If you’re a Business Analyst, Designer, Engineer, or Project Manager trying to break into Product Management, there’s a question that probably haunts you every time you hit “Apply”:
“Is this even the right PM role for me?”
You’re not alone.
The #1 Thing That’s Blocking You: No Clarity of Direction
Job hunting feels overwhelming when you’re applying to everything and hearing nothing back. You start to doubt your skills. You rewrite your resume for the 10th time.
You Google “best questions to ask in a PM interview” at 2 a.m.
But the real issue isn’t the tactics. It’s lack of direction.
Most people operate like this:
- Apply for every PM job that sounds vaguely interesting
- Reach out to random product managers for coffee chats
- Hope something eventually clicks
They’re getting rejected because they don’t know what they want—and it shows.
Let’s talk about how to change that.
The Trap We All Fall Into: LinkedIn Envy
Let’s be honest—LinkedIn Envy is real.
You see someone you know land a PM job at Google, Amazon or even OpenAI.
Someone else just got promoted to Director of Product.
Another is announcing their $300k comp package at a hot startup.
Here’s the thing:
You’re not alone in feeling that way. Even experienced PMs like me get triggered.
But the frustration you’re feeling isn’t about them.
It’s not even about LinkedIn.
It’s about you.
Envy happens when you see someone doing something you know you’re capable of—
but you haven’t taken the steps to get there yet.
You’re standing on one side of the cliff, watching others on the other side holding the trophy… and feeling stuck. The bridge isn’t built yet.
But you can build it—if you stop reacting and start planning.
The 7 Types of LinkedIn Envy (That Derail Your Job Search)
Before we jump into the strategy, let’s name the distractions that pull you off course:
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Title Envy – “They’re a Senior PM already… I’m so behind.”
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Company Envy – “If I worked at Google, everything would be easier.”
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Job Role Envy – “Their job looks way more exciting than mine.”
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Money Envy – “How are they earning $400K in PM already?”
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Opportunity Envy – “They just keep getting amazing chances.”
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Recognition Envy – “Everyone is liking and commenting on their promotion post.”
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Network Envy – “They know all the right people. I don’t.”
Here’s the reality check:
You can’t just have one part of someone’s LinkedIn profile—you have to take their whole life.
And most people wouldn’t make that trade.
“Hope Is Not a Strategy”
There’s a quote I love from James Cameron:
“Hope is not a strategy.
Luck is not a factor.
Fear is not an option.”
Waiting around, tweaking your resume, or hoping a referral magically appears won’t work. You need a plan.
What You Need Instead: A Job Search Strategy
This is where the game changes.
A job search strategy helps you:
✅ Get clear on what kind of PM work you want to do
✅ Understand the industries and cultures where you’ll thrive
✅ Identify what you won’t tolerate
✅ Build a confident story you can pitch in networking and interviews
✅ Tailor your resume and LinkedIn with precision
Here’s a peek at what mine looked like when I was job searching:
It’s a simple one-pager, but it guided everything: my networking, my applications, and how I positioned myself online. Here is mine for you to take a look:
https://productacademy.notion.site/One-Pager-Summary-Dave-Wang-1578d12107864a4682f9119130f1c17c
Don’t Like My Format? No Worries.
There are dozens of free Notion templates that can help you craft your own strategy. Use the one that fits your workflow and personality. See here:
https://www.notion.com/templates/collections/top-10-free-job-search-templates-in-notion
Whether it’s a Notion doc or a whiteboard sketch, the point is to get clarity before you act.
What Happens When You Have a Strategy
Once you define what you’re aiming for, your entire job search becomes intentional.
- Your LinkedIn profile becomes a magnet for the right companies.
- Your resume speaks directly to the hiring manager.
- Your networking becomes about quality, not quantity.
- You know which PM roles fit you—and which ones don’t.
- You stop chasing everything. And start targeting what fits you best.
The 5 Steps to Build a Job Search Strategy
If you’re wondering where to start, here’s the exact 5-step process I teach inside Product Academy:
1. Define What You Love and Hate Doing
Think about the tasks, environments, and company cultures that energise or drain you.
2. Define Your Must-Not’s and Must-Haves
What are your deal-breakers? Flip them to find your must-haves.
3. Define What You Want to Grow In
What skills, leadership qualities, or industry experience do you want to develop?
4. Define Your Dream Job (Short & Long-Term)
Where do you want to be in 1–3 years? What’s your ultimate vision?
5. Interview People to Identify Blind Spots
Ask trusted peers or mentors what strengths you might be underestimating or where you may need to grow.
If you want to see a real life example, here is mine for you to take a look:
https://productacademy.notion.site/One-Pager-Summary-Dave-Wang-1578d12107864a4682f9119130f1c17c
Mindset → Process → Tools
At Product Academy, we frame everything using this model:
You’re not behind. You’re not “not good enough.”
You just need a map.
Most people drift through job searching, hoping something clicks.
The people who land the roles they actually want? They don’t wait for luck.
They design their next step.
They build their strategy.
And they take action—one step at a time:
- Update your Mindset: Envy is a signal. Take action.
- Follow the Process: Follow the 5 steps. Don’t skip the deep work.
- Use these Tools: Use one-pagers, Notion, or whatever works for you—just start building your bridge.
You’ve got this.
—
Want help building yours?
I break this down step-by-step inside my course Breaking Into Product Management, where I give you the full strategy template, help you craft your one-pager, and coach you on how to use it in real conversations.
👉 See how you can break into Product Management now
Let’s get you into the right PM role—not just any PM role.
—
Product Dave
Founder, Product Academy
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