How to Make a Product Portfolio That Will Lead To 10X More Product Management Interviews

Have you submitted your resume to multiple companies only to receive little or no interest in return? Do you dream of finding a Product Manager position but think your lack of experience will hold you back? The truth is that 1/3 of companies that advertise "open" positions have absolutely no intentions of filling them. They do this to placate their employees and keep them in check, so they falsely believe their employer is actively searching for qualified professionals to lighten their workload. 

This morally questionable tactic is why your resume isn't working and you feel like you can't gain any traction with your job search. The fact of the matter is that a product portfolio is the key to success as a Product Manager. Whether you're new to Product Management or have years of experience in the position, adding a high-quality product portfolio will set you apart and help propel your career forward. Let's explore why more PMs are turning to product portfolios to promote their careers and how you can create an unforgettable portfolio that grabs attention and showcases your skills.

What is a Product Portfolio and Why is it Important?

A product portfolio is a personalized tool that showcases your skills and accomplishments, making it easy for employers to see why they should hire you. It's the ultimate value add, acting like an elevated resume or highlight reel of your expertise. Why is it important for Product Managers to create a product portfolio? A thoughtfully designed portfolio tells a story to the employer of why they should hire you. Whether you focus on your expertise surrounding a single product or give a more comprehensive view of your professional trajectory, it provides the opportunity to stand out from the rest. 

The Difference Between a Resume and a Product Portfolio

As we briefly discussed earlier, many aspiring Project Managers have little success submitting their resume because they get lost in the crowd or are never viewed by the employer. Many people confuse a product portfolio with a resume, but they're not the same thing. A resume is a document that lists your professional work history, skills, and education. These facts are generally listed in chronological order to make viewing easier. A product portfolio, on the other hand, focuses on specific experiences or skills, ordering them by importance or theme. It's generally a separate website that you can customize with videos or images for an immersive journey establishing your success criteria. While both serve a purpose, product portfolios allow you to creatively display your achievements, providing a visually detailed representation of your experience and success as a Product Manager. 

Who Needs a Product Portfolio?

The short answer is everyone! Often times, those in Product Management think they no longer need a portfolio to highlight their skills, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Both experienced and inexperienced PMs need a product portfolio to reach their full potential. Here are a few examples of successful product portfolios in action.

Product Manager Product Portfolio Examples

Anita Valentinova

In Anita's PM portfolio, she highlights her extensive work experience in a highly user-friendly way. She includes a clickable table of contents that makes navigating her projects a breeze, allowing employers to view her top projects with ease. She also incorporates product images that make the data pop and bring her experience to life.  

Dan Shetty

Dan Shetty is a great example of how beginner Product Managers can showcase their skills. His junior PM portfolio clearly outlines the current place of his career and his future goals. HE also highlights the projects he’s currently working on so potential employers can see his creative process. 

Sherlain

Sherlain's portfolio is an excellent example of using great design to improve the user experience. She uses highlight reels to display her accomplishments and even includes a handy portfolio tab that lets employers see more details about each project. Plus, she incorporates bright colors, vibrant images, and personal clips to showcase her personality, which is a great way to stand out to employers.

How to Build a Stellar Product Portfolio

Let's go over some of the key steps you can use to build an unforgettable portfolio that impresses employers and showcases your PM skills.

Step 1 - Organize the Projects You Want to Include

Determine which Product Management projects you want to include within your portfolio that highlight your experience and skill sets.

Step 2 - Show Your Greatest Accomplishments

Your product management portfolio is your way of showing employers why they should choose you. Don't be afraid to include your greatest accomplishments, even if you're just getting started and they seem small.

Step 3 - Tell a Story

Remember how we said a good portfolio tells a story? Be sure to explain each project, telling what the problem was and how you solved it. Be articulate and integrate visuals to highlight your work. If you've never worked as a PM before, check out this FREE list of 13 side Projects to create a product portfolio.

Step 4 - Demonstrate Your Skills

The goal of your product portfolio is to demonstrate your level of end-to-end product management skills.There’s three types of product portfolios:

1. To help aspiring Product Managers highlight their product management skills by building a product from the ground up. 
2. Allow experienced Product Managers to showcase their larger projects and highlight their product strategies.
3. Providing AI Product Managers a place to showoff their understanding and implementation of AI and AI product creation.

To get the most out of your product portfolio, it should showcase the product management skills that match your current and future job level. 

Step 4 - Choose the Format 

Consider the audience who will view your portfolio and decide which format works best. Popular choices include websites and interactive presentations that let you create a visually engaging, scannable, and informative product.

Step 5 - Choose the Right Product Portfolio Tools

Making sure your product portfolio looks professional and showcases your skills is incredibly important. Fortunately, there’s helpful tools readily available that help you create a unique portfolio that looks great and stands out. The top five are:

• Wix
• Powerpoint
• Figma for MVP
• Miro
• Asana or Trello

Using these tools to create a Product Portfolio that grabs an employer’s attention is a great way to help you get ahead. Check out this video to learn more. 

Step 5 - Ask For Feedback

Asking other PMs to review your portfolio is a great way to get suggestions and feedback before posting the final result. You can use this information to create a compelling portfolio that showcases your abilities. While it asking for feedback may seem overwhelming, having the input of a trusted professional can help you create a product portfolio that truly showcases your skills.

A product portfolio is an invaluable tool for new and experienced Product Managers. Whether you’re just starting out or are looking to further your career, having a high-quality product portfolio is key. The information in this article can help you land your dream PM job by showcasing your skills and value.

Are you ready to step into your future as a Product Manager? Dr. Nancy Li is proud to offer an exclusive FREE Product Masterclass: How to Create a Product Portfolio in Two Weeks to Land Any PM Job—Traditional or AI, Even If You've Been Laid Off or Have Zero Experience. In this class, you'll learn how to write a killer PM resume, upskill with top-tier PM strategies, nail your interview with a proven product portfolio strategy, and discover how to create and structure an unforgettable product portfolio. Your future has never looked brighter, so take the next step into becoming the Project Manager you've always dreamed of being with the proven strategies from Dr. Nancy Li.