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Summary
We’re thrilled to bring to the Rosenverse an AMA dedicated to finding and getting UX jobs! Co-led by Dave Hoffer, a design leader / hiring manager (from PwC, McKinsey, frog design) and Joanne Weaver, a recruiting agency owner (clients include: Mailchimp, Etsy, Justworks, Grubhub, NY Life), we held an insightful one-hour AMA to address all your job search questions. Join us! Whether seeking advice on crafting your ideal resume, how to nail your interviews, or understanding what employers are looking for in candidates today, attendees brought their best questions. Dave and Joanne are longtime design career coaches and know how to help. Gain valuable insights from us and each other!
Key Insights
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Asking for employer permission is the best approach to share NDA-protected work in portfolios.
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Creating spec work can supplement portfolios when real work cannot be shown due to restrictions.
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In a tight market, accepting a lower salary can be strategic to get your foot in the door.
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Recent graduates should leverage paid internships, community meetups, and spec projects to build experience.
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Being transparent about career gaps with honest explanations is generally preferred by hiring managers.
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Metrics on impact are often unavailable or unreliable; anecdotal success stories and shipped projects still count.
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AI is becoming integral to design roles; learning its basics is crucial despite rapid evolution.
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Short, engaging video portfolio presentations may appeal to some hiring managers but risk alienating others.
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Authenticity and personal storytelling help candidates stand out more than trying to appear as all things to all people.
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Building support networks and job search cohorts provides critical feedback and reduces feelings of isolation.
Notable Quotes
"Hopefulness is the warrior emotion that can lay waste to cynicism."
"You can’t just share NDA work freely; sometimes companies reject candidates over that."
"If you don’t have any work, make some spec work labeled clearly as such."
"Showing up is half the battle, whether it’s a call or organizing a meetup."
"Launching and shipping things is huge and counts as impact even without hard metrics."
"Everything is designed; living in a design world means seeing opportunities all around you."
"Sometimes being authentic and sharing unique hobbies makes you memorable to recruiters."
"AI is here to stay, and ignoring it is dangerous for designers."
"Portfolio videos need to be short and clear; otherwise, they’re a big ask for busy hiring managers."
"Build your story around what you’ve done, what you’re doing, and what you want to do."
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