How to break into the product design industry- tips from a hiring manager
Getting your first role can be a challenge. With so much competition, here are my tips for standing out from the crowd.
A few months ago, I decided that it was time to give back to the design community that had so willingly supported me throughout my career. After a chance conversation with a close friend and colleague, I met my first mentee and realized that supporting emerging and middle-weight designers seemed like a good way to start.
Fast forward to today, I'm working with a clutch of emerging product designers, helping them to hone their skills and cut their teeth in the industry. The number one thing I hear is that they’re struggling to land their first real gig — this is despite accreditations, bootcamps, hypothetical case studies, and sometimes even internships. The industry today is certainly very different from the industry I entered.
Even just a few years ago, we were screaming out for people who understood the product…
