3 common mistakes in UI/UX job applications
Getting a job in UI/UX design is not easy: 85% of candidates fail CV screening without having a chance to start an interview.
As a hiring manager, sometimes it’s hard to understand what experience and skills a candidate has. Most of the time, all the information is there, but the way it is presented and described is making me question the design abilities of the candidate.
Let’s go over the common mistakes candidates make in UI/UX design job applications:
1. CV doesn’t have a clear hierarchy
❌ Problem: Finding information is difficult. As a hiring manager, I need to spend a lot of time looking at tiny fonts and lengthy descriptions that don’t have a lot of useful information that could be found easily.
✅ Solution: Make a clear hierarchy, add structure to the CV, add links to your portfolio, describe clearly what you worked on using bullet points, concisely write what you have achieved at the end of the project, and make it visually appealing.
2. The portfolio is located on a file hosting service
❌ Problem: UI/UX designers are the ones responsible for crafting intuitive digital experiences. When as a hiring manager I see an old-school folder structure on Google Drive or Dropbox, it takes me a lot of time to find case studies.
✅ Solution: Publish your portfolio on Behance, Dribbble, or a personal website. It will make it more discoverable, modern, and if done well can also show off your UI/UX design skills.
3. Projects are not clearly presented
❌ Problem: Projects without proper explanations, only having screenshots. Seeing this as a hiring manager, in cases where the candidate can’t present their design well in their portfolio, I start to question their ability to present their ideas.
✅ Solution: Describe the process in detail: present every step you went through (Research, Wireframing, UI design, dev hand-off, etc.), what challenges you had, and how you managed to overcome them.
Summary
Checking these off will guarantee passing the CV screening if you have relevant experience for the job, and it will get you closer to landing your dream job!