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Designer of Products | Analyzer of Data | Creative Problem Solver

💡 Product Managing Your Career: A Strategic Blueprint for Professional Growth, Even When Job Searching. In a recent episode of Lenny Rachitsky Podcast ( Lenny's Podcast ), Deborah Liu, CEO of Ancestry and former VP of Product at Facebook, shed light on a unique approach to career development that truly resonated with me. Liu advocates for "product managing" your career, treating it with the same strategic foresight and detailed execution that a product manager would for a new product. Here’s how you can apply this product management mindset to your career, especially if you're in the midst of a job search: 1. Set Clear Objectives 🎯 Define what success looks like for your job search and your broader career. What roles are you targeting? Are you aiming for leadership roles, or perhaps a shift towards a different specialty? What industry do you want to grow in? 2. Break It Down ⛳ Break down your goals / job search, into smaller, manageable milestones. This could be updating your view of how you path to a particular role, updating your resume by next week, or learning a new skill each month. These small steps are important to course correcting your career path in the direction you want. 3. Measure Progress 📐 Just as a PM measures a product's performance, track your career and your job search progress. What is your velocity in comparison to the timeline you may have constructed? How much ground have you gained toward the next role? How many applications have you sent? How many responses have you received? Data is so integral to making informed decisions on what strategies are working for you. 4. Embrace Learning 🔁 Commit to continuous education and training. Whether you're employed, seeking a job, or considering a transition, learning new skills is crucial. View setbacks as learning opportunities. Each failure is a chance to refine your approach, just like updating a product based on user feedback. 5. Network with purpose 👨💻 Cultivate relationships that will support your career objectives. Networking isn’t just about gaining—it’s also about giving back. Offer your support to others, share opportunities, and maintain positive relationships, even if your efforts don't lead to an apparent opportunity. 6. Build Resilience and Flexibility 💪 The road might be bumpy and uncertain at times. Maintain flexibility in your plans to adapt to changes in the industry or in your personal aspirations. Stay motivated by celebrating small victories and maintaining a routine that keeps you at your best. 7. Seek Feedback 💬 Constructive criticism is invaluable. Seek out feedback from mentors and colleagues, and use it to refine and evolve your approach just as a PM would use user feedback to improve a product. By managing your career as a product, you are taking control of your professional journey. Whether you're actively seeking a job or planning the next big step in your career, a strategic approach can make all the difference. 

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