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

Have a question? Send me a text

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.

Have a question? Send me a text

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

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

Confused by all the different Product Manager titles? 😵‍💫

Not sure which job titles to target in your job search? 😩

Unclear on how to get a promotion to Sr. Product Manager or higher? 😰

This episode is for you! 🫶

I decode everything there is to know about growth in your product management career, regardless of job title!

• What is standard in product management job titles as of today
• Why titles are so often misused or inconsistent across companies
• What to do if you think your title is inflated or inaccurate
• Key differences between individual contributor and manager roles
• How to evaluate your role and responsibilities to figure out your path to growth (using the 5 step process that I use with all of my clients!)

Have a question? Send me a text

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

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

Today we have a very special guest on the show! Blair Presley is joining us - she is the original creator of the SPRINT and SCALE programs. 

ICYMI: in October 2024, I officially acquired the SPRINT and SCALE programs as the absolute perfect compliments to my SHINE program for Product Managers.

Many of you have been asking for the deets on how this all came to be, how Blair and I met, and what this means for the future of the SPRINT, SCALE and SHINE programs and my community for Product Managers.

This episode will cover all that and more.

Plus some laughs along the way. 🤣

Have a question? Send me a text

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

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

Stuck in your product management job search? 

I gotchu. 🫶 

Here's my insider take on the current job market, including 5 ESSENTIAL tips to increase your chances of success. ✨ 

Plus, I've includes 4 bonus insights about hybrid roles and the evolving product interview process you'll only get here.

Have a question? Send me a text

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

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

Think your journey into product management is unique? 

Join the club! 😜 

Most of us (myself included) have had a unique path into Product. 

Hear about my journey and learn 3 MAJOR takeaways that will help you advance successfully on your own path in product management.

Have a question? Send me a text

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

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

Let me guess… you got the certification, you took the course, maybe you even have the PM title – but you still feel stuck in your Product Management career? It’s not just you, I hear it from product folks literally every day. 

I’m Jess Sherlock and I’m a Product Management Career Coach.

Over the last decade, I built and led product teams at a handful of early stage startups, co-founded an EdTech startup, taught classes on product management at General Assembly, and I co-created the Product Leader Certificate at Product School. 

So trust me when I say: success in Product takes more than just another certification.

That’s why I created AFTER THE CERT—the podcast for product managers who want real, actionable advice for everyday product management challenges, not just another framework from an out of touch Silicon Valley Tech leader who doesn’t truly get the challenges we face every day.

So, if you’re looking for ways to grow your product career that actually move the needle, and you want to hear stories from real product managers navigating the messy middle of their careers, this is the place for you.

No certification required.

Have a question? Send me a text

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.

Have a question? Send me a text

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.

Have a question? Send me a text

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.

Have a question? Send me a text

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

Have a question? Send me a text

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!

Have a question? Send me a text

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

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

These five tips can be applied to every single interview you may encounter as a PM - the recruiter screen, the hiring manager interview, a panel interview, or even the case. I give this advice so often that I finally wanted to capture it in a podcast so you can apply it in your own job search. 

I talk about: 

• Winning the easy stuff
• Being authentically you
• Showing your math and thinking aloud
• Referencing frameworks, without coming across as rigid
• And how to create familiarity and be part of the team even as a candidate

Have a question? Send me a text

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

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

There's no "perfect" set of skills for a Product Manager. By definition, product management is a generalist role and the most important skills you need at any given time will vary based on your product, your team, and your tech stack. 

Instead of trying to become an expert in every skill (which, c'mon, is cray cray!), I'll talk you through what I recommend instead. 

Spoiler - it's NOT to learn SQL.

Have a question? Send me a text

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

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com

Meet Yolanda - She's a SPRINT alum who leveraged the program to land her first official Product Manager title after nearly 10 years working in and around software teams. She's one of the kindest, most ambitious Product Managers I know and it was a joy to reconnect with her. 🫶

If you're trying to transition into Product Management or you're on the job search for your next Product role, this is a must listen episode.

We talk about:

• How she transitioned into the tech industry (from being an EMT! 🚑)
• How building automations at US Bank was a gateway to Product
• Navigating a windy career path of Product-adjacent roles
• Her job search by the numbers (160 applications -> 3 final rounds -> 1 offer)
• The importance of networking and LinkedIn in her job search
• Highlights of the job search, interview process, and offer negotiation
• Her advice for job seekers in this market
• The ups and downs of starting a new job
• Setting goals, staying accountable and building strong trust in a new role

Have a question? Send me a text

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

Learn more about product coaching: www.jesssherlock.com