Opening your Eyes to the world of Product
In lesson one, I discussed the importance of building habits when embarking on a journey of learning. As mystical as that sounds, constant movement is essential and to feel productive I would highly recommend building positive habits to help you move towards your goals… whatever they may be.
Moving back onto topic, this week I am going to discuss product in more detail as my aim to is provide some guidance as to how you should make your next career move. Product is everywhere, whether that being a hardware or software product. In this current age, our lives become more centered around products in work and out, driving efficiency and generally with the intention of improving our lives.
As you are here, I would assume that you have a basic understanding of product, if not I would strongly suggest starting with the industry recommended book Inspired By Marty Cagan. In future lessons I will dwell further on a reading list to help advance your career.
At this point, I can imagine you are like I was, very excited and raring to go. Every anecdote you read about product makes you excited and you just want to be a part of a high performing product team. You only wish you had discovered product years earlier so that you could begin laying the foundations for a strong career. However, the unfortunate reality is that great jobs rarely come out of thin air and first we have a fast flowing river to cross… the application and interview process.
It is assumed that Product Management is generally not a graduate entry job however with the right experience, there are exceptions, for example becoming a Product Owner, Junior Product Manager and Product Analyst. There is no need to have an ‘ego’ surrounding the job title, if you work hard your merits will be recognised and through the right strategic approach in your career, you will advance to creating products which users love in no time.
Lesson 2: Applications and Refining
To commence a career in Product Management, there are generally 3 main routes to follow:
- Internal recruitment
This is by far the easiest route, if you have worked hard, built positive relationships and can successfully explain the merits of your current role, then the transition will be very straight forward. Simply discuss the desires to move into product with your line manager and if all is well, internal recruitment will help set up an interview (interview practice to be discussed next week).
2. External Recruiter
This route can be very varied and could potentially be your golden ticket to product, or could also lead you in the wrong direction. I believe the effectiveness of external recruitment is highly correlated to the state of the job market. Currently in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic, there is unfortunately a lack of investment by businesses in jobs, and each passing week the next FTSE 100 is sadly laying off employees.
What does this mean for you?
I have both good and bad news, the good news is that many companies, particularly in tech are still recruiting for product jobs. A 5 minute browse through LinkedIn can reassure you of this, however it goes without saying that due to layoffs the competition has heated up. The bad news, is that with relation to external recruiters opportunities are less common due to the competition, as a result you may find yourself on the phone being sold a job you really do not like the sound of.
My advice would be to persevere, there is no point rushing into a career you really don’t want, if you could have just waited a few weeks to get into that company you have always wanted to work for.
I would also say, at this level of your career, relationships with recruiters are often very transactional (and for good reason), external recruiters sift through thousands of applications each week. So don’t get offended if they stop replying to your emails, maintain your politeness as you never know if an opportunity may arise.
3. Online Applications
Applications can be a daunting prospect, particularly in regards to the number of mind numbing hours they can consume. Across different companies there are a wide range of processes for submitting an application, these can be pleasant and very user friendly such as companies which pay for a Workday extension. Others can take well over 45 minutes to complete (for example jobs in the UK public sector) which require absolutely more information than necessary.
In the title of this lesson I included ‘refining’ as a topic of discussion, and that is particularly the case for your online application. I feel genuinely embarrassed when I look at my CV and cover letters comparing the versions when I started applying, up to now. During the application process, through to completing your online courses you will learn an incredible amount and grow significantly as an individual. Not only will your applications come a long way, but your presence and first impression in an interview will also dramatically improve.
Therefore, coming back to refining… keep doing just that, each time you complete a course or learn something, make note, add it to your CV or drop it into your cover letter. Just like with your knowledge and skills, constantly refine and improve your CV/cover letters; you will find results coming in rapidly.
I would also recommend adapting and being aware of your application. Make sure you spend time reading through the job description, and then adapt your CV or cover letter to reflect important aspects of the role. As tempting as it is to complete applications on mass, and you may even think you are efficient. But I can promise you aren’t and prospective employers will notice straight away, so spend that extra 5 minutes in your day slightly adapting your application and check through your spelling and grammar!! (am I in school again…)
My last piece of advice for applications is to persevere. The world of applying to jobs can potentially be a deep abyss, which the light at the end is barely visible. I can assure you that it is there, and with the amount of work you are putting in, through developing positive habits and learning you are improving.
SIDE NOTE — There are a multiple of ways in which you can land a job in Product Management, however the 3 which I have highlighted are most common. Another popular method could be through building contacts and networking, however in the new remote world we live in, meeting up for a coffee with a mentor may be difficult so it is worth looking at how you can network remotely.
Thank you for reading this week’s lesson, please let me know if you have any suggestions or comments; feedback is always welcome.
