job Search Accelerator. This private coaching program is designed to define your unique value proposition, get clarity on your ideal role, and execute a successful job search.