7 Management Lessons You Learn as a Product Manager

7 Management Lessons You Learn as a Product Manager7 Management Lessons You Learn as a Product ManagerGreat product managers must function as part entrepreneur, part general manager, part process expert, and part diplomat in their very challenging roles. They bridge the various functions to bring their products to life and they make the key feature, function and pricing decisions throughout the lifecycle of their offerings. At the end of the day, they are accountable for the results of their products, even though they dont directly manage the development, marketing or selling of their offerings. This is one tough and important job. Here are great management lessons you can develop in this role. You Learn to See Customers as Unique People Everyone in an organization talks about customers often referencing them generically. In reality, not all customers are the same. Product Managers work to develop a specific profile for each distinct customer group they serve or desire to attrac t. As long as the distinguishing characteristics of each persona are meaningful, the product manager can guide the various functions to develop unique offerings and tailor marketing approaches. You Develop as a Strategist Part of the excitement of this role is your immersion in helping define and execute your firms strategy. From assessing and selecting markets to enter to identifying potentially profitable customers to serve, product managers are often involved in many of the core strategy decisions of a firm. After selecting markets and customers, the detailed work of identifying unique offerings and guiding critical pricing and positioning decisions are part of the product managers responsibilities. You Learn to Lead Across Functions Similar to the role of project manager, the product manager has the challenging task of leading others and being accountablefor results without the luxury of direct authority. Any role where you learn to drive results through others without f ormal authority is a great teaching role. You Develop Diplomatic and Political Skills as a Matter of Survival Spend a day shadowing a product manager and youre likely to participate in customer calls, field inquiries from salespeople, run a meeting with engineering, meet with customer support to hear about quality issues, and participate in a webinar with your marketing friends. At every encounter, youre faced with issues and people demanding decisions or commitments. Your diplomatic skills allow you to navigate these challenging encounters in the best interests of your firm and your customers. You Learn to See the Entire Experience Customers evaluate your offerings for the entire experience, not just the physical product or actual service. If the product is great, but customers struggle to understand the documentation and cannot reach support for answers, this will reflect poorly on your product and sales results and reputation will suffer. Product managers are accountable for the whole offering, including the physical product or actual service and all of the customer touch-points surrounding the offering. You Cultivate Great Communication Skills From your first day on the job, youre engaged with customers and colleagues in other departments, and after some time on the job, youll find yourself serving as a frequent contributor at executive meetings. You learn quickly to adapt to different audiences and you learn that your ability to communicate effectively is your most critical asset. You Learn to Make Profitable Tradeoffs In your role, you are choosing where to invest your firms money in developing new and enhancing existing products. Every decision has a cost and an implication and product managers are constantly called upon to make priority tradeoffs. Engineering might have limited resources to work on your offering and instead of your top five feature requests, they might only be able to deliver three in the time-frame you specified. Its u p to you as the product manager to select the features to be left behind.If you want more time to train your sales gruppe on your latest offering, youll have to negotiate for time on the schedule with the sales executive.Need to drop your price due to a competitors action? Youll be spending time convincing your finance department why they should make less money on every product they ship. These tough decisions are daily issues for product managers, who become masters of managing tradeoffs.

