Handy tips on how to build an effective product manager resume

As a product manager, not only do you define a product vision, but you also follow through on it.

You are the one who needs to find the balance between user needs and business needs. Overseeing teams of professionals who design and develop your vision, it is you who vouches for the final product.

All those exceptional skills of yours could get you any product manager job you dream of.

Nevertheless, you may find it an uphill battle to craft an appealing and professional resume. After all, it is the first step to land the job you want.

As luck would have it, the following guide will help you build an outstanding product manager resume in a trice.

1. How to properly format your product manager resume?

Just like your product vision, a great resume translates into a plan. You know it should be functional in the first place, but let us be honest, your CV needs to look slick.

The following tips will help you compile a great-looking product manager CV that Jason Fried would not be ashamed of.

Make the most of your page. Set one-inch margins on all sides. You may ideally opt for a two-column layout. It will make your resume look neat, and you will ensure a low page count. Try not to exceed two pages. Remember that the hiring manager will just flip through it in a flash. Too little time for too much to read.
Employing a reverse-chronological format, describe your most recent work experience first.
Use white space between individual sections. Let your resume breathe, and lead the hiring manager’s eyes to the respective sections.
Avoid stylish fonts, flashy images and bright colors. This will ensure that your resume appearance does not deflect a hiring manager’s attention from the content.
Save your CV as a PDF document, unless the job posting requires you to send it in Word.

Choose your preferred template and make your resume shine.

2. How to write a product manager professional summary that stands out?

Avoiding for your resume summary to be as dull as a dried out sharpie might not be enough. To catch a hiring manager’s attention, you will need to upgrade your product.

Charge your professional profile with keywords from the job posting, link them with your greatest achievements, and show off your numbers. After all, it is all about marketing yourself.

Example of a professional summary for your product manager resume

Seasoned Product Manager with 6+ years of experience in product marketing, conducting market analysis, and developing new policies and procedures. Skillfully mentored 20+ sales representatives, increasing productivity in the workplace by 17% within 3 months. Recognized for meeting all sales goals and increasing revenue by 20% within 1 year.

3. How to select the best skills for your product manager CV?

As a product manager, you know a bit of everything, whether it is marketing, engineering, sales, or product design. Being a jack-of-all-trades must not be easy, especially when you have to wisely compile your skill set.

To hold a recruiter’s attention, you will simply need to tailor your skill section to the job ad. Go back to it and mention the skills that match your competencies first.

To facilitate your selection, you may find some useful product manager skills below:

Best soft skills on a product manager resume

Outstanding communication
Active listening
Time management
Negotiation
Organization
Strategic thinking
Decision making
Teamwork
Flexibility
Ability to work well under pressure
Problem solving
Prioritization
Delegation

Best hard skills to put on a product manager resume

Product design
UX design
Knowledge of KPI
Microsoft project
Scrum
SDLC
Scope management
Marketing
Agile

4. How to properly describe your product manager experience?

Just like you would tailor your product to the target market, customize your work experience to the job you are applying for.

It's a critical component that showcases your professional journey, expertise, and achievements in driving successful product launches and delivering exceptional customer experiences.

This section provides hiring managers with valuable insights into your ability to strategize, execute, and lead cross-functional teams in bringing innovative products to market.

Remember that numbers convey more efficiency, and so your quantified achievements should be included in all your bullet points if possible. It is an opportunity to highlight your impact, results, and the value you have contributed to previous organizations.

Let's explore how to craft a compelling work experience section that effectively demonstrates your prowess as a product manager:

Example of a work description for your product manager resume

Wedeliver Ltd., Austin, Texas
Product Manager
2015–2021

Skillfully mentored 20+ sales representatives, increasing productivity in the workplace by 17% within 3 months.
Incremented revenue by 20% within one year.
Worked closely with the Marketing Department on the development of 15 promotional campaigns.
Conducted market research and analysis in order to identify target customers, new areas of sales, and understand the competition.

5. How to effectively list education in your product manager CV?

Many recruiters will expect you to have a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field.

Treat your resume as you treat your product features, and upgrade your education section by adding your areas of interest, relevant coursework or other related achievements.

Example of how to list education in your product manager CV

University of Europe
BA in Business Administration
2010–2013

Area of interest: E-Commerce
Excelled in Business Management
Relevant Coursework: Statistics, Marketing, Accounting, Economics, Business Management, Communication, Forecasting, E-Commerce

6. How to put additional sections on your product manager resume

Any of the achievements, interests or activities that reflect your exceptional product manager competencies will take your resume up a notch.

Pick the relevant extra sections and help your potential employer know you better.

Language Skills
Certifications
Awards
Projects
Accomplishments
Interests
Volunteering Activities
Training
Conferences

Example of how to list certifications in your product manager resume

Certified Innovation Leader, The Association of International Product Marketing & Management (AIPMM), March 2019
Certified Product Manager, The Association of International Product Marketing & Management (AIPMM), April 2020

Now, when you have created an appealing piece of writing, scan your resume for issues here, and see how it compares against other resumes.

Published on April 21, 2022

Julia Gergelova

Resume Writer

Julia is a professional writer, translator and graphic designer. She holds degrees in translation and interpretation, and has international work experience from a number of different countries in Europe as well as China and Panama. Julia formerly taught academic writing and as a graphic designer contributed to outlets such as The Business of Business. She has a passion for lifelong learning and good coffee.

Land your dream job with our professional manager resume guide and samples. Crafting CV sections has never been easier. Tailor your manager professional profile, work experience, education, skill sets and other sections with our handy tips.