Found By Few’s Post

This is probably my most candid post. I never imagined my life would end up this way, but really, who would? I was laid off six months ago after my position was eliminated. Since then, I have only managed to get three interviews out of the hundreds+ applications I have sent into the void. My unemployment is set to end in a few weeks. My family recently had our EBT benefits taken away (This is what had been guaranteeing our survival) And today, we lost our only vehicle. Our only means of getting around efficiently. We are in dire straits. I have never been so consumed with dread. I have a two-year-old to think of, and honestly, I don't know what to do. I am working on projects to update my portfolio. I am still applying for jobs. I need help. If you have worked with me, know me, know the dedicated and hard-working person I am, and you have a job you think I would make a good fit for, please let me know. I want to work. I want to ensure my family is stable again. I am a Junior UX Designer/Writer. https://lnkd.in/ggsrvCKF My current projects are: Designing an analytics/stats page for a mobile app. Developing a separate mobile app to track specific food data. Creating a small mobile game. All of this working with a developer in my free time. I have the experience, I have the drive, I have the skill. I need a job. #uxjobs #hireme #openforopportunities UX Jobs #juniordesigner #userexperience #ux #uxdesign #userexperiencedesign

Reflecting on a recent conversation I had with an inspiring individual who made the leap into UX design. She's dedicated, driven, and has honed her skills through self-training, culminating in a robust portfolio. Now, she's on the hunt for her first UX design role, and it's proving to be a challenge. She shared with me her frustration at the paradox of "junior" job offers demanding 2-3 years of experience. It's a sentiment many budding professionals can relate to – the expectation doesn't quite align with the label. 😅 I can't help but wonder why companies publish such requirements. Is it a strategy to filter out candidates or a misguided attempt to set the bar high? Frankly, it seems counterproductive. Any company adopting this approach risks losing credibility. From my perspective, hiring junior designers is not only logical but also advantageous. They bring a fresh perspective, unwavering motivation, and a hunger to prove themselves. They're adaptable, eager to learn, and often more loyal in the long run. So here's my advice: Don't let the years of experience listed on a job offer deter you. Take a chance, seize opportunities, and showcase your potential. Your enthusiasm and dedication will speak volumes. P.S. If you're seeking junior designers or know someone who is in Paris or Lyon (salute!), feel free to reach out to me. Let's connect talent with opportunity! ✨

I'm thrilled to share about a remarkable professional in my network, someone who stands out for her critical thinking and innovative approach. She's a excellent in challenging the status quo, bringing fresh perspectives to conventional ideas. Her proficiency in comprehending complex white papers is unparalleled, demonstrating a deep understanding of intricate subjects. This isn't just about academic intelligence; it's about applying that knowledge effectively in real-world scenarios. She's not just informed; she holds strong, well-reasoned positions on the topics she discusses. Her belief in the power of a well-defined product process is contagious! If your team values someone who can shake things up, question the given, and drive forward with insightful, well-researched views, she's your ideal candidate. 🚀 Take her to an interview, and you'll understand why I suggest thinking twice before letting such a talent slip away. This is an opportunity to bring someone truly exceptional into your team. #Hiring #CriticalThinking #ChangeMakers

Here's a new way to think about getting that UX/UI job you want! I know it's a tough market right now. I keep hearing: It's a numbers game. Just apply for as many jobs as possible, and eventually, someone will hire you. I just talked to someone last week who applied to 3000 jobs without any success. 🤯🤯🤯 That's exhausting and utterly discouraging. With numbers like that you have to ask yourself, what are you missing? Why are you just a number and your number doesn't get picked? How can you design a better application experience for yourself? One that actually lands you a job! How can you stand out? Applying for a design job is not the same as buying a lottery ticket and hoping for the best. You have way more control than you think. One of the best ways to get your foot in the door is by getting clear about what your ideal job looks like. What are you truly passionate about? What makes you excited to get out of bed day in and day out? For the next 5 years of your career? And why? What's your BIG WHY?! Then start looking for those jobs. Network with people in the companies you're interested in. Take off your mask and authentically show who you are! I mean, the human being behind the job search. Your charisma! Your personality! Your MAGIC! Why you are a good fit for the job, because of your unique interests and life experiences. Then, target the company, team, or field that you know - in your heart - is the best fit for you. And see if there is a job, any job, even a job just related to your dream job in the company, team, org you identified. Network the heck out of it and connect with people that already work there. And apply. See if anyone can put in a good word for you. Once you're in, you have a massive advantage because you get to network internally. You get to show and tell people who you really are. You get to ask design teams to give you first dibs on new headcount that gets created. And you have a much better chance of getting that dream job. So, instead of shooting for the bulls-eye and missing it. Shoot for the target and once you're close, start zeroing in. I've worked with several clients on that strategy and it worked. Every. Single. Time. One started out as a producer and became a designer. One started as a salesperson and became a PM. One started as a contractor, and that position turned into an FT design job. DM me if you want more guidance. You got this!