Alternative Jobs For Teachers

Alternative Jobs For TeachersAlternative Jobs For TeachersEveryones life has been touched by a teacher. Some of us have positive memories of teachers who helped us through difficult subjects or difficult times. Others have negative memories of teachers who made life more difficult. These positive and negative interactions often inspire individuals to follow in the footsteps of their teachers and become teachers themselves, dedicated to inspiring the next generation while also getting lots of apples from their students. The desire to educate and support children is a noble one, but its important to leide that teaching isnt for everyone. Before you invest in a teacher prep program or start substitute teaching, its worth checking your perception of this traditional field against the reality of todays modern classroom. For this installment of the dream job series, I have a little more insight than usual, as I started my career as a high school English teacher and taught for two-and-a-hal f years. Since then I have transitioned out of the classroom, and I run a website that helps other teachers do the same. Ive spoken with hundreds of teachers some who love it and some who dont and I know how important it is to truly weigh the pros and cons of the calling.Teacher, the Job Description Of Your DreamsFor many people the dream of teaching starts with the classroom your classic chalkboard (or modern whiteboard) will be pinned with fun cartoons, calendars and notes about your subject area, and the desks will be laid out in creative pods (or more lecture-friendly rows). Whatever you didnt like about your classroom experience youll fix here youll put time into making creative and thoughtful lessons that give students an opportunity to engage with your subject area and enrich their lives. Youll use your insight into your subject area to teach the topics you want in the way you want to teach them, and your students will benefit from it. As for classroom management, youll hav e a tough time managing the class clowns and students who are struggling with problems at home at first, but overall your interactions with the students will be educational, thoughtful and sometimes downright fun. When a real problem comes up, you can work with a school counselor, administrator or the childs parent to come to a beschluss that respects the students needs. Teacher, the Job Description In Real LifeThe real life job description of teaching still has its perks, such as positive interactions with students and engaging with subject matter in creative ways. However, it also comes with some unique stressors and challenges. First, many teachers struggle with the constant need for classroom management and asserting discipline over classes of 25-30 students. This can lead to dramatic confrontations and negative experiences for the teacher that are repeated every year as a new group of students matriculates. Add to this the challenges of managing attendance, grades, student elec tronics such as smartphones and other behavioral issues. Second, many teachers find that the schools administration, counselors and the parents of students are just as busy and overwhelmed as they are. While every person often has the best intentions, teachers are frequently left to manage the challenges on their own. In some extreme cases the administration and parents can be the cause of the challenge, such as the time a parent called me on my cell phone several times to yell at me for giving the childs cell phone to the principal when the child would not put the phone away after several requests.As for the curriculum you teach, you may have some freedoms about how you present the material, but for many subjects and grade levels the curriculum is determined by the school and by government legislation with an emphasis on standardized testing requirements. Over time, these requirements can create an environment in which teachers are pressured to teach to the test and it is difficult to maintain a creative approach to educating students. The dream job description of teaching sounds like it would be a good fit for anyone who is friendly, energetic and loves their subject area. However, thats often not the case. Far from being a universal calling, teaching requires a unique skill set that includes patience, confidence and a passion for helping children. You also must have excellent work-life boundaries so that you dont take your work home with you each day. If you enter the classroom without these skills you might be one of the many teachers who experience increased levels of stress.What To Do Instead of Being a TeacherWhether youre already in the classroom and seeking an alternative or youre just learning about your interest in the field, there are many things you can do with a talent for teaching that dont involve the unique demands of a public school system. Here are five alternatives to being a classroom teacher that call on the communication, planning and tr aining skills that teachers haveInstructional DesignerCorporate TrainerCurriculum DesignerTraining SpecialistSubject Area ConsultantIf youre called to teach, youre in for an exciting career. But before you jump into the classroom, consider what the best environment for you would be based on your skills and talents.

