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“Being a qualified candidate just isn't enough; you’ve to become a market of one.”
In today’s episode, Colin unveils the hidden job market for product leaders and how to leverage networking to land interviews for unlisted roles.
He also shares actionable advice on optimizing LinkedIn profiles, crafting impactful outreach, and navigating the realities of pre-IPO versus Big Tech opportunities.
This is a must-listen for you if you’re expect to be job searching for product leadership roles.
We cover:
How to Conduct a Reputation-Based Job Search — 00:01:25
Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile — 00:30:58
The Current Interview Process for Product Leaders — 01:03:18
Four to Five Interviews but No Offers — What’s Going Wrong? — 01:11:56
Negotiation for Product Leaders — 01:27:55
Why You Should Continue Job Searching Even After Accepting an Offer — 02:06:37
Here are the Key Takeaways
Here are 5 of Colin’s most powerful insights:
1. Reputation is More Valuable than Your Resume
At the leadership level, qualifications and resume alone won't get you noticed.
Recruiters and hiring managers prioritise reputation — how others perceive your impact and reliability.
Colin emphasizes that having a personal recommendation from a trusted source within the recruiter’s network makes you stand out far more than generic outreach.
Referrals from former colleagues or senior leaders can directly land you in unlisted opportunities.
For a strong network focus on these actions:
Build relationships with decision - makers, peers, and mentors.
Regularly communicate your career goals to your network so they can advocate for you when the right opportunity arises.
2. Mastering Negotiation: How to Get the Dream Offer
Many PMs approach negotiation as a transactional process — discussing salaries, benefits, and perks. But negotiation is far more than numbers on a page.
It’s about positioning — showing how your unique skills, experiences, and impact make you the best fit for the role.
Leverage the MERIT framework: focus on the Market, your Expertise, meaningful Relationships, proven Impact, and the Timing of the opportunity. These factors determine not just your value, but your leverage.
Ask yourself: how does your background solve the company’s most pressing challenges?
PMs who master negotiation as an extension of their career strategy—not just a final step — will not only secure better roles but also lay the foundation for long-term growth and leadership.
3. Tailor Your “Market of One” Positioning
Craft a specific narrative that aligns your skills with the company’s needs, making you the perfect candidate for the role.
It’s all about being memorable to the recruiters and relevant to the market.
Here’s how you can land your interviews:
Define your ideal role based on company size, market, and stage.
Write a clear candidate positioning statement (e.g., "I excel in scaling SaaS companies from $10M to $50M by building multi-product teams").
Communicate this statement in your LinkedIn profile, outreach emails, and conversations.
4. Understanding Your Product Leadership Archetype is Your Unfair Advantage
Understanding where you thrive as a leader can transform your career trajectory.
He explains how product leadership archetypes align your skills and experiences with the right company stage — be it early startups needing scrappy builders, growth-stage organizations requiring scalability, or mature companies focused on stability.
For example, a leader excelling at rapid experimentation might shine in early-stage startups, while someone skilled at scaling teams would thrive in a growth-stage company.
You need to identify your archetype, tailor your narrative to showcase your strengths, and target opportunities where their unique leadership style can drive maximum impact.
5. How to Crack Interviews
Landing the right role goes beyond sending applications.
It's about making a lasting impression where it counts. Here are the few ways:
Networking is your strongest tool. Forget cold applications; they rarely work at the leadership level. Instead, focus on warm introductions — reach out through peers, mentors, or past recruiters.
Build relationships by offering value and asking thoughtful questions, not just favors.
Revamp your LinkedIn profile. Make it recruiter-ready with the right keywords, measurable achievements, and role-specific descriptions. Show exactly why you’re the perfect fit for the jobs you’re targeting.
Master these essentials, and you’ll turn job searching into opportunity creation.
For more details, listen to the full episode now!
Referenced
Strategies/Insights:
Product Leadership Archetype — archetypes are different styles of leadership. Each archetype has its own strengths, skills, and ideal work environments.
MERIT Framework — focus on the Market, your Expertise, meaningful Relationships, proven Impact, and the Timing of the opportunity.
Where to find Colin
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Up Next
We have some great podcasts coming from Andrew Capland, Ramli John, and Ben Williams. I’m so excited to share them with all of you.
In the newsletter, check out this week’s latest piece if you haven’t yet: How to Build an Empowered Team
And look out for these pieces up next:
How to Write an AI PM Resume
Onboarding Metrics: Advanced Topics and Practice
Proactive Problem-Solving: How to Catch and Fix Issues Before Users Notice
I think you’re going to love what’s coming up,
Aakash