It's disappointing to learn I wasn't selected for the UX/UI design position I applied for, but I'm immensely proud of my journey so far. Starting from the beginning, I knew it would be a marathon, not a sprint, and over the past year at To & Fro, I've sharpened my skills in Figma, user research, user journey mapping, brainstorming and prototyping. Collaborating with an agile development team, I'm crafting a new travel experience for solo and group travelers at this fun and dynamic startup. 🛩 In addition, I revamped my portfolio using Webflow, refining my web development skills and sought feedback from over 10 senior designers on ADPList. Their insights helped elevate my portfolio to industry standards, and receiving praise for its quality was immensely rewarding. Fast forward to now, I've built a respectable online presence, attracting interviews, messages from recruiters and in-house designers, and connections on LinkedIn seeking advice and insights. 🌱 Though I didn't secure this particular role, the encouraging words from my last interviewer resonate with me. I'm confident that the right opportunity to leverage my talents and skills is out there, and I'm eager to find it. To all my fellow job hunters, keep pushing forward, and happy Friday Jr! ☀ #growth #learning #jobsearch #jobhunt #jobseekers #uxdesign #ux #userexperience #productdesign #uxuidesign

How might we provide an alternative to the portfolio when applying for UX jobs? ⚫️ Present a PDF or readout of your design process on a prior project. This allows the applicant to showcase their design thinking and their visual design skill. This can be shared early on with the hiring team. It’s a much cheaper alternative and a more meaningful asset. ⚫️ Ask Qs geared to explore how a designer solves a problem. Most commonly employed through white board challenges. ⚫️ A technical challenge similar to a software engineering interview. This really shouldn’t be necessary for senior roles. — The issue with portfolios is also who their audience is: recruiters and non-designer hiring managers. These people may not be most adept at determining whether the applicant will make a good UX designer since they are often just basing the decision on how good your UI is. UI is a small portion of a designers toolkit. Yet we are being judged on it at the expense of all our other skills because it is often the only tangible thing uninformed audiences can evaluate. Design leaders or directors should help work with recruiters early on to address knowledge gaps. For third party agencies, taking an intro course on design thinking might be a good way to learn about the industry for which you’re trying to find candidates. Also, many designers don’t use UI at all but are expected to have polished results that would make an interesting visual design example. I am an enterprise and service designer working on complex interaction design and information architecture and that doesn’t always equate to some neat mobile app product I can show as a good example of what I can do as a visual designer and even as an artist. It’s very frustrating. I hope we can improve UX hiring by continuing to ask questions that seek to reform the process. #DesignThinking #UXDesign #Portfolio

Are you looking for a new job? Shift your mindset to the employer’s perspective. On their end, they want to reduce risk in the hiring process and get as much clarity as possible on how you're likely to perform in the role. How can you help reduce that risk? If you're a designer, one place is in your work. What’s the ideal case study you can show them, to reduce that risk? In a perfect world it would include all of the following: • End to end design for a net new feature or product • Work with clients / stakeholders • Work with developers • A product that shipped • Metrics about that product’s performance Missing any of those in your case studies? There are many ways you can get closer to that for your work, including: • Volunteer projects • Projects for a friend • Contacting local businesses to do a design / redesign for them (restaurants are a great source for this) Reduce risk. Paint as clear of a picture as possible that you're the right fit. Full conversation at: https://lnkd.in/eKiV3_YM #designers #design #designthinking #uxdesign #uidesign #ui #uxui #uxuidesign #uxuidesigner 

This is such an interesting topic! Don't get me wrong, I love my portfolio! Being able to design it exactly how I want and being able to curate it to show off exactly the projects that I feel reflect me and my skills even when not searching for employment. However each year my bank screams when the hosting fees hit and they just seem to be getting higher and higher and thats when I am working thankfully! Having to pay sometime £200+ when I was unemployed was nearly impossible especially if I wanted to seem professional with a custom URL, no ad's on it (bless Wix though they are amazing in a pinch) and fully functioning links. So what do you think, should we get rid of portfolio websites? Or have you got the next big idea in portfolio evolution? 👀

No of course not - what next? Ask catwalk models to wear paper bags to cover their prize assets? In the Uk the average graduate designer has invested around £30000 in their further education - it’s not a big stretch to then invest another £50 to design and maintain an online portfolio surely?? I’m not a fan of sending a weblink to a potential employer anyway, what guarantees that they will look at it? I always get a name, write a personal email and put together a PDF of work that is mostly generic but tailored if possible to the client’s company or product offering. I show mostly finished visuals that demonstrate a wide range of product areas, diverse products and as big a named brands as I can use without charting into any NDA territories. I chose one job to show a condensed design process sequence from biro sketch on toilet paper to final visuals. The CD viewing the work knows exactly what they’re looking for and will either find it or not find it in the work you choose to present to them. A portfolio is the best asset you have to open those doors, for that it’s priceless.

Design roles encompass a diverse range of responsibilities, each focusing on different aspects of the creative and functional aspects of a product or service. Job opportunities in the field of product design are diverse and depend on the industry and the size of the company. There are jobs in small and big companies, startups, and big corporations, as well as opportunities for freelancing or consulting. Additionally, many designers collaborate across disciplines to create comprehensive and effective solutions. As a UI/UX designer, you’ll most likely find yourself working with a product team. Here's a list of various design roles, along with brief explanations of each: #uiux #uidesign #uxdesign #productdesign #techcommunity #techcareers