How to Write a Product Owner CV (With Examples)

Writing a CV or resume as a Product Owner can often feel like a project in itself. You need to showcase your skills, experience, and achievements in a way that not only captures attention but also positions you as the ideal candidate for the job.

This article is designed to guide you through the process of crafting a compelling Product Owner CV or resume. We’ll provide practical tips and real examples to help you highlight your expertise in product management. Whether you’re aiming for your first role in this field or looking to advance further, a well-structured CV is your first step towards landing that Product Owner interview. Let’s dive in and explore how you can create a resume that stands out and effectively communicates your value to potential employers.

Read The Job Description / Advert

The first step is, of course, to read the job description. We need to know what the firm is looking for so that we can properly highlight these characteristics in our CV. So read back over the job description and try to pinpoint the important points. A lot of times a firm will call things “required”; if you see this, you need to make sure you include that in your CV. Similarly, if certain things are repeated throughout the advert, this indicates they are of high importance, so we will want to make sure our CV shows that as well.

When performing this analysis, take care to copy the ‘exact’ words and phrases that are being used by the hiring manager. We will want to pepper these into our CV later.

Research The Company

Time to put on your detective hat and do some research on your target company. Look at their website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms. You are looking for any piece of intel that will give you the leg up.

• Find out about recent work/projects they have undertaken or will be embarking on (highlight your experience in these areas on your CV)
• Find out what software/processes they use and make sure you include your proficiency in them in your CV
• Learn what interview questions you might expect should you make it that far

See if you know anyone who works there and/or connect (LinkedIn) with people ahead of the interview. A little nepotism could never hurt, and you might be able to glean more information about the role/hiring process in the meantime.

Find A Good CV Template

When selecting a CV template, it’s essential to opt for a simple design and structure. Not only are straightforward layouts more compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), but they also make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to quickly identify and understand key details. A clutter-free and organized CV ensures that your most important information stands out, facilitating a smoother review process for potential employers.

This is the CV template that we recommend (click here)

Write 2 Or 3 Bullet Points As A ‘Professional Summary’

A handy approach is to craft three sentences: the first highlighting your qualifications and experience, the second showcasing your biggest professional achievement, and the third detailing your most recent experience.

Detail Your Employment History

Begin by listing your employment history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. This allows potential employers to see your recent experience upfront, which holds greater value. Keep in mind that brevity is key.

As you go further back in time, reduce the level of detail to ensure your CV doesn’t exceed two pages. Employers are less likely to read lengthy CVs.

When writing about your responsibilities on your CV, focus on how you’ve made a real impact in your role as a Product Owner. Instead of simply stating “Oversaw product development cycles,” you could say “Led the development and launch of a key software product, resulting in a 40% increase in market share within the first year.” This way, you’re not just mentioning a task you were responsible for, but also highlighting your success in that area, showing potential employers your ability to drive significant results. This approach demonstrates your experience in leading important projects and your skill in boosting product performance.

Detail Your Education History

Keep your CV concise, aiming for a two-page limit. The education section can often be streamlined.

Highlight the most relevant qualifications. For instance, if you have a degree, your A-levels become less significant. Similarly, if you’re in the U.S., having an MBA overshadows your high school GPA.

Unless an older educational milestone is crucial for the job or highly pertinent, focus on showcasing your Bachelor’s degree, post-graduate studies, or professional certifications. If you lack these, mention your latest qualifications. Remember, having a Master’s suggests you’ve finished school, so no need to state the obvious. Only include your educational background if it’s pertinent to the job.

CV Structure

Tactically structure your CV to the ‘most wanted’ attributes of the job description. For example, if the job description values “qualified”, then place your qualifications first; if they want someone with RECENT experience, put your last job up top. If they want multiple years of experience, highlight your tenure.

We always recommend that you have a Professional Summary up top (after your name/contact info), as it will be the first thing that anyone reads. As discussed earlier, this should be tailored towards the job advert and showcase your experience and skills in what the employer is looking for.

A fairly typical structure would go:

1. Name and contact info
2. Professional Summary
3. Current (or most recent employment)
4. Education & Professional Qualifications
5. Employment History

WHAT NOT TO DO

Now that we’ve discussed what you should be including in your CV, let’s look at some things that you should avoid doing.

• Do not include personal history or likes. Employers are not going to care about your hobbies, so unless you have some inside information that the hiring manager only hires people who play a particular sport, for example, then leave your extracurricular activities off your CV. This does not extend to things like volunteer or charity work. Definitely include that if you have the space.
• Do not list your skillset and the tools/applications you have experience with. It takes up valuable space and is often obvious (Skilled in Excel…?). Instead, include these in your achievements section (Example: “Used Asana to manage and coordinate tasks for a remote team of 25 members”).
• Do not include references or “references available on request”. If employers want a reference, they will ask you for them; otherwise, this is just wasted space on your CV.
• Do not include a photo of yourself unless specifically asked. In many countries, including the UK and US, you should not include a photo of yourself on your CV/resume. Companies don’t want you to do it, as it opens them up to liability, and there is absolutely nothing for you to gain by doing so – plus, you are making it easier for firms to discriminate against you, either implicitly or explicitly.
• Do not use any fancy graphic or artistic CV format. Most CVs come in a standard format, allowing Application Tracking Software, recruiters and hiring managers to easily pick out the key pieces of information they need quickly based on their experience. If you throw them a CV in an artistic format, they are more likely to get annoyed and throw your application away. This is not a situation where standing out is good. You want your skills/experience to be noted, not your CV format.
• Do not include your previous salaries. This will severely impact your negotiation abilities down the line.

Product Owner CV Tips – Recap

Let’s recap what we’ve discussed so far:

Understand the Role of a Product Owner
🎯 Before you start writing your CV, make sure you have a clear understanding of what a Product Owner does. This role often involves managing product development from conception to launch, working with cross-functional teams, and ensuring the product meets the market needs. Your CV should reflect these responsibilities and skills.

Highlight Agile and Scrum Experience
🔄 As a Product Owner, your familiarity with Agile and Scrum methodologies is crucial. Make sure to highlight your experience in these areas. Mention specific projects where you’ve applied these methodologies and the positive outcomes that resulted.

Quantify Your Achievements
📈 Don’t just list your responsibilities; quantify your achievements. For example, instead of saying “Managed a team,” say “Led a team of 10 developers and designers to launch a product that increased customer engagement by 30%.”

Showcase Your Leadership Skills
👥 Emphasize your leadership and team management skills. Product Owners often lead teams and need to communicate effectively with various stakeholders. Include examples of successful team projects or times when you’ve navigated challenging team dynamics.

Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Abilities
🧩 Product Owners need to be adept at solving problems and making decisions. Provide examples of how you’ve tackled challenges or made key decisions that positively impacted a project.

Include Relevant Tools and Technologies
💻 Mention any specific tools, technologies, or software you’re proficient in that are relevant to being a Product Owner, such as JIRA, Trello, or specific analytics tools.

Tailor Your CV for Each Application
📝 Customize your CV for each job you apply for. Pay attention to the job description and emphasize the experiences and skills that are most relevant to the role.

Keep It Concise and Clear
📄 Ensure your CV is easy to read and doesn’t contain unnecessary information. Use clear headings, bullet points, and keep it to a maximum of two pages.

Proofread and Get Feedback
✅ Always proofread your CV for any spelling or grammatical errors. It can also be helpful to get feedback from colleagues or mentors in the industry.

Product Owner CV Sample

Below is an example CV from someone with a number of years experience in the field. For an editable .DOCX version, click here.

Click here to see page 2…