For context first read this post here.
I wrote the above post at the beginning of October not knowing that in a month and two weeks I would be made redundant from my long time role.
When I got the news I pulled my head in and got to work. Taking my own advice: I updated my personal website and got cracking on the CV to apply to new jobs. I applied to approximately 20 roles and got many rejections without ever talking to a human being. This is a shame, but it’s the reality of our situation.
Job posters have to weed out unsuitable candidates to get to the right ones, so you have to make sure your application ticks all the right boxes.
The first thing I recommend is to find a human to contact at each role you apply for. For the role I signed on to, they initially missed my application, they just didn’t see it! It was my networking in a related industry slack group that got someone at the company to notice me. Without that, I’d still be looking for a role right now. 🙂
Next make sure to only apply to roles you want and roles you are qualified for. Have you done the role before, with a similar job title? This is a crucial first step.
If your CV does not match the role, you need to update it. Customise your CV for each role you apply for. I noticed I was getting passed over for Product Design roles as my title and experience didn’t reflect my deep experience in this area, my CV was more UX Design focused in a large, enterprise environment. If you want to work at startups or scaleups, make sure you emphasise this experience on your CV and cover letter using the exact keywords they are asking for.
While my CV needed more work, I did well with my cover letters, in fact I got compliments on them because they showed I understand the role and what the company wanted and needed with the new hire.
Once I got through the first round and was accepted for an interview, I made sure to follow my own advice and I prepped a Miro board using Design Thinking which is how I approach problem solving, and I arrived at the interview with my own HDMI cable and my mac computer I could take over the meeting and do a presentation.
Of course I waited for the right moment to do this. When they asked me to describe what I did I politely asked if I could show them. No one ever said no to this. 🙂
Imaging being a hiring manager or team and you see your applicant doing their job in front of you! It’s a powerful way for you getting a job being a foregone conclusion! This is what you want, to erase any and all doubts that you are the right person for the job.
It helps to be sensitive for when you go off track and if your interviewers feel you are telling something they don’t care about. Then get yourself back on track.
Make sure to get out in your local community and do some public speaking; get your name out there! I did this by doing a talk on UX as Culture for the Christchurch Game Developers Conference.
Through the application process I got used to rejection because I reframed it as 1. I was not the right person for the role and 2. They found someone who was the right person for the role. Each rejection I received I tried to think about what it was that I could have done better.
Companies are not providing feedback on this so you have to do your own analysis and research (which as a UX Designer should come naturally to you!)
Hat tip to my wife for this idea: Use LinkedIn to discover who they hired for the role and see how they present themselves, then update your website and CV based on these observations. Whomever they hired was the one they felt most comfortable with. Make sure you’re that person the next time out.
I hope this helps! Please contact me on my contact page or find me on LinkedIn and I’d be happy to chat more about my experience during my job search.