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Hey, UX friends! Happy Monday.
Let’s be real—UX job hunting in 2025 is a game of strategy, not luck.
I’ve seen designers send out 100+ applications and hear nothing back. Meanwhile, others land their dream job with just 10 applications. How?
The difference is that they knew how the game is played.
Here are three job-hunting lessons that have made all the difference for me and the designers I mentor:
1️⃣ Designer-market fit > Chasing any job
Early in my career, I applied for any decent design job. Big mistake. Not all UX roles are created equal. Everything changed once I understood my designer-market fit—where my skills, interests, and market demand align. After that, I got fewer rejections, better interviews, and offers that fit me. Strategy tip: Stop chasing any job—start chasing the right job.
💡 Reflect before applying:
✔️ What unique value do I bring to a team?
✔️ Which industries excite me?
✔️ Where do my skills fit best?
Struggling with job hunting?Join a community to shape your job-hunting strategy and navigate the market with confidence. Dozens of designers have landed jobs through our workshop.
2️⃣ The hidden market: Where 80% of UX jobs live
Most designers I’ve mentored wait for job postings to appear. But here’s a secret: 80% of roles are never publicly listed. The best time to apply is before a role even opens.
Here’s what you can do today:
🔹 Reach out to hiring managers at your dream company early.
🔹 Stay visible in UX communities and on social media.
🔹 Monitor target market trends. If you see your target industry or company growing, start the conversation now.
I’ve seen people land jobs before a role was officially posted—simply because they were already on a company’s radar.
3️⃣ Stop the 'spray & pray' strategy: Become Intentional
If you’re still applying to 100+ jobs with the same CV/portfolio, I can promise you—it’s a fast track to burnout. I’ve seen it happen dozens of times over the past two years while helping designers in the community.
Instead, go deep, not wide. Here’s how:
✅ Personalize your application.
✅ Align your portfolio with what the company values.
✅ Follow up (Most people don’t—so when you do, you stand out.)
Chris Abad, x-Design Director at Google, Square & Dropbox. He’s hired hundreds of UX designers in the world's most UX-mature organizations.
Get your Portfolio reviewed by Chris tomorrow
Ever wondered how you could skip the BS and talk directly to design directors at top companies? This is your chance. Ask Chris anything in the portfolio review (Worth $350/h).
Feb 18th 25th Book club: How to Make Sense of Any Mess (FREE EVENT)
A short, free book on Information Architecture. This book will teach you how to build and apply IA principles in design and outside. The workshop is "just started the book" friendly.
Monday, Mar 24 Using psychology to drive behavior | Workshop
How do great products nudge users toward better decisions? In this interactive session, we’ll explore how psychological biases shape behavior—and how UX design can leverage them to build healthy habits and drive business impact.
IntoUXCommunity is your shortcut to breaking into UX with confidence. Instead of figuring it all out alone, join a network of designers who share job-hunting strategies, refine portfolios, and tackle real-world challenges together. You’ll stay ahead in a competitive market—and enjoy the process.
