Job Search Checklist

Your headline shows up in search results and recruiter outreach. Make it specific: 'Senior PM | B2B SaaS | Growth + 0-to-1' beats 'Product Manager at Company X'.

Profiles with photos get 21x more views. Use a clear headshot with good lighting against a simple background.

Even a simple one-page site with your bio, key projects, and contact info sets you apart. Use a free template if design isn't your thing.

Replace 'managed a team' with 'managed a team of 8, shipping 3 products that drove $2M ARR.' Numbers make you memorable.

A PM resume, a strategy resume, and a generalist resume let you apply faster without rewriting each time. Swap the summary and reorder bullets.

You'll miss your own typos. Ask a friend or use a tool. One misspelling can cost you an interview at detail-oriented companies.

Research companies you'd want to work at before they post roles. Follow them, understand their products, and you'll write better applications when openings appear.

Track company, role, date applied, status, and follow-up dates. Without a system, applications slip through the cracks.

Write a strong base letter with placeholders for company name, specific role details, and why-this-company. Customizing should take 10 minutes, not 45.

Don't ask for a job. Ask for 15 minutes of advice about their company, team, or career path. People love sharing what they know.

Shared alma maters create instant rapport. Search LinkedIn for your school + target company and send a warm note.

Industry-specific communities often share roles before they're posted publicly. Participate genuinely and opportunities surface naturally.

Situation, Task, Action, Result. Cover: leadership, conflict, failure, data-driven decision, cross-functional work, tight deadline, and ambiguity.

Practice out loud with a friend, mentor, or recording. Thinking through answers is not the same as saying them. You'll be surprised what trips you up.

Ask about the team's biggest challenge this quarter, how they measure success in the role, or what the last person in this role did well. Avoid questions you could Google.