Why Your UX Portfolio Isn’t Getting You Interviews: Hint — It’s Not You, It’s Them
Perfection doesn’t exist; be original, be creative, be yourself. These are the shortcuts to create an outstanding UX portfolio.
The modern UX/UI job market has become extremely difficult to navigate. It seems to echo many, if not all, of the flaws found in online dating apps. HR teams are on the lookout for a candidate who seems to exist only in the realm of fantasy, yet companies are determined in their quest to uncover this elusive perfect fit. This task is undoubtedly challenging, given the unrealistic expectations of employers and the down-to-earth candidate profiles. In general, mismatched employer requirements often fail to align with the available pool of candidates, extending the search for an ideal match indefinitely and leaving roles unfilled.
In the beginning, you might wonder why it’s so tough to find the right candidate for the job. HR teams possess not only candidates’ CVs but also links to their online portfolios. This should certainly assist in narrowing the search and thoroughly evaluating potential employees’ skills even before scheduling an interview. However, these resources don’t seem to be helping much these days. The array of options often leads to more confusion and misdirection, just like navigating dating apps where you continually move on to the next one, remaining single for months.
Well, how crucial is your portfolio, really? Lately, I’ve been researching various strategies that UX/UI designers apply to design their portfolios to stand out from the crowd and secure themselves at least a job interview with an HR team, and it’s becoming obvious that nobody knows with certainty what HR teams are looking for. Perhaps even HR teams themselves are unsure of who their ideal candidates are.
There's no such thing as a 'how-to-create-a-perfect-portfolio' guide because our evaluations aren't based on a common set of rules, and what one person admires, another might dislike. The secret formula for designing your portfolio simply doesn't exist. Accept it and stop searching for it. Every company, much like us humans, operates according to its unique values and expectations. So, generally speaking, what you need to achieve is to align with a company's culture and resonate with the HR team on an emotional level rather than solely focusing on technical skills. Returning to our dating app comparison, it's like swiping left and right while trying to find the perfect match. The overall user experience is driven by the emotional connection or vibes the HR team perceives from someone's profile.
The secret formula for designing your portfolio simply doesn’t exist. Accept it and stop searching for it.
The notion that recruiters meticulously study your portfolio and dive deeply into your case studies is a myth. There’s simply no time for such detailed analysis. In reality, they won’t do any of that. No one will engage with your profile or CV for more than 10 seconds before moving onto your portfolio, and likely spending another 3 minutes browsing through it. It all comes down to making a good first impression, prompting the HR team to swipe right on your profile and select it for further interactions.
What does it mean? Your CV isn’t that important anymore; your skills are what actually matter, along with your ability to structure and organize information and present yourself in a way that makes a good first impression in the blink of an eye. Don’t waste your time on the rest; just focus on delivering a compelling presentation that makes the HR team eager to meet you in person and learn more about your design process. Your portfolio should be about finding a universal balance between showcasing your technical skills and creativity while also reflecting your personality, letting that ‘you’ part of your portfolio shine throughout.
Even though there’s no universal answer, here are a few tips to help you get started with your portfolio journey:
- Treat it as another UX project. Bear in mind to design for the HR team as your user persona and address all the pain points they might encounter while seeking the perfect fit for a role. Ensure that all essential information is easy to find and displayed prominently. Make it intriguing by incorporating hooks in titles or case study descriptions to arouse recruiters’ curiosity and encourage them to click on the link to learn more.
- Showcase your skills with real-life projects. Demonstrate to recruiters what you’re capable of through different case studies. Guide HR teams through your design process from the very start to execution, highlighting your problem-solving and communication skills, as well as your ability to be open to various adjustments during the project. Explain more than just the steps of your design process but also why you chose a particular solution over others and how it addressed the client’s problem. Always support your decisions with the results achieved, backed by metrics and product performance.
- Keep your portfolio brief yet comprehensive. Another important point to consider is that case studies typically include detailed descriptions, charts, prototypes, etc. However, let’s face it: few people will have enough time to thoroughly read it, perhaps not even enough time to scroll through the entire content. Remember, the whole process is quite similar to using a dating app, where impressions are formed quickly. So, avoid opting for an extended version when users will only have around 3 minutes to review your work. Summarize it, skip some less important details; no one expects you to present the entire case. Brevity is key. Highlight the most significant milestones of your projects and omit the least relevant ones. Make it easy to digest, outline it clearly, and use visuals to support your choices. Focus on showcasing your best work. Keep in mind, a portfolio is not about the number of projects you’ve participated in but rather the quality of your contribution and the achievement of final goals that impact the product’s outcome.
- Be yourself. In the end, we are all humans seeking emotional connection. So, don’t be afraid to highlight who you are. Let your personality shine through in every piece of your work, allowing recruiters to be dazzled by your creativity and originality. Be the designer they should definitely bring on board for their current or future projects.
Brevity is key. Highlight the most significant milestones of your projects and omit the least relevant ones.
Finally, designing a portfolio that stands out in a sea of applicants requires balancing technical skills with visually appealing components and excellent storytelling. Anyway, it’s also essential to have fun along the way and not stress out too much over it. Just like in life, you cannot please everyone. Be creative, follow your style, and you will indeed design a top-notch portfolio that gets you hired.
