If you're pursuing product marketing then I know you're smart. So this blog isn't going to be about the basics of crafting a CV. More importantly, here's some ideas to make your CV stand out, especially to hiring managers like the Product Marketing Director. They require a mix of substance and presentation.
Here are some tactics to ensure your CV grabs attention:
Tailored Value Proposition: Begin with a personalized headline or statement that directly addresses the company or role's unique requirements. Succinctly articulate your specific value in relation to their needs.
Quantify Achievements: Use numbers and percentages wherever possible. Instead of saying "Successfully launched a product," specify "Led the launch of X product, achieving 150% of target sales in the first quarter." Marketer's are expected to have commercial impact these days, so show you understand that and can deliver. For example, discuss any roles you've played in product pricing or restructuring, especially if they led to increased profitability or market share.
Relevant Industry Experience: Highlight any experience in the same industry as the hiring company, even if it wasn’t in a product marketing role. This shows familiarity with the market landscape. As product marketing is about deeply understanding markets and personas, any head start you can give yourself will be perceived well.
Product Lifecycle Expertise: Highlight experience across different stages of a product's lifecycle, from ideation to discontinuation. Emphasize your role in driving product strategy based on customer insights at each stage. Other candidates may have only focused on customer acquisition or onboarding, if you can showcase a fuller experience, particularly around churn reduction, this can make you stand out.
Feedback Loops: Within your CV you'll already have shown your understanding of cross-functional collaboration within product marketing. Go one step further by showing a proactive approach. Showcase how you've established feedback mechanisms with sales or customer success teams and how those insights led to product or marketing improvements. Product marketing often has to find or create the data we need for meaningful strategy, show you can hunt down what you need.
Thought Leadership: If you've written articles, given talks, or hosted webinars on product marketing, provide links or mention these. It establishes your credibility and confidence. Companies are always crying out for people who can speak authoritatively on behalf of the company.
Actual customer interaction: We are the voice of the customer, but often product marketing relies on second-hand information from sales colleagues on the ground. You'll stand out if you can show how you get yourself first-hand feedback and interaction with customers.
Continuous Learning: Highlight any recent courses, certifications, or workshops, especially if they're top-tier or industry-recognized. It shows you're proactive about staying updated.
Digital Portfolio: Consider creating an online portfolio that showcases in-depth case studies, projects, and achievements. Provide snippets or visualizations of market analysis you've conducted. Show how you've identified customer needs, segmented markets, or pinpointed opportunities.A link to this on your CV can provide a more immersive experience for the hiring manager.
Professional Online Presence: Ensure your LinkedIn and other professional social media profiles are polished and consistent with your CV. As marketers we often use our own social media to promote the company we work for, but right now it is you personally that needs to shine.
Follow-up: After submitting your CV, a well-timed and considerate follow-up email can reaffirm your interest and ensure your application doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.
Lastly, while it's essential to stand out, ensure that everything you include adds real value and is relevant to the role. Authenticity is key; never exaggerate or falsify achievements. Remember, the goal of the CV is to secure the interview, where you can further expand on your experiences and fit for the role.
And the interview stage is all about preparation and confidence. Check out our our comprehensive Product Marketing Interview Prep Course. Master the interview process and secure your dream role in the product marketing. Don't miss out – enroll now and take a giant leap towards your career goals!
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