CV is the First Product you Launch as a PM | Is your first Product Good?

I was watching one of the videos on Product School, there I saw one line that is

CV is the first Product you launch as a Product Manager — Alexia Vazoura

Writing a standout product management resume is not easy.

I’ve seen hundreds of resumes in my career, and I’ll tell you this:

The ones that get noticed do more than just list out responsibilities. They tell a story.

Now, let’s dive into what a good resume looks like, section by section.

Strong Resume Conveys a Story

The summary at the top of your resume is like the “hook” of a book.

It’s the first thing people read, and it should quickly convey who you are as a PM.

Think of your summary as if you were a product description.

Weak Summary Example:

“Product manager with experience in tech companies and agile methodologies.”

This doesn’t tell us much. Instead, focus on what makes you unique.

Strong Summary Example:

“Results-driven product manager with over 5 years’ experience launching B2B SaaS products, driving 25% revenue growth by delivering customer-focused solutions and optimizing cross-functional collaboration.”

This version is specific, speaks to your achievements, and sets the tone for the rest of the resume. It’s like a quick teaser of what’s to come and encourages the reader to keep going.

Work Experience is Not Just Your Role

This is the most critical section of your resume, where you want to show, not tell, your accomplishments.

Here’s a tip I always tell PMs: Don’t just list what you did; explain the impact of what you did.

Your experience section should read like a highlight reel of your greatest achievements.

Weak Experience Entry:

“Redesigned onboarding flow for better user engagement.”

Strong Experience Entry:

“Redesigned user onboarding flow, reducing drop-off rate by 40% and increasing 3-day retention rate by 25% over six months. Collaborated with design and engineering to launch a streamlined experience that integrated user feedback and A/B testing insights.”

This is impactful because it highlights the problem (user drop-off), the action (redesign and collaboration), and the result(reduced drop-off, improved retention). It’s almost like reading the summary of a success story — one that hiring managers want to see repeated in their company.

Tips for Each Entry:

• Use Action-Oriented Language: Start with strong verbs like “led,” “drove,” “spearheaded,” and “achieved.”
• Quantify Achievements: Metrics like percentage increases, revenue growth, or user acquisition show the scope of your impact.
• Add Context: Mention any cross-functional work or challenges overcome, as this showcases your problem-solving and collaboration skills.

Skills should have Balance of Breadth and Depth

The skills and certifications section is often overlooked, but it’s a powerful way to quickly convey your technical abilities and domain knowledge.

As a product manager, you want to strike a balance between the hard and soft skills you bring to the table.

When it comes to skills, focus on relevance rather than quantity.

Example Skills Section:

• Product Strategy & Roadmapping
• Agile & Lean Methodologies
• SQL, A/B Testing, and Data Analytics
• User Research & UX Optimization
• Stakeholder Communication & Collaboration

For certifications, list only those relevant to the job.

A “Product Management” certificate from General Assembly or a “Data Analytics” certification from Coursera is worth mentioning, but don’t clutter this space with unrelated courses.

Download my Product Management Resume got me Interviews at Microsoft, Walmart, Adobe, Meta

Resume Review

Common Mistakes on Product Management Resumes

First, let’s cover some classic mistakes that I see over and over. Avoiding these will instantly make your resume stronger:

• Too vague on achievements: Saying “led a team” or “improved a process” doesn’t tell me much. Be specific about what you achieved.
• Listing responsibilities, not impact: Product managers are hired to make a difference, not just to fulfill tasks. Highlight what changed because of your work.
• Being too technical (or not technical enough): Balance is key. Explain your work in a way that conveys both business and technical acumen.
• Using jargon without clarity: Terms like “sprint” or “agile” can lose meaning without context. Assume some familiarity but focus on outcomes.
• Lack of a clear narrative: When a resume feels like a disconnected list of jobs, it’s hard to get a sense of who you are as a PM.

In the last month, we have reviewed close to 150 Resumes of our Students looking to get into Product Manager Jobs.

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