What Hiring Managers are really looking for in new UI/UX Recruits
If you asked any experienced hiring manager about what they are looking for in designer portfolios today, they all seem to say one single thing in unison…
“Show us who YOU are.”
Or.
“We want to get to know YOU.”
It sounds THAT simple, isn’t it? But according to these recruiters and hiring managers, barely 5% of the portfolios actually get the right message across!
So, what is going on? Why are so many portfolios and job applications getting rejected on a daily basis?
Well, in a job marketplace which is slowly getting saturated with newbie portfolios (thanks to the Bootcamp templates!), I discovered some very interesting facts, which might really help you if you are applying for UX or UI jobs right now.
Hate to say this but it does take a lot of learning, patience and above all, trial and error to even realise what the heck is going wrong! There are several logical answers. However, it’s something that each and every one of us discovers eventually (of course, if the new designers stick around in this career!).
From lessons learnt in my own journey, here are a few steps and understandings that might help you avoid common roadblocks in the UX design path.
First Things First.
We can all agree that designers belong to the art community, right? And art is supposed to be UNIQUE. Do you agree too? I am guessing yes.
Every person has a different story and background — a combination of things which only you like about yourself and know about. Things which make you who you are. It’s almost personal.
Your portfolio must scream out loud your traits and personality. It should be undoubtedly evident.
Now. Can somebody teach us our own personality?! NO! How stupid is that question, right?
Then how come all the portfolios look the same, it’s almost creepy at a level?! Did everyone go through the same freaking process in every single project? How can that be true?
Let’s break that cycle of repetition, shall we? I know it takes effort and time to understand yourself first — trust me, I know all about that struggle. It’s a very tough one.
But at least, it won’t cost you that job which you just applied for with that generic, mediocre and oh-so-unauthentic portfolio.
Solution: Ask yourself — or get to know YOURSELF first. Sit down and write out those things which you like or that you have been passionate about for the longest time. Every single thing must come together. Reflect on your past if need be, and draw from your background — where you come from. What makes you ‘YOU’. Translate your thought processes in your projects and weave them into the portfolio.
When companies are hiring, remember that there isn’t one single person looking at your portfolio. Everybody might be experiencing some form of bias situation most of the time. Who knows if one of them had a bad day and your portfolio just happened to be in front of their eyes?!
And there you go! Another same old “Circle-box-arrow-text” design process!
Rejected.
Trust me, these guys already know the process better than you do. This is not rocket science… well, maybe for you, it seems like an accomplishment that you managed to learn so much in so little time… But not for them, honey.
What they really want to see is what YOU did with THAT process in THIS particular project.
Let’s read that again.
Solution: Take the conventional process, and revamp it in your own way. Think about your own process if you did /did not take all the mentioned steps. If not, tell them why and what you did instead. Show them all the flaws, it’s okay. But then again, represent it as a learning curve, an evolving process, and as authentically as possible.
Lastly, humans are attracted to all things visually appealing. That's just how we are. We are visual creatures, after all. Anything and everything that catches our attention at a glance must have had some kind of visual appeal. Remember one of those colour psychology wheels?
It’s a good place to start.
Think about yourself. AND think about what emotion you want someone to experience when they look at your portfolio. What do you want to tell them about you as a first impression?
From here on, you can really detail every piece of information not just in terms of the colours, but also shapes, components, navigation, animations, and even the loaders. Once you have identified your style and formula, it’s all about beautiful implementation.
Put yourself in the shoes of a hiring manager in XYZ company and review your projects and portfolio. Be brutal about it and rebuild things in that manner. This is, after all, a process.
If you transitioned into UX design like me (read all about it here), you might want to reflect on your background and use it as a strength. Those experiences might become your weapon to showcase why you are fit for that particular role. What makes you stand out from the rest of them? How can you solve their problems and why should they hire you?
Solution: Put your strengths in front of every project. Maybe UI is your forte or perhaps Research work. Or maybe you enjoyed creating the graphics, or you are amazing at illustrations and logos. Maybe you sketch really well. Or maybe you are a writer. Focus on those and build the project accordingly. Ultimately, by doing this, you aren’t making anything up — it is what is it, right? In a good way.
Listen, I am no expert. There isn’t a full-proof shortcut to success. However, as a fellow artist, I believe that authenticity and honesty in your work will never fail you. That’s the one thing that we all must truly strive for if we want to make a difference in this world and create something amazing.
The process is tedious and time-taking. Moreover, we are all super impatient with everything, right? I get it. I suffer from it myself.
But ironically, so are the recruiters and hiring managers. It’s your job to grab their attention in the first few seconds. If you can do this, it shows that in future, you can do the same for the company as well. After all, remember this is what you signed up for.
So the choice is yours to make.
Do you want a fast portfolio which is just bouncing around, hitting every possible door only to get rejected, or do you really want to make an impression in the minds of hiring managers?
I am sure you will choose the second option if you cared enough about this. So let’s do our bit of work and then, without any hesitation, just put it out there with confidence. Let each and every profile you create be another extension of your own self. And there you go.
Want to know more about hiring processes? Read this article series by Tobias Van Schneider where hiring committees of well-known companies were interviewed to understand their requirements and preferences. It’s a killer one.
Wish you luck! Till next time. Ciao. 👋🏼
