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New job prospect? Product Manager?
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Author:  bish [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:42 pm ]
Post subject:  New job prospect? Product Manager?

Hi guys, recently I've been feelings like I want to get out of this office and try something new. I'm young and that is understandable, but I have potential to be something great. I've always asked for someone to give me something where I can show them what I can do, but never been given the chance to prove my words aren't just hollow. (without sounding big headed)

I've been looking at other jobs recently, and to my suprise and email from out CD pops up earlier. With this in side. (Have a read below)

I guess my question to you is, how do you think I can show people that I can do this kind of job, and for them to let me give me a chance, but in an interview?


Quote:
Job Specification

JOB TITLE: Product Manager – Custom Procedure Trays
DEPARTMENT: Commercial
LOCATION: Mountain Ash
REPORTING TO: Commercial Director
SALARY: Negotiable and dependent on background and experience

PURPOSE OF JOB:

+ Responsible for directing the development of the custom procedure tray product group within the overall portfolio
+ Manage product life cycle of individual lines within the range from conception to deletion
+ Stock management to ensure optimal breadth and quantities are held to support growing market whilst minimising negative impact of high stockholding whilst also reducing the number of slow and non-moving lines
+ Margin analysis and cost management to maintain product line profitability

+ Define and drive value engineering projects to maintain product competitiveness
+ Working with Purchasing to identify and manage key suppliers to ensure highest service levels and access to innovation
+ Understand and monitor broader sales strategies in order to add value to key accounts across the business
+ Oversee market research and monitor competitive advantage to maintain Rocialle as key performer in its sector
+ Work with Marketing to design, develop and promote the range using the full marketing mix
+ Lead new product development and innovation within the range through the New Product Development process
+ Co-ordinate and own the process for introducing new or alternative materials into the product range
+ Work with Sales and Tender teams to ensure the successful and timely submission of tenders and quotes

BACKGROUND TO APPOINTMENT:

+ Sunlight Clinical Solutions is a leading provider of clinical procedure solutions, operating from a number of locations in the UK
+ This high profile position is critical to the development of the organisation and will assume full responsibility for shaping current and future product ranges to deliver top and bottom line growth through unrivalled customers satisfaction.

EXPERIENCE:

+ Ideal candidates will have:-
+ Sales or other frontline commercial experience.
+ Creative and strategic approach to marketing high cost, low volume products and vice versa.
+ A good standard of oral and written communication.
+ Tenacious belief in our product range and how they integrate with other product streams.
+ Member of a multi-disciplinary team, where communication and can-do attitude are as important as total sales.
+ Integrity and professionalism demonstrated by their career path.

PERSONALITY:

+ Enthusiastic, hard working, determined and positive self-starter to work for long periods without close supervision.
+ Close attention to detail and very well organised.
+ Self motivated and enthusiastic with a determination to succeed.
+ Planner with priority setting and meeting objectives.



I do have a background of the products that we produce here, and I understand the process of making, and the marketing side of things too, just for refrence.

Author:  saspro [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

I'd say you need to explain you're knowledge of the products, the market you supply, any experience of covering for managers positions and give examples of projects you've managed before (doesn't have to be field related).
I'll ask someone else I know in med supplies for ideas.

(can you remove the doublespacing, makes it hard to read with all the scrolling)

Author:  Linux_User [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

It's worth applying even if you don't get it, if only because that demonstrates you're looking to advance and that you're throwing your hat in the ring.

Author:  bish [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

I havn't been to an interview in ages. I lock up and babble.

Any interview tips?

Author:  AlunD [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

bish wrote:
I havn't been to an interview in ages. I lock up and babble.

Any interview tips?

That's another great reason for applying then - to get interview practise.

Dress sensibly
Be on time / early
Do some research before hand.
Have some "interesting" questions to ask them.

I realise that the point below probably sounds daft. But it has served me well for many many years.
Get in your mind before hand that you aren't going to get the job, so there is no pressure on you at the interview.

Author:  timark_uk [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

bish wrote:
I lock up and babble.
How does that work? (8+/

Mark

Author:  bish [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

The only advice that I could take from there, Alun, which is diffrent to what I already know and that is the interesting questions bit.

I've always tried to ask questions in interviews rather than just saying, uhm, nah it's fine.

What kind of interesting things could I ask them?

If you want to know the company it's for it's Rocialle Ltd

Author:  bish [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

timark_uk wrote:
bish wrote:
I lock up and babble.
How does that work? (8+/

Mark


Works by me, not knowing what to say next, like my mind goes completely blank. Like my mind will wander, because it's so under pressue. And I talk about things that I shouldn't, or talk a bit quick. They can tell I'm nervous?

Author:  AlunD [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

Its not an industry I have any experience of but how about.

What do they see as the products biggest competitor and why?

What do they see as the products USP (s) ?

Where does the product fit in with their roadmap / strategy over the next x years.

In my field I would ask what they perceive as being the biggest risk to the projects success.

What do they perceive as the problem areas?

Are there any critical deadline dates and if so why?

Author:  okenobi [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

If you're persuasive enough as a person (which I reckon you could be, going on the extremely limited knowledge I have of you from your posts here!) in the interview, you may not need to prove experience. The key thing to remember, is what do they want? Providing you make it appear that you can deliver that and more in the interview, you'll usually bag the job. Might sound obvious and pointless, but really think about it. A lot of people don't. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the Commercial Director and think why does he/she need this person? What is he/she looking to achieve (in general)? And crucially, how can you help to achieve that?

Any job like that requires big picture thinking and a good manager will recognise that above actual experience. Good luck!

Oh, also, great question for the end of the interview. If you feel it's gone well, ask, "Do you have any doubts about me performing the role?". This shows great self-awareness and will force them to either say "no", in which case it's looking very good, or say yes and then you can explore their objections and overcome them.

Author:  leeds_manc [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

The job description is designed to filter people out, it's not 'really' what they're looking for, they don't really know what they're looking for, show them what they're looking for!

Author:  tombolt [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

Is this part of a graduate training programme and you're at uni? Cos if not, I wouldn't bother. It's a pretty high spec job and you're not going to walk into it with no experience.

Author:  Nick [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

That sounds like an incredibly snobbish thing to say, Tombolt. :?

Author:  dogbert10 [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

What positions have you held in the past, and may I enquire as to how old you are (roughly speaking)?

Author:  Zippy [ Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New job prospect? Product Manager?

I did something quite similar about 2 years ago. I knew I didn't want to do any of the jobs I've been formally trained for, so I sat down with someone much wiser than me and figured out exactly what I wanted from a job.

Remember, the interview isn't just for the employer to decide if they want you, it's also for you to decide if you want them!!

My best advice is play to your strengths, pick each thing from the list of requirements and think of a time in other jobs when you have demonstrated an ability to do that thing, not necessarily in the specific way they ask for, but demonstrate that you are able to use the experience you have, applying it to their requirements as well as the requirements of any other job you think you'd like to do.

Luckily, in Feb 08, my boss took a chance on me because she could see my potential and I've never been happier. You need a company with vision and the ability to see past the paperwork and visualise you performing that role. If they don't have that kind of vision, then they're not the company you want to work for.

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