Nils Davis's Hot Take - Product Managers Need to Tell Better Stories on their Resumes (with Nils Davis, Resume Coach & Go-to-Market Consultant @ Confidence & Impact LLC)
May 26, 2024
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Resume coach Nils Davis discusses the importance of storytelling on product manager resumes. He highlights how most resumes focus on tasks rather than achievements, and offers tips on how to craft compelling narratives to stand out to employers.
Resumes should highlight impact over duties to stand out.
Sharing stories of problem-solving can differentiate candidates effectively.
Deep dives
The Importance of Resumes as Sales Pages
Resumes should function as persuasive sales pages that highlight how you can solve a hiring manager's problems. Instead of listing job responsibilities, resumes should focus on showcasing the impact you've had in previous roles. Stories of reversing market share declines, defeating competitors, or improving customer satisfaction are more compelling than simply echoing the job description.
Common Resume Issues and the Need for Impactful Stories
Many resumes fail to differentiate candidates as they primarily list job duties without emphasizing tangible results or impacts. The speaker notes that 100% of the resumes they've seen lack these impactful narratives. By sharing stories of problem-solving and transformation, candidates can stand out and better prepare for interviews.
Teasing Out Success Stories and Avoiding Overemphasis
The process of uncovering impactful stories on resumes involves identifying business problems addressed, actions taken, and resulting transformations. The speaker emphasizes that everyone has stories worth telling, even if they may not initially recognize them. While there is a risk of overemphasizing achievements, the focus should be on presenting authentic, meaningful contributions.
Nils Davis is a resume coach who wants product managers to realise they're AMAZING, and help others realise it too.
His hot take? That the majority of product managers are doing themselves a disservice by producing resumes that simply list a bunch of tasks that pretty much all product managers have done.