Ask These 6 Questions to Make Rational Decisions

Ask These 6 Questions to Make Rational Decisions Ask These 6 Questions to Make Rational Decisions Article by Cecilia MeisPeople accidentally swallow eight spiders every year in their sleep. Although debunked numerous times, this myth remains the most widely circulated fact of the 21st century, according to the National Institute of Arachnological Research.Did you believe me? Because I just lied to you.Proving such a statement would be tedious. Also, a quick internet search would reveal that the National Institute of Arachnological Research doesnt exist.Why do myths persist despite published research proving their opposites? Because somewherbeie in your memory, youve stored something that sounds familiar. It might have been a sibling trying to scare you. You might have a mild spider phobia. You might have read it in a 1993 article by Lisa Holst, who, ironically, was trying to demonstrate why people readily accept facts shared through email chains. The myth triggers an emotional rath er than a skeptical response.It can be dangerous to rely on your gut, or whatpsychologist Daniel Kahneman calls System 1 thinking automatic judgments that stem from associations stored in the memory. This type of thinking develops over time as people attempt to make sense of seemingly random events that occur around them. The more we make sense of our environments, the more control or perceived control we have over our lives.But our guts can lead us astray. Our biases can drive us to focus on the wrong information or seek information that matches rather than challenges what we already believe.To build your rational-thinking skills, ask yourself these questions1. What Would I Say to a Friend?Create space between your thoughts and feelings. You can do that by pretending to give advice to a friend, which allows your brain to switch from rumination to problem-solving. The more highly charged the situation, the more you need to separate yourself from your momentary feelings. Recent studi es have found that journalingin the third person allows you to evaluate yourself and your situations more clearly and thoughtfully.2. What Are Three Possible Outcomes?Uncertainty is terrifying. Its easier and less stressful to imagine a single outcome, so we do. Instead, researchers say you should imagine multiple outcomes to improve your accuracy and logical thinking.If youre imagining the possible success of your business in five years, come up with three figures thatpredictyour level of success high, medium, and low. Your high and low numbers should be improbable but not unrealistic. This approach helps you avoid being blindsided by extremes on either endby planing for their possibility.3. What Is the Counterargument to This Decision or Belief?We like to be right. We like for others to agree with our decisions or beliefs. However, when we think with our System 1 minds, were often blind to other options or perspectives. Use the following tips to frame counterarguments that will he lp you assess your position more rationally- Be generous in your research and genuinely thoughtful when building a counterargument.- Shift your motive from winning to gaining value. Julia Galef, cofounder of the Center for Applied Rationality, says this allows her to imagine a scenario where she never loses, because one of her options will likely help her succeed.- List the points of agreement between both arguments.- Compare both arguments side by side, as if someone else wrote them.Shifting your mindset to someone elses view isnt easy. Galef advises using mindfulness techniques to identify when your emotions are running high particularly when someone is challenging your beliefs. Focus on seeking the truth rather than on winning.4. Why Am I Attached to This Decision or Belief?People often cling to irrational beliefs because theyre attached to their identities. Maybe your spouse says an alternate route is faster than the one youve always taken. You overreact, maybe because you thin k your spouse is insulting your intelligence. Researchers say your sense of self-worth is a significant factor in rational thinking.One study found that when people feel positively about themselves, theyre more likely to accept uncomfortable facts. Before looking at information that challenges your beliefs, write down your top three qualities and recall examples of each. Explain your reaction so your spouse knows how to better present alternatives in the future.5. Is This Too Good to Be True?Your mom was right Information that sounds too good to be true often is. Generic or flowery languagecan cover factual inconsistencies.For example,Colgate found trouble after claiming more than 80 percent of dentists recommendedits brand. What the company failed to mention was that those dentists recommended Colgate along with other brands.Pay special attention to the wordsa claim uses recommended versus preferred, for example. Also watch for averages without context and whethera claim seems com pletely one-sided. If it feels too good (or bad), it probably is, so dig a little deeper.6. Is This Harmful?Seeking truth is important, but so is knowing when you shouldnt waste your timechallenging meaningless falsehoods.For example, during a casual conversation at a networking event, someone might tell you they hold the record for the most hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes in the state of Georgia. Before you whip out your best according to voice, ask yourself if this lie is harmful. The claim, though potentially false, doesnt affect anyone except Georgias actual hot-dog-eating champion, but only if that winner is relying on sponsorship funding from people at the saatkorn networking event.If youre planning to work with this person, maybe you should determine whether theyre a compulsive liar. Otherwise, smile, nod and politely exit the conversation.Rational thinking requires removing emotional responses, checking biases, and considering other options before trying to convince your grandm other that shes eaten 680 spiders in her life.By the way, according to Bill Shear, former president of the American Arachnological Society, Spiders regard us much like theyd regard a big rock. It looks like youre safe.Look it up if you dont believe me.Versions of this article originally appeared on SUCCESS.comand in the October 2017 issue of SUCCESS Magazine.Cecilia Meis is the integrated content editor for SUCCESS magazine and SUCCESS.com. She recently earned a bachelors degree from the Missouri School of Journalism. A Kansas City native, Cecilia enjoys sand volleyball, new stationery, and a heaping plate of burnt ends.

