500 Applications, 0 Offers — The AI Strategy That Will Get You Hired

The Product Job Market is Brutal in 2025. Here’s How to Stand Out. PM layoffs are at an all-time high. Microsoft, Amazon, Philips — the demand for product roles is 10x lower, and competition is fiercer than ever. In this value-packed conversation, Sid talks with Akash Gupta (ex-Stripe PM, top LinkedIn creator, and host of one of the fastest-growing product podcasts) about: ✅ The top 3 skills that actually correlate with offers ✅ Real AI job search strategies (with tools & prompts) ✅ Resume hacks that beat ATS using Google Gemini 2.5 Pro ✅ Why most referrals are useless—and how to get the right one ✅ How to negotiate compensation without losing your offer Meet Hosts: Srinath - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/skotela/] Phani - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/phanivuyyuru] Sid - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sidsaladi/] [https://sidsaladi.substack.com/ [https://mobile.twitter.com/Sidsaladi] 💎 Here are more resources for you 🚀 The Ultimate PM Launch Pad - Blast Off Your Career Now! 🚀 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0KSCr65RCTOupMjArBvrML5VWUGzaKqt 🧰 Master the PM Toolkit - Equip Yourself for Success! 🧰 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0KSCr65RCTM4acJOjQYFvOVMzfiEFlqE ⚡️ Stay Ahead of the Tech Curve - Charge Your Knowledge Now! ⚡️ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0KSCr65RCTMvYe4lAYpfdbDoNdPbA33o Whether you’re a new PM or a senior product leader, this episode will change how you approach your job search. 🔥 Akash’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aagupta/ 📬 Subscribe for more product career content every week. #ProductManagement #JobSearch #AItools #ResumeTips #TechLayoffs Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & Akash’s podcast journey 01:30 – Why podcast growth is hard & distribution lessons 03:30 – Layoffs and the PM job market collapse in 2025 06:00 – Supply vs Demand: Why PM roles are down 90% 08:00 – Why old job strategies don’t work anymore 09:30 – Top 3 skills that lead to job offers: Business, Structured, Strategic thinking 12:45 – How to showcase Business Impact as a new PM 14:45 – Structuring behavioral & case interview answers 17:10 – Why CIRCLES isn’t enough & how to build custom frameworks 19:10 – Strategic thinking: What it actually means 21:00 – How new PMs can develop & demonstrate strategy 23:00 – Resume Optimization with AI: Live Gemini 2.5 Pro demo 26:00 – The ideal 30-minute job application strategy 28:30 – What makes a cold referral useless 30:00 – How to turn cold outreach into real referrals 32:00 – Differentiated referral tactics (coffee invites, Loom videos, etc.) 35:00 – Strong vs. Weak vs. Medium referrals 37:00 – Interview Funnel: Diagnosing where you're failing 39:30 – Tools to self-analyze your interviews (transcripts, AI reviews) 42:00 – Best AI tools for job search: Akash's stack breakdown 44:30 – One AI tool to start with today 46:00 – Prompt engineering tips for better results 48:00 – Why context and output matter more than “act as” 51:00 – Salary Negotiation with AI: Strategy and PIR explained 54:30 – Using Grok to research offers and prepare negotiations 57:00 – Future of PM with AI (1 year vs. 3 year view) 59:30 – AI tool ideas Akash wants someone to build 01:01:00 – How to reach Akash Gupta Tags: product manager job search 2025 product management interview tips AI for resume writing Google Gemini 2.5 Pro resume how to get product manager job Akash Gupta product management how to negotiate salary PM referral tips product management resume mistakes product manager how to use AI for job search product sense interview prep Everything Product Podcast product management career tips