Mentor insights on what recruiters truly value in a product management resume beyond buzzwords.
Read MoreWhat Recruiters Actually Look for in a Product Management Resume (Mentor Insights)
- Dec 24, 2025
- Mentor Insights
Meet the Mentor
Arun Nandewal is a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft and an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad and NIT Karnataka. With a professional background transitioning from software development at Myntra to leading product initiatives at Microsoft, he offers a 360-degree perspective on the product lifecycle. As a mentor at GoCrackIt, Arun helps candidates transform technical experiences into impact-heavy stories that prove their business value to recruiters.
Many candidates believe that having a strong background from a top-tier engineering college and an internship at a major retail firm is enough to guarantee a shortlist. However, in the modern hiring landscape, even a high-performing profile can get lost in the noise.
This was the challenge faced by a BITS School of Management (BITSoM) student during a recent session with Arun Nandewal. Despite having a specialized B.Tech in Data Analytics from VIT and a high-impact Product Management internship at BigBasket, the student struggled to translate those achievements into a format that resonated with top-tier recruiters. The mentor identified that the difference between a rejection and an interview often comes down to how a candidate navigates the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and their ability to own and quantify the results of their work.
The Gap Between Experience and Visibility
The mentee began the session by listing a diverse range of achievements: engineering in data analytics, a project designing communication devices for the blind, and a recent product management internship. On paper, the experience was impressive. But as the mentor noted, “It is no more only about people in Human resource… all the companies are using Application Tracking Systems. They filter out by keywords.”
The first lesson was clear: it does not matter what you have done if the system cannot find the relevant terms. The mentor pointed out that a resume must be optimized for the specific companies a candidate is targeting. For product management roles, generic descriptions of tasks are insufficient. “If the keywords are there, you’ll get shortlisted,” the mentor emphasized.
The mentor provided a specific list of keywords used by top firms like Media.net to filter their applicant pools:
- Core PM Competencies: Customer interaction, roadmap development, prioritization, and A/B testing.
- Methodologies & Strategy: Design thinking, data-driven decision making, competitor benchmarking, and customer segmentation.
- Technical & Analytical Skills: MVP design and root cause analysis.
Turning Descriptions into Product-Centric Results
A common mistake in resumes is describing what you did rather than the impact you had. The mentee had initially written: “Visited 3+ dark stores and distribution centers, gaining operational insights to drive product innovation” The mentor immediately suggested a shift in terminology to align with industry expectations. “I would reword it as: Understood the customer journey and onboarding process for dark stores and distribution centers for 3+ dark stores.”
This change moves the point from a passive activity to a strategic product insight. Similarly, the mentee had mentioned working on picker forecasting and warehouse features. The mentor refined these points by utilizing industry-standard terms that highlight the candidate’s impact: “Designed MVP for multi-order picking and bulk stacking feature for dark stores.” and “Conducted competitor research and benchmarking for export modules of WMS.” By using industry-standard terms like MVP Design and Competitor Research, the resume signals to the recruiter that the candidate is industry-ready
The mentor also advised on the structural hierarchy of the document. Despite the mentee’s previous work experience in logistics, the mentor insisted that the most recent product management internship should go on the top. Because it is the most relevant experience for a Product Manager role, it serves as the primary hook for the reader.
The Professional Mindset: Claiming Your Value
The most critical turning point in the session occurred when the mentor noticed that numbers were missing from the internship pointers. The mentee admitted he had been hesitant to ask his managers for the final data.
The mentor recognized this as a common emotional barrier where students feel they are overstepping by asking for performance metrics after an internship ends. He corrected this mindset immediately: “This is a very, very, very wrong mindset. You were associated with the company in a professional capacity hence it is completely normal to ask for your performance data. “
The mentor explained that the relationship between an intern and a company is a professional exchange.The managers expect interns to use their results for their career growth. “Never assume there is bad blood,” the mentor advised. He emphasized that in a professional environment, managers expect requests for data and results; they see it as a standard business practice rather than a personal imposition.
The mentor encouraged the mentee to collect specific metrics through a Product Lens, categorizing them to show clear impact:
- Engagement: Daily Active Users (DAU), Monthly Active Users (MAU), and average session time.
- Retention: Subscription rates and Purchase Repeat Rate.
- Adoption: New user growth and top-of-funnel conversion.
- Revenue: Average order size.
Without these numbers, the ATS and recruiters have no way to measure the scale of a candidate’s contribution.
Refining Scannability and Skill Integration
A resume often fails because it is cluttered with “filler” words that take up space without adding value. The mentor identified that for an MBA student, high school stats are no longer relevant.
Regarding skills, the mentor advised against listing tools like Figma or SQL in a separate, isolated box. “If you can show how you used Figma to do a specific task in your internship, then it makes sense,” the mentor suggested. By integrating tools directly into the project descriptions, the candidate proves they can actually apply the technology.
The mentor also removed vague headers like “Communication.” His critique was direct: “These are filler words where there is no substance.” He explained that these traits must be proven through the results of the work. For instance, instead of stating you are good at communication, your resume should show it through points that describe successful collaborations or project approvals.
The Roadmap Beyond the Resume
To conclude the session, the mentor provided a specific self-study roadmap to ensure the mentee could back up the improved resume during an interview.
The mentor suggested focusing on specific industry resources: “Open YouTube and see Exponent Product Management... watch these mock interviews.” He also recommended foundational texts like Cracking the PM Interview and Decode and Conquer to help the mentee transition from a student mindset to a product mindset.
Conclusion
The transition from a student resume to a professional Product Management profile is a strategic shift. As seen in this session, at GoCrackIt, Mentors help realign your professional narrative with industry expectations.
Key Takeaways for Your Product Management Resume:
- ATS Optimization: Use exact keywords to ensure you pass through hiring algorithms.
- Strategic Hierarchy: Place your most relevant experience at the top. Recruiters decide in seconds; make sure the first thing they see is your strongest “Product” hook.
- Quantifiable Impact: Do not let “shyness” prevent you from claiming your metrics. Quantified results are the evidence of your value on a resume.
- Skill Integration: Instead of a standalone list, weave tools like SQL or Figma directly into your bullet points to prove hands-on application.
The goal of a GoCrackIt mentor-led review is to transform your resume from a history of the past into a targeted roadmap for your future. Our mentors provide the industry-specific lens needed to turn high-potential experience into a winning shortlist.
Is your resume ready for the Product Management shortlist? Book a Resume Review session with a GoCrackIt mentor today.
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