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 on Forbes, research shows that 80% of the available jobs are not even posted in 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.

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 checklist 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!)

Now onto the fun part. Just kidding! For most people, getting ready to interview for a job is one of the most stressful things you can do. Dreading job interviews ranks right up there with doing to the dentist or taking a final exam. The good news is there are things you can do to prepare for your job interview to ease those nerves and get you into the right mindset to show up calm and confident.

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 know the company and its products.