maira-correia-angis-mba

Posted in:Advice Favors Job Hunting Welcome Career Growth

Hello,

My name is Maira! I am 32 and I am an experienced product owner and project manager, my last role being a Product Owner for magazine publisher Dotdash Meredith. I've also completed both my Certfied Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Product Owner certifications.

I was impacted by the layoffs last year and have been searching for a new opportunity since October of 2023. This market has definitely been really tough and even with my certifications, years of experience, and referrals, I have not had much luck. I've been through to final round interviews and I'm either told the role is no longer being filled at all, I don't have industry specific experience, or I don't get any feedback. I'm definitely open to any and all constructive feedback to help me finally land a new role.

I have taken this time to review and update my resume, continue training and staying up-to-date on trends and overall business. I have also taken some time to do things I enjoy so as to not get overwhelmed with the stress of the job hunt, like reading, baking, spending time with family and friends, and even doing some freelance work.

I'm excited to join this community and have the opportunity to connect with and learn from some amazing women.

Iynna·Oct 08

it is so nice to meet you Maira! And you're doing all the right things IMHO to stay sane while setting you up for success for your next adventure. I confirm it's not you, it's the macroeconomic environment that's making it really hard for you to land something. However you're in a great position as your profile is attracting employers so don't despair!I've directed other elpha members to these resources - so I already apologise if it feels spammy (as it's not the intention at all)- elpha.com/c/job-board - lots of roles being shared here by community members- the official elpha board elpha.com/jobs for our elpha partners companies- join my fund talent network https://jobs.thembafund.com/onboarding to stay up to date on all our companies openings :) we have a LOT of roles- check this https://elpha.com/posts/97mxpmj5/job-opportunities

mcorreiaangis·Oct 10

Hi Iynna! Thanks so much for the support and the added resources. I really appreciate the kind words.

Iynna·Oct 10

Anytime :)

LuCoach·Oct 09

Hey Maira, fellow ex- PO / PM here (I left the industry recently) cheering for you - this market "low point" shall pass and I celebrate that, once the job hunt passes, it will find you prepared, both "technically" and also mentally to start a new adventure with batteries charged. I was in the same place a few times in the past and I remember how hard it was for me to balance my (mental) health with the drive to push harder on the job hunting. I celebrate you try to balance both, I used to sacrifice one for the other. I am not sure how I can best support you, but I have 2 ears (in Europe, in case we are on different time zones) and a "digital shoulder" you can rest whenever you need 8 minutes (check this to see what I mean :D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IcQ2QFrSA4) or wish to chat with a complete stranger about it :))

mcorreiaangis·Oct 10

Thank you so much, I really appreciate the support. With having left the industry recently, what path have you decided to take career wise?

LuCoach·Oct 10

As a PM/PO I found myself wearing many hats, one of them related to lifting people up, (product & agile) coaching them, building teams & trust, conflict management, smoothing things out ... you know... the things that normally go unnoticed when the focus is on OKRs / KPIs and such. Now I am exploring whether I can build a new career as a professional coach (preferably internally in a company because I really miss working with teams and I find my freelance life now quite lonely) - I will give myself some time to lift off cause I feel I am starting something from zero and we´ll see what the future holds. I think of Steve Job´s words a lot: "it all makes sense looking back". Probably the "new label" does not matter that much, what matters is what drives us to move forward and I hope you will keep your drive, keep taking baby steps forward, apply to jobs, interview, learn, take care of your well being - baby steps, even if small, still move you forward although it might seem otherwise sometimes.You were also, for sure, wearing many hats - and looking back I hope you realize what a multifaceted person and professional you are, how much value you brought and will bring to the environments you were part of and how much you still have left in you to explore, offer, learn and ... live ❤️Let us know how we can support you.

rachelserwetz·Nov 08

Hi Maira,Welcome to the community! It sounds like you've been taking all the right steps during this challenging job search, from upskilling and refining your resume to balancing the process with hobbies and family time. Your experience as a Product Owner, along with your CSM and CSPO certifications, is a solid foundation, and you’re certainly not alone in facing setbacks in today’s market.Here are a few tips that might help you build momentum and stand out even more in this competitive environment:Showcase Transferable Skills: If industry-specific experience is a barrier, consider highlighting skills that are broadly applicable, such as stakeholder management, product lifecycle expertise, or cross-functional team leadership. Emphasizing the versatility of these skills on your resume and LinkedIn can help potential employers see how your experience applies beyond any one industry.Tailor Applications Strategically: For each application, make slight adjustments to your resume and cover letter to address specific job requirements and key skills mentioned in the job description. This can help catch the eye of recruiters and hiring managers, showing them you’re already familiar with their industry’s needs.Leverage Your Network for Informational Interviews: As you’ve likely seen, reaching the final interview stage is a big accomplishment, especially in this market! One additional strategy could be to connect with professionals in target industries and request informational interviews. This can help you better understand industry nuances and even help you pick up on keywords or priorities you can use in your applications.Consider a Personal Project or Portfolio: If you haven’t already, creating a portfolio of your recent freelance work or other projects can give hiring managers a real sense of your skills and approach. This is especially useful in product management, where employers love to see tangible examples of problem-solving, process improvement, and stakeholder engagement.Ask for Specific Feedback When Possible: If you have any established connections within companies where you’ve interviewed, consider reaching out to politely ask for feedback. Even if you don’t receive direct answers, you may gain some insights that will help with future applications.Your proactive and positive approach is inspiring, and I’m confident that the right role will come along. If you'd like more targeted feedback on your resume or job search strategy, I'd be happy to help. Feel free to book a call here: bit.ly/Call_Form. Looking forward to seeing where your journey takes you!