How to Write a One-Page Resume (Infographic)

How to Write a One-Page Resume (Infographic)How to Write a One-Page Resume (Infographic)Check out our one-page resume infographicShould a resume be one page? Ideally yes, its generally better to create a one-page resume as employers generally scan resumes in seconds. However, depending on the type of job youre applying for, and your level of experience, a two-page resume can be more effective.The reason why a one-page resume is better in the majority of cases is that employers dont want to read long resumes. As they have so many to look through, a short, concise resume is much more likely to grab their attention.Writing a one-page resume also gives you the chance to focus on and emphasize your strongest selling points. It can be difficult to decide what to leave out. You may have many achievements which youre proud of, but its worth it.Using a one-page resume schabloneis a good place to start. Its then a case of choosing whats most relevant for the position youre applying for.CTA tex t=Create my resume for an interview url=https//app.resumecoach.com/question/ align=center amp-text=Create my resume for an interview amp-url=https//app.resumecoach.com/question/ amp-target=_selfHow to create a one-page resumeNowadays, the best one-page resumes have to be concise and eye-grabbing enough to stand out when a person shuffles through a pile of them. They also need to contain the right words and terms to get past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATMs), which scan resumes to see if they contain the right keywords.The best way of doing this is by making a one-page editable resume which you can tailor to each job application. You can do this by carefully reading through each job and identifying the key job requirements (use the keywords to help you), and to them work these into your resume.As well as adding the necessary keywords you also need to carefully consider which of your skills, work experience, and qualifications are most relevant to the job youre applying for.If you are writing a student resume or an entry-level resume it may be the case that its easy to fit most (if elend all) of your achievements on a one-page job resume. If you are more experienced, what to leave out will require more consideration.Writing a one-page resume what to leave out?What not to include on your resume?If youre struggling to reduce your resume down to a single-page resume, start by writing a list of your achievements and work experience and include details of what they involved.Then analyze each position youre applying for and choose the parts from your list which match the job. Write your most relevant achievements into your resume by writing short, concise bullet points which focus on your accomplishments.You shouldnt include any work experience which you gained more than 10-15 years ago. Theres no need to say references available on request as this goes without saying.If your resume is still longer than one page, reduce your education section. You shouldnt include you r high-school education or irrelevant qualifications. Using an online resume builder is a time-effective way of nailing the one-page resume format.Does a resume have to be one page?No. Although most employers prefer to receive one-page resumes, it is not always the case. When an employer is looking for someone with extensive experience it is necessary to write a more-than-one-page resume.There are certain professions that are exceptions and its commonplace to produce long resumes. These industries include medicine, law, and academia. Fior the vast majority of applications a one-page resume is best.Remeber you can always include a link to your LinkedIn profile, other professional social media sites, or a website youve been involved in. This gives the employer the choice of viewing a longer version of your background.Whereas your resume should be targeted for each application, your LinkedIn should be much more in-depth, providing detailed accounts of your education, skills, and work e xperience.One-Page Resume Infographic Create my RESUME now

The Ultimate Computer Skills for Resume Trick

The Ultimate Computer Skills for Resume Trick Your skills are an overview of what you could do for the prospective employer if you were offered the work at this time. Thus when writing down your job skills take some time to strategize and find out the ideal approach to organize them in your resume. Job-specific skills vary depending on the position. Youve got to curate the few skills which are most relevant to them. If youre on the lookout for a list of resume skills, articles focused on hard skills or soft skills, or just a guide which discusses hard abilities vs soft abilities, youre on the inappropriate page. Content marketing is inescapable in the present digital advertising and marketing landscape. In truth, it welches such a great idea he worked on perfecting it until he managed to secure a U.S. patent. Wherever you choose to place your skills on your resume, be certain to tailor your list of skills to the specific job. Whenever youre prepared to apply to get a job, fir st look at the work description and highlight the points and abilities that seem important. Since in fact, there are thousands of skills out there, its not possible to name all of them here. New Ideas Into Computer Skills for Resume Never Before Revealed Soft skills are difficult to measure since they are what the men and women define, a component of themselves such as communication and teamwork. Individuals will appreciate your thoughtful method of communication and will be more likely to react positively to you.Giving training sessions demands lots of communication abilities. Customer service teams are often known as the surface of the entity with which theyre associated. There are many choices for getting an education to turn into an office manager. Writing is a daily portion of several jobs and its a significant part communication. Communication skills are among the most valuable abilities that employers start looking for as they are central to numerous professionals an d play an essential role in most. In smaller companies and classrooms, you want to have the ability to manage more than 1 task at one time without losing sight of your final goal or losing dienstgrad of your charges. If you may talk or write about a solution or service in a manner that makes people wish to get it, youll be an important team member Youd be amazed by the range of folks who need to understand how to list Microsoft skills on their resume. For instance, you might require assistance from different departments to acquire a project started. It isnt easy to escape using a computer and computer program. Depending upon the kind of company that youre applying to, there might be a specific industry focus, like sports, film or literature. You must keep your resume short and sweet, but still consist of enough high quality information to generate an impression. Furthermore, professional understanding of the business is also critical. MS Office skills are arguably the most f requently encountered computer abilities. Verbal communication is communication thats spoken. Written Communication Writing well is a significant element of your professional presentation. Business Communication Skills Internal communication is as essential for a part in marketing because its to manage external clients.

