What do product leaders need to consider when hiring in a changing tech landscape? In this episode hosted by Nacho Andrade, Launchpad Recruiting Labs Founder John LaMarche shares his expertise on building high-impact product teams in today’s evolving tech industry. He discusses current hiring trends, the impact of AI on product roles, and strategies for job seekers to stand out in a competitive market. John offers valuable insights on networking, personal branding, and the shift towards fractional work, providing actionable advice for both recruiters and job candidates in the product management field.
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Show Notes
- The tech industry is experiencing a pullback in innovation investment, affecting hiring trends.
- Companies are focusing more on profitability and maintaining existing products rather than new features.
- AI is impacting the job market, with a shift towards chatbots and less UI-intensive products.
- Senior expertise is valuable but companies often opt for junior hires to cut costs.
- Fractional or part-time work can be a good way to get a foot in the door with companies.
- Networking with former colleagues and bosses is crucial for finding job opportunities.
- Online communities and Slack channels are becoming important sources for job postings.
- Personal branding is essential for product managers to stand out in a competitive market.
- Resumes should be tailored to specific job descriptions to increase chances of success.
- Cover letters are becoming less important due to the rise of AI-generated content.
- The myth of ATS systems automatically rejecting resumes is largely unfounded.
- Recruiters often review 50 resumes at a time to manage large volumes of applications.
- Creating a website to showcase your portfolio can enhance a product manager’s candidacy.
- Job seekers should focus on quality applications over quantity.
- Networking should not be limited to people who can directly offer jobs.
- Board members and investors can be valuable connections for job seekers.
- Job searching should be treated as a part-time job, with dedicated hours and breaks.
- Different types of recruiters (agency vs. in-house) have different orientations and compensation structures.
- Product managers should be aware of different PM personas and align their branding accordingly.
- Self-care and maintaining a work-life balance are important during the job search process.
About the speaker
Founder of Launchpad Recruiting Labs, John has extensive experience building high-impact Product, Engineering, Design, and Go-to-Market teams. His authentic, innovative, data-informed approach has led to over 1200 hires across four continents. Anchored in honesty and wisdom, John solves hiring problems with truth and clarity. His proven methodologies transform hiring from a tactical chore to strategic advantage.
About the host
Nacho is an Evangelist for all things product, advocating for innovation, diversity, and building amazing products. Nacho has spent over 10 years in product roles ranging from startups to enterprise in industries like education, healthcare, finance and gaming.