Hello PM’s,
Several recruiters have contacted me through LinkedIn regarding opportunities as a product manager, product owner, and master’s student (I’m enrolled in a part-time Data Science Master’s degree while holding down a full-time job). I’ve interviewed for a couple of them, but after speaking with the hiring manager, I’ve learned that they are looking for someone with 5 to 10 years of experience in ML PM. Or perhaps they are specifically searching for someone with experience in B2B products (my experience is in internal Enterprise products). Most of them are start-up businesses with end user applications that have amassed large amounts of data and are now ready to begin evaluating that data using ML and PA. For the past seven years, I have been a PM, and for the past 18 months, an ML PM.
I never get a call back when I apply to firms on my own through their websites. I am tailoring my resume to the job posting and not applying for jobs that are well outside of my experience because they are for very comparable roles that the recruiters are contacting me about (and only have 1–5 years of PM experience). I spoke with their talent representative and received a couple referrals for Google and Facebook, but the recruiting managers didn’t respond. Anyone else having a comparable situation? or alternative?
It’s merely odd behavior/patterns because the work market in the US isn’t exactly booming. Perhaps there are many highly competent PMs out there and the job market for PMs is quite competitive! I’m unsure.
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I recently accepted a job offer for a senior product manager position, and I can honestly say that the job search process was a complete nightmare. Still a little disturbed by it. I believe I was turned down after 20 interviews and after the last round for four different companies. In my opinion, the job market is wild right now, but the competition for PM roles is insane.
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@KaranTrivedi, My experience is similar to yours. Over the past five or so months, I’ve gone through interviews for about 20 to 30 product roles (I have three years of B2B PM experience), come down to a competition five times, and lost each time – at large and medium organizations. Feedback has always indicated that the other was “simply a better match” and to keep applying to the company (when I can obtain it). Even though I’m in the middle of the hiring process for three more roles and have three more final interviews left, it’s exhausting.
It certainly seems harsh outside for PM interviews.
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@MartyRoss, Hold on to hope. You’ve accomplished a lot just by getting to the final round of interviews so many times. At that moment, it is less about you and more about the business. It’s obvious that you possess the qualifications for such positions. Keep your head up; one of these businesses will eventually make you an offer because you’re so close.
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Sincerely, I appreciate your warm remarks today, really needed them badly. If nothing from this round pans out, I might start a side business preparing people for interviews because, by God, I’m getting CRAZY good at it!
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What is the salary range for these positions?? It sounds very competitive!
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@FelipeRibeiro, I’ve had the great luck to enter interview procedures after making cold turkey applications to the top firms — can’t name them for obvious reasons, you know, (MS is still in the interview process, and two-thirds of the other companies are in the last round—ugh, so close). Positions in San Francisco are in the 170k to 150k area, those in Seattle are in the 150k to 140k range, and the other positions are all in SLC or remote locations. Oh, and a Manhattan ongoing one appears to be going for 210k. Each has a bonus system as well as additional equity or benefit incentives. I have no idea how competitive they are in this crazy market; all I know is that they are DEFINITELY better than what I currently have, and I’m pleased with the ranges!
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What are my chances with no prior experience as a PM? I’m 26 years old and have only worked in product operations for my whole four years of employment and am trying to transition to PM role.
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Even though it will be tough, you should be able to join PM. I had no prior experience when I first entered PM. I believe the secret is to customize your resume and interview responses to demonstrate how you had experience with products that was relevant. The good news is that your work in product ops has given you necessary expertise and abilities. Maybe go for either a Jr. PM, APM/RPM, or PM in your next position. Good luck!
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You ought to emphasize your PM-related experiences in your interviews and edit your resume to reflect this. After working in Product Ops for four years, there is no way you don’t have PM experience. Promote your relevant talents; if you did, you could be able to land a midlevel product manager position.
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If at all possible, try to move internally first. You can find a better job outside after one to two years.
Companies typically reject applications from applicants with little experience.
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In order to get past the candidate tracking program, you must polish your resume. Additionally, you must submit a significant number of applications, as only about 5-6% of blind submissions will result in an invitation to an interview. Finally, to answer the “tell me about a time…?” questions you will be asked, you need to have a strong elevator pitch and a limited collection of anecdotes at your disposal.
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After a prolonged search of a year, I was recently hired. I had great expectations because I wasn’t in a rush to leave my previous employment, but it was really exhausting. I had about 20 interviews (probably between 50 and 75 in all), advanced to six final rounds, and received two offers.
It took a lot of time, but in the end, it was worthwhile in monetary terms and career. There is money and opportunity available but be prepared to work hard.
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So you think the PM labor market is over saturated?
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Yes, and in my opinion, remote interviewing has only made matters worse. In an organization, there aren’t many PM positions, and yet everyone and their mother wants to be one. If it tells you anything, the post-MBA career is currently the hottest one.
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Oh dear! No surprise! Now that I’ve spotted it on my team… A lot of data scientists and engineers are employed, yet there is only one PM, and occasionally none at all. These individuals are adequate if given a PO from the company.
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It’s a result of title inflation combined with an overestimation of seekers.
I’ve been seeking for a job since November and recently got one. I had so many interviews that I lost track. I advanced to the final round on 4 and ultimately received 2 offers. However, when you first started talking to them, so many organisations weren’t actually recruiting product managers. It was merely project management dressed up.
Everyone and their mother is applying for PM jobs, and I’m also enrolled in a part-time MBA school. To attempt to pass the bar, use exponent and practice questions. Outside is a madhouse.
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In the $350-400k bracket, I received a couple bids last year, but it was difficult. Even though there is a strong demand for PM positions in the US, top employers must compete fiercely.
You should prepare thoroughly for case studies and behavioural questions, in my opinion. Make a list of the businesses you’d most like to work for and arrange them into tiers. Start submitting applications for lower-level positions to get experience and knowledge of the hiring procedure and firms. Apply to higher tiers gradually as your confidence grows.
Good Luck!
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That is insanely high! But I can appreciate for prestigious companies. Excellent suggestion: I’ll start with the bottom tiers.