Case Study: Reverse Recruitment Process for Product Manager Opportunities in AI/Tech

At The Hidden Market, we often meet candidates who don’t want to rely on mass applications. Instead, they’re looking for a strategic partner to position them effectively and open doors directly with decision-makers.

Here’s a real example of a candidate’s requirements — and our tailored proposal to help them.

The Candidate’s Goal

Our candidate wanted to secure a Product Manager role in AI/Tech — or alternatively position themselves as a Fractional Product Leader. They wanted more than CV tweaks; they needed a strategy to stand out with founders, CEOs, and Heads of Product.

Background Snapshot

• Corporate: Former Lead Consultant at Manhattan, driving client delivery and cross-functional projects.
• Startup/AI: Designed, built, and launched multiple AI-driven products. Managed offshore teams, product strategy, and delivery from idea to launch.
• Founder Experience: Built AI solutions for small businesses, handling sales, product design, and support — gaining deep end-to-end exposure to product lifecycles and scaling challenges.

With this mix of corporate leadership and hands-on AI product delivery, they were ready to move into larger-scale AI/Tech opportunities.

Candidate’s Requirements

• Build a professional portfolio (Notion or personal site) showcasing consulting and startup projects.
• Develop positioning for both Product Manager and Fractional Product Leader routes.
• Create outreach assets: one-pager, Loom video script, tailored messaging.
• Target recently funded AI/Tech startups for direct outreach.
• Step-by-step guidance for networking, outreach tracking, and follow-ups.

Our Proposal: Reverse Recruitment Approach

Unlike traditional recruiters who work for employers, we act as the candidate’s representative. For this client, our approach included:

• Positioning: Evaluated career story and crafted unique positioning opportunities beyond the obvious highlights.
• Portfolio: Supported creation of a Notion-based portfolio to present projects as case studies with outcomes.
• Market Mapping: Identified decision-makers across target AI/Tech companies — from CEOs to Heads of Product.
• Outreach: Designed a personalised, high-quality outreach strategy — avoiding “spray & pray” job board submissions.
• Representation: Approached decision-makers directly on the candidate’s behalf, creating higher response rates and credibility.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Discovery: Reviewed career goals, achievements, and role preferences.
2. Targeting: Built a curated list of AI/Tech companies and stakeholders.
3. Outreach: Sent personalised outreach to leaders and recruiters.
4. Follow-Up: Managed ongoing communications with interested parties.
5. Support: Prepared the candidate for interviews and negotiations.

Outcome & Expectations

For this client, we expected initial traction within 2–6 weeks, with conversations starting almost immediately thanks to targeted outreach.

Unlike mass applications, this approach ensured the candidate was seen by decision-makers earlier and positioned as a unique, high-value professional rather than just another CV.