Why You're Not Getting Interviews (Even with Referrals)
What most design job seekers misunderstand when asking “How do I stand out?”
Hi! This is where Jeanine and I share tips from the Design Career Handbook to help you chart and navigate a successful career path. I also share perspectives on what’s happening in technology and design. If you’re looking for assistance on your journey, you can book a session on ADPList, or we can discuss 1:1 coaching. - Kevin F
I’ve had many productive one-on-one mentoring and coaching sessions with talented designers this summer. They’ve ranged from quick chats with recent graduates to multi-session engagements with designers having two to fifteen or more years of experience. The conversations often prompt me to reflect on a previous post related to the inevitable “How do I stand out?” question. If you missed it or need a refresher, it’s a quick read: 7 top ways to stand out as a designer. That post was intentionally high-level, essentially the TL;DR version of my most common advice to designers. Although the specifics of my guidance are tailored to each person’s unique background, experience, and path, there are common themes. Today, I’ll share the three most frequent.
You’ve polished your resume. You’ve supplied your portfolio link. You’ve applied to dozens, if not hundreds, of jobs. 😬 Maybe you’ve even had a referral or two.
So why is your inbox so dusty?
You don’t understand what’s not working. You think you’re missing something obvious. Maybe it is something obvious. If so, don’t beat yourself up about it. Often, it’s not that obvious. You may need to hear the same advice in different ways from multiple people for it to finally make sense.
Before I continue, I want to be clear that the bar has been raised. It’s 100% expected that you know how to design end-to-end. Perhaps you have a standout skill, too. Of course, you have a growth mindset and enjoy experimenting, even with AI tools (gasp!). You’re enthusiastic, energetic, and ready to go.
But you have to be discovered. Below are a few things to help you stand out from the competition enough to, hopefully, increase your inbound recruiter inquiries.
Your LinkedIn profile isn’t doing you any favors.
If your profile lacks:
A clear headline with your focus or specialization
An About section that’s personal and purposeful
Plenty of details about your experience and skills
Images and a link to your portfolio or website
then you’re asking a recruiter or potential hiring manager to do extra work just to understand who you are. They won’t. They’ll just move on.
OK. This is the easiest one! Even if you are a social media rejectionist (and I get that), your LinkedIn profile does SO MUCH work for you, especially if you are a passive job seeker. And, it’s often a recruiter’s true first impression of you, before your resume and before your portfolio.
✅ Do this to maximize the value of your profile:
Add a clear, compelling headline, About section, and absolutely, add your portfolio or website link.
Add your most important skills to the Skills section, and strong descriptions and images for relevant Experience and Education sections.
Take advantage of all the profile features (Top skills, Featured posts, Experience, Education, Interests, Volunteering, Certifications, Recommendations, etc.).
Be active on the platform. Follow companies, people, and organizations. Post, repost, comment, and react to content.
All of your profile information and activity will match you for potential roles and help recruiters find you. You’ll look serious about your career when you’re networking.
Your personal brand is too generic.
If your brand statement sounds anything like:
I creatively develop user-centered experiences that solve real problems with impact.
…then unfortunately, you sound just like thousands of other designers. If we made it to your portfolio, I, a recruiter or a hiring manager, already know what you do and the skills we're looking for.
This is the conversation I love having the most. Why? Because every one of you is a highly unique person. I want to know the story of you. I encourage you to dig really deep. Don’t shy away from what differentiates you from others.
✅ Consider these:
Complete self-reflection exercises and questions to uniquely reveal the passions and motivations that drive everything you do.
Identify the lens from your past that provides a distinctive edge (for example, education, creative hobbies, social volunteering, unconventional upbringing, a surprising industry pivot).
What makes you weird, in a good way?
What we ultimately want to know is whether you bring something new to our team or environment. Would you be fun to work with? Your brand statement can do so much more than serve as a weak skill qualifier. It should intrigue and hint at what they’ll learn about you through the rest of your material and when they meet you.
Your case studies are not memorable.
Even with the gobs of portfolio advice out there, I’m still surprised at what I see all the time. One extreme or the other: case studies that don’t say anything fresh, or case studies that are pages long with cookie-cutter section headings. Our eyes glaze over. What’s perfect? There’s no right answer; it depends on the project. And, it depends on your skill as a storyteller.
✅ Here is what I advise (and help with!):
It’s always the Goldilocks principle: not too much, not too little, but just right. What is most notable about each project? Even those that weren’t exciting or even failed should have pertinent learning experiences. What should I remember?
Yes, some projects should demonstrate your end-to-end design process. But others needn’t tell the entire story. They should focus on the most salient takeaways. Can you shine a spotlight on your contributions to its success?
Consider highlighting: a particular skill (a strong one, or one that demonstrates your personal development), a major constraint, a super insight that drove a design principle or key decision, or an anecdote of a healthy debate or a compromise (showcasing your collaboration).
Save some juicy details for your interviews and portfolio presentations. You want a hiring manager to ask, “Oh? Tell me more about that.” It’s smart to reserve interesting material and highlights for later stages of the process.
Ideally, each of your case studies can be individually memorable while collectively positioning you as a well-rounded, experienced designer.
Your resume, online profile, and portfolio are your marketing kit. Collectively, they serve one purpose: to get recruiters and hiring managers interested enough that they’ll follow up.
It’s up to you to put in the work to make sure your profile and portfolio tell the right story, in the right way, to the right people.
Since last time:
I’ve been completely focused on another writing project! It’s still in the realm of career development. I’ll be sure to share more when it’s further along. 📝
I was also interviewed on the AIGA Design Podcast. The episode is queued up for release, and I’ll share it soon! 🎧
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