Get the Scoop on Resume Library Before Youre Too Late

Get the Scoop on Resume Library Before Youre Too Late The use of the librarian has developed through the years and changed as technology has gotten more important. Arrive punctually, or a couple of minutes earlyespecially supposing its a big library and you want to be at a particular office. A librarian needs to be proficient in the usage of computers and computer programs. She can also be referred to as information professional. Life After Resume Library Giving clients the capability to unlock these resumes with a click should end up being an immediate benefit concerning shortening the distance between the candidate and their preferred job. The work experience section is just one of the sections employers will love to landsee in your resume. Locating employment isnt a battle of attrition Interview strategies for Librarian careers. The New Fuss About Resume Library Though some work application writers could possibly be a little more costly than other folks, it doesnt sig nify you need to avoid them. Resume writing can be a fairly simple job if you recognize how Locating a job for a library page is a good means to earn some easy money and accumulate valuable work experience. You might be permitted to use any general resume that it is possible to find on our site but tailor it to suit the job that you are applying for. Whenever someone requires a look at your resume to see whether you pass the resume test, there ought to be no question as to the kind of role youre targeting in your job search. Youre in a position to learn how to compose a work application by thinking about questions as though you were a work interviewer. Whenever you have work experience, it become more essential that you compose your work application in most of successful way. If work experience isnt your key highlight or whether youve got an inconsistent work history, its best advisable to start your resume with your qualifications. Resume Library Fundamentals Explained A li brarian is not the saatkorn type of job. She has the responsibility to manage a library. She resume format has all the details related to the role a librarian needs to play. An assistant librarian enables the major librarian in regions of help required. Get the Scoop on Resume Library Before Youre Too Late If youre interested in becoming an accredited school librarian, you might get in touch with your states department of education for particular requirements. Lots of people mistakenly think that the world wide web is causing libraries to die, but in fact, libraries are just evolving. Theres rarely no typical library the world over that doesnt have virtual section. Prepares a yearly budget of library. What You Need to Do About Resume Library Bear in mind that you just should list jobs for the previous 10 or 15 decades, which might additionally help to remove gaps. It is always advised to take expert help when making this resume. Such programs ought to be focused on makin g materials-search very simple for readers. Next time when you visit a library, have a look around and see whether you can locate a man standing behind the counter or the reception and assisting the people with their requirements and requirements. The New Fuss About Resume Library In an identical way that you may reference resume samples, the subsequent Librarian cover letter example can help you to compose a cover letter that most highlights your experience and qualifications. Everyone can see from the very first page of her resume that shes highly competent and the very best applicant for this position. Each needs a different cover letter. Generic cover letters ALWAYS visit the base of the pile. The Lost Secret of Resume Library Summary of someones qualification is also wise to put your very best foot forward right at the start of the resume. Even if your information is in bullet format, it may still be hard to quickly recognize the pertinent abilities and accomplishment s which are important to the possible employer. The further skills can be in agreement with the job or completely different. Every job demands some particular qualification. The Good, the Bad and Resume Library The document is likewise very concentrated on the customer. Some may do research and wish to refer to old periodicals. Reference librarians often educate others about research procedures, appropriate citation and using reference sources. Evaluate the caliber of library materials. Resume Library for Dummies Now you know which information to include, its important to understand what to avoid also. Being a real library page is an enjoyable job if you are in possession of a genuine love for books. Always ensure that the contact information that you put on the resume is correct as its possible to produce little mistakes in the telephone number, email or mail addresses. The site is a case of vertical search. Ok, I Think I Understand Resume Library, Now Tell Me About Resume Library Use strong, clear verbs to provide an employer a solid and exceptional vorstellung about how you work, and make it simpler for the reader to imagine what you could do. Then look at some basic questions that will help you to clarify it would be suitable for you. You will need an outstanding quantity of academic knowledge and researching skills. Show a keen interest in the topic too. The War Against Resume Library Most library page positions do not take a college degree. The librarian want to apply for vacancies in various libraries based on his requirement. Public schools are free and are not permitted to charge tuition. Charter schools generally have a little student population and could have more stringent requirements for faculty and students. Key Pieces of Resume Library Writing work application is super easy once you observe some basic measures. You might also see Resume Examples. Developing a professional resume doesnt have to be daunting. Writing a strong professional resume might seem to be an intimidating job.

