Hi {{first_name}}
Can you believe the first quarter of the year is over? Like, we've actually had 3 months of the year go by? God please 🙏
If you are like me, you probably have a ton of goals written down this year. If you are an aspiring PM or an entry-level PM, your goals would probably revolve around these major things:
Land an internship or a job
Enhancing your skills
If you are higher up the product career ladder, yours would probably be more lofty.
Whatever stage you are in, take a deep breath, relax, and don't pressure yourself to death. All things will work out well, eventually.
Speaking about goals...
We know how unexpected things can occur. Things can fall through the cracks, and with the global economy causing layoffs and halting employment, it can feel very frustrating to plan or put in any effort.
Here's what I propose: focus on the small habits that can move your career forward. They don't have to be lofty or too heavy; they are just simple actions you can take to become 1% better every day and open yourself up to opportunities.
The Habits That Make You 1% Better
Increase your knowledge base by one piece of information every day: You can decide to watch one product management video or read one article daily, then make a summary of what you learned at the end of the week. Learning something new won't just make you a well-rounded PM but a well-rounded individual.
Write: Keep a daily or weekly career journal of wins, lessons, failures, and experiences you've gained in your career (even if you are job hunting). If you do this every day or at least twice a month, you will have a memoir of repeatable systems and achievements to be proud of.
Be Visible: At PMHelp, we are all about visibility. Just this week, our CEO got invited to join the advisory board of a global university, and her role? To help create an industry-ready curriculum for students.
Do you know how she landed that invite? LinkedIn. Her consistent presence gave her access to a room she had always wanted to be in. So, commit to showing up.
Note: If you struggle with what to write, the tip above on keeping a weekly journal will help fill that bank.Build: That portfolio is still carrying that bootcamp project from two years ago. It's time for an update, and you don't have to wait until you're part of a new project to make it happen.
With AI tools and the ability to vibe-code, you can build simple solutions and products from scratch and document the whole process in your portfolio. The idea, the problem, the iterations, the decisions. All of it counts.
If you're not sure where to start, we ran a detailed workshop on this last year. Watch the recap here
Connect with people: Join communities, follow other product managers online, and connect with mentors and peers. If you are looking for a place to connect with product managers, our Slack Community is an ideal place. Join here
Finally, take advantage of opportunities. Don't be afraid to apply for roles or opportunities even if you don't think you're qualified.
On tools and freebies...
We've just launched our free AI Resume Reviewer!!! 💃💃💃
If you've ever struggled with editing your resume, we've built something to ease that pain. Get expert-level CV feedback powered by AI, designed exclusively for product managers. Tell us the role you're targeting and receive tailored guidance to make your CV stand out.
Events...
We have a ton of exciting events this quarter. First on the list are our Product Therapy Sessions! Come, let's have conversations on all things product, product development, stakeholder management, and navigating the product career.
We would also be hosting deep-dive case study sessions. This is one session you don't want to miss.
Jobs of the Week
Before we go
It's the second quarter, but it's not the end of the year or the end of your life.
You still have time to do better and be greater.
We are rooting for you.
With 💜 from your Buddy at PMHelp