I'd love to make the jump from consulting into product marketing, and would love any advice you have for making that transition. How would you suggest showing that my skills are transferable to product marketing?

I think transitioning from consulting to product marketing is a natural move, as many of the skills you’ve developed in consulting are highly relevant to product marketing. Here’s how you can make that transition and demonstrate your transferable skills:

1. Leverage analytical and strategic skills

• Showcase problem-solving: Highlight your ability to analyze complex problems and develop strategic solutions. Product marketing often involves understanding market challenges and crafting strategies to address them, a skill honed in consulting.

• Data-driven decision-making: Emphasize your experience with data analysis and making data-driven recommendations. Product marketers need to understand market data, customer insights, and performance metrics to shape their strategies.

2. Highlight communication and presentation skills

• Effective messaging: In consulting, you’ve likely developed strong communication skills, particularly in creating clear and persuasive messaging for clients. This directly translates to crafting compelling product messaging and positioning in product marketing.

• Stakeholder management: Your experience in presenting ideas and influencing stakeholders in consulting can be a significant asset. Product marketers frequently need to communicate the value proposition to internal teams, sales, and customers.

3. Emphasize cross-functional collaboration

• Team coordination: In consulting, you’ve worked across various functions and teams to deliver projects. Product marketing also requires close collaboration with product management, sales, engineering, and customer support, making your experience highly relevant.

• Influence and leadership: Highlight your ability to lead and influence teams without direct authority, a key aspect of both consulting and product marketing.

4. Draw parallels between consulting projects and product marketing

• Client-centric approach: Consulting often involves understanding client needs and crafting tailored solutions. In product marketing, this translates to understanding customer needs and developing targeted messaging and positioning.

• Project examples: Provide examples of consulting projects where you were involved in market analysis, customer segmentation, or go-to-market strategy. These are directly relevant to product marketing roles.

5. Build industry knowledge and product understanding

• Learn the industry: If you’re moving into a new industry, start building your knowledge of the market, competitors, and customer needs. This will help you speak the language of product marketing in that sector.

• Understand the product lifecycle: Familiarize yourself with the stages of the product lifecycle and how marketing strategies shift at each stage. This understanding will strengthen your case for the transition.

6. Network with product marketers

• Seek informational interviews: Connect with product marketers to learn more about the role and how your consulting experience can be applied. These conversations can also help you refine your pitch when discussing your transferable skills.

• Join industry groups: Engage in product marketing communities, both online and in-person, to expand your network and learn from those already in the field.

7. Tailor your resume, pitch and look into certifications

• Translate your experience: When updating your resume, frame your consulting experience in terms of product marketing. For example, if you worked on a market entry strategy, position it as experience in go-to-market strategy development.

• Craft a compelling story: Be ready to articulate why you’re transitioning into product marketing and how your consulting background uniquely positions you to succeed in this role. Highlight your passion for understanding the customer and developing strategies that drive business outcomes.

• Pursue certifications: If needed, consider certifications in product marketing or related areas to bridge any gaps and show your commitment to the field. Some good ones are Pragmatic Institute and the Product Marketing Alliance.

By framing your consulting experience in a way that aligns with the key responsibilities of product marketing, you can effectively demonstrate that your skills are transferable and make a compelling case for your transition.