How to Create Your Own Career Development Plan as an HR Professional

How to Create Your Own Career Development Plan as an HR Professional As an HR professional, you knowfirsthand how important career development plans are to both employee engagement and happiness. However, when you work in HR, it can be all too easy to focus on every other employees development without ever thinking of your own.Your career development as an HR pro is just as important as anyone elses. While your leaders wont necessarily be the ones to initiate your career development plan, theyd likely support your efforts if you decided to create such a plan for yourself. In the end, the onlyperson who can create your career development plan is you.So, where do you start? Oddly enough, at the end.Figure Out the End GoalDontset a goal just for the sake ofsetting it. Instead, you must set goals that truly resonate with you. Such goals are vital to career development, as they will give you the drive and passion you need to stay on the path for as long as it takes.That isnt to say you can never change your career path. Rather, it simply means you should have a clear direction at all times.When youre deciding on what the ultimate goal of your career development plan is, you should take into account what you will be required to do to attain your possible goals. For example, if youre aiming for a director of human resources position at a Fortune 500 company, you may need to earn a masters degree in business or HR. Would you be willing to go back to school to achieve your goal? If not, youll have to rethink your plan. Understanding precisely where you want to be and how you planto get there will help you create manageable mini-goals you can accomplish over time.Analyze the Path AheadOnce youve figured out your ultimate career goal, you must determine what it will take to get there. The best way to do this is to look at job descriptions.Search for job posts advertising your dream role e.g., director of human resources, international hum an resources professional, executive recruiter, etc. Study these posts to determine the kinds of skills, experience, and qualifications youll need to eventually land the job.Go through thejob descriptions line by line, and assess how closely you match the skills and requirements. This exercise will give you a concrete understanding of the skills you need to developas part of your plan. Look at multiple job postings from different companies to find common themes. Try to pinpoint the 3-5 skills you absolutely must have to land your dream job.You may also want to investigate the social media profiles of professionals who already hold your goal role. Somethings to pay attention to includeLength of tenure at current companyLength of tenure in previous roles/at previous companiesCommon themes in recommendations or endorsementsMembership in groups or associationsPublished articles/other worksCreate a List of Actionable StepsNow that youve figured out where youre going and what you need to do to get there, all you have to do is plot your course.What barriers stand in your way? What will help you get to your destination faster? Actionable, progressive steps will keep you moving down the path to success.Some steps in your plan might includeVolunteer to complete challenging projects and assignments in your current position. Getting involved in projects that are outside the muster scope of your position will help you grow and developnew skills.Take advantage of any and all formal training your company offers. Ask your boss what opportunities are available. Its likely your company offers something, as spend on corporate training has grown to more than $70 billion in the United States.Search out resources online and in print to help you improve your skills and your industry knowledge.Write about your experiences and share your insights in industry outlets.Offer to speak at local or national events to share your knowledge.Test for certifications and join associations geared toward your industry.Defining a career path is the first step toward achieving your ultimate career goal. Your plan likely wont be perfect at first, and it may need some reviewing and adjusting along the way. However, as long as you have a plan and stick to it, you can have the successful HR career of your dreams.A version of this article originally appeared on theClearCompany blog.Sara Pollock is head of the marketing department atClearCompany.