AFTER THE CERT: Helping Product Managers Get Unstuck – Details, episodes & analysis

If you’re updating your resume for every single job and still not getting interviews, this episode is for you.

I talk about why more tweaks, different keywords, and endless customization using resume-scoring tools usually doesn't help - it just leads to frustration and burnout. And, of course, I share what to do instead to get more, and better, interviews. 

Spoiler alert: you need to craft a clear, compelling story that makes you the obvious choice for the job. Unclear positioning is the #1 reason I see for PM job searches that are stalling out.

Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-sherlock/

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

Hear me when I say: you absolutely, positively DO NOT need another PM course or certification to get hired.

In this episode, I break down why certifications feel productive during a job search, but often act as expensive and time-consuming procrastination. I explain what hiring managers actually care about, why experience beats credentials every single time, and how focusing on the wrong gap can waste so much time.

I also walk through how to reframe your experience, even if you haven't had a formal PM title, so you can position yourself as the obvious choice for the right roles. If you’ve been telling yourself, “I’ll start applying once I get this one certification” this is your gentle (but direct) wake-up call.

Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-sherlock/

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

I get it - not all Product job descriptions are created equal. It can be super tough to figure out which job is likely to accelerate your career  growth 🚀 and which job is setting you up for failure and burnout. 🫠

In this episode, I run through the top 5 things I look for to spot a good PM job description so you can find the best of the best on your job hunt!

Plus, I include a bonus tip most PM's never think of. 🎁

Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-sherlock/

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

Meet Amanda - She's a SHINE alum who felt lost in her Product career but found the courage to test out a stint as an entrepreneur, then take an unexpected (but perfect!) role once she got clear on her unique career vision. She's an absolute star and it was so fun to catch up and hear how her new job has been going. 

We talk about: 

• How she transitioned into a Mental HealthTech start up (after being a teacher and then selling cowboy boots in rural Colorado 👢🤠)
• How working in Sales, Retail and e-Commerce was actually a perfect gateway to an Associate Product Manager role
• What it was really like to navigate a squiggly career path and imposter syndrome
• The real value of getting clear on her personal career vision
• Launching her business - real talk
• The ups and downs of her year as an entrepreneur and how it set her up for success in Product
• The move back to a stable, salary job in HealthTech
• How she picked between two very different job opportunities - P and Product Analyst
• Why prioritizing community was the unlock she didn't know she needed

Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-sherlock/

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

You know you need to be more strategic to grow as a Product Manager, but not sure what that actually means in practice? You don't want to miss this episode. I cover the three most common mistakes I see PM's make that hold them back: 

1. Not staying updated on market and industry trends
2. Failing to think long-term and big-picture
3. Lacking the ability to share big ideas with confidence

As always, I provide actionable tips you can do TODAY to overcome these challenges.

Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-sherlock/

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

You have a vision for your product, so shouldn't you have one for your career? A clear, compelling, personal career vision helps you say yes to the right things so you can move closer to your definition of success, FASTER. In this episode, I share real stories about how a career vision helped me and one of my clients leverage opportunities that we otherwise might have missed. 

If you're feeling unmotivated, stuck, or burnt out in your current product management role, listen to this episode for actionable ideas to get movitated again.

Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-sherlock/

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

Don't wait until you're job searching to capture accomplishments, work samples, and success metrics related to what you've been working on. Getting into a habit of documenting your successes can not only help you prepare you for a future job search, it can ALSO be an early signal if you're not growing in your PM career.

Bonus: This episode includes a REAL example of a take-home assignment from a recent PM client job search so you can see whether you'd be ready to tackle one.

Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-sherlock/

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

In this episode, I show you a better way to get alignment quickly so you can make better decisions, faster. The 'Safe to Try' approach is one of my go-to techniques for decision-making and has been an immediate level up for so many of the Product Managers I have coached over the years. 

If you're feeling stuck on a project or can't quite figure out how to get alignment with your stakeholders, this is a must listen.

Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-sherlock/

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

LinkedIn will convince you that the job market for Product Managers is at an absolute standstill. Good news - that's not the full story.

The current job market is tricky, yes, but there ARE techniques that are working for job searchers and I break them all down in this episode: 

• The importance of having a clear job search strategy
• Avoiding the pitfalls of trial and error
• The value of personalized support during the job search process

Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-sherlock/

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

A little prep and a dash of initiative goes a long way. 

In this episode, I share a story about a candidate who didn’t just say they were excited about the role I was hiring for - they showed it. 

They managed to get a demo account of my company's hard-to-access enterprise SaaS app and come to the interview with actual insight and questions. This person stood out in a way I’ve never forgotten. If you're navigating this challenging job market and looking for ways to stand out, this story will give you a clear, actionable takeaway: 

Don’t just tell them you want the job. Show them!

Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-sherlock/

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com