This episode originally aired on the Honest UX Talks Podcast.

🗂 instagram.com/honest_ux_talks

This conversation ranges from learning how to position oneself strategically in the competitive job landscape to the art of finessing career materials such as resumes and portfolios.

Sarah shares innovative strategies for treating your job hunt as you would a UX project, emphasizing tailored applications, meaningful networking, and the human touch in technology-driven processes. With real-world examples and actionable advice, Sarah addresses common pitfalls and how to craft your narrative beyond checkbox portfolios.

Whether you're an aspiring designer eager to break into the industry or a seasoned pro looking to pivot your approach to job applications, today's conversation promises to arm you with the tools you need for success.

Tune in as we dissect the fundamentals of creating standout UX portfolios, crafting personalized cover letters, and navigating hiring practices that truly resonate with employers in diverse industries and geography.

01:01 Accidental journey into UX careers, coaching, portfolio.

05:33 Companies hired more despite pandemic; user experience.

09:17 Post-program challenges: job search, self-marketing, competition.

13:15 Focused on career education and personal branding.

17:29 Candidates should consider opportunities beyond fang companies.

21:19 Understanding and empathy for companies in hiring.

24:39 User research portfolio: demonstrate, not just state.

27:56 Portfolio doesn't need every UX process tick.

29:10 Boot camp presentations aren't suitable for portfolios.

32:18 Apply to fewer jobs with more care.

35:21 Customize cover letter, resume, and portfolio strategically.

39:06 Personalize experiences, prioritize people over platforms.

43:03 Effective communication: question, connection, and relevance.

🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market

👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

This show was originally aired on the NN/g UX Podcast  hosted and produced by Therese Festenden.

In this episode we dived into the heart of what makes a truly rewarding career – it's not the flashy title or the next paycheck, but the fulfillment you get from the impact you create and the skills you bring to the table.

Therese and I talked about curating a portfolio that reflects real-world problem-solving, not just textbook processes, and the value of strategic thinking for career advancement.

If you're chasing job satisfaction and meaningful projects in your UX journey, tap into your inner problem spotter and embrace every opportunity to learn and adapt. Remember, it's about making your role work for you, building a career that resonates with your passion, and planning ahead.

Learn more about NN/g here: nngroup.com

047: Crafting a Fulfilling UX Career Beyond Titles and Salaries

00:50 Sarah is self-taught in information architecture, focused on research.

03:46 Multiple self-administered titles, significant impact on career.

09:21 Transitioning careers requires self-education and confidence.

10:55 Acknowledging undervalued experiences in transitioning professionals.

14:06 Reassess goals and expectations when seeking UX work.

20:02 Encouraging individual research and skill development.

22:51 Regret over past portfolio choices, advice valuable.

23:56 Portfolio must reflect perfect UX process requirement.

27:26 Prioritizing efforts based on experience and need.

32:47 Focus on fulfillment beyond title and salary.

34:34 Reflect on key experiences to reach goals.

36:29 Embrace strengths, find gaps, present solutions diplomatically.

42:23 Fulfillment comes from meaningful work and impact.

45:14 Listen to podcast, follow Sarah on socials. Share.

🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market

👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

This week’s episode is an interview with product designer and Career Strategy Lab alumni, Melody.

The job search can be a whirlwind of ups and downs. Melody shares how she kept a level head and used what she learned in our career coaching program to land a job with a company she had already applied to and been rejected from!

Listen to hear the real experiences, obstacles, and victories of a CSL Alumni!

00:38 A quick intro with Erin

02:21 Let’s meet Melody!

04:28 Interaction design is the future of design

08:31 The CSL crossover of art and business

11:15 The frustrating job search before joining CSL

15:07 Well made career materials can carry you a long way

19:43 The job search roller coaster

23:12 Keep applying, it can work out!

26:36 Melody’s tips for keeping a healthy mindset!

🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market

👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

In this "Open House" episode, we're joined by Career Strategy Lab alumni, Laura, Malavika , and Carlos, who each have their unique stories of transformation and success to share with you.

Laura, a product designer at Cisco in Miami, shares her journey through the lab and the remarkable turnaround from nearly 60 job applications to landing interviews and a coveted job offer. Carlos talks about his career aspirations, the battle with rejection, and the momentous shift he accomplished with the help of CSL, now finding his groove at Covenant Eyes. And Malavika, whose persistence and newfound confidence through CSL led her to stand out among over 800 applicants to join Health Equity as a senior UX designer.

We discuss the value of experience, the importance of maintaining consistency, and the courage to confidently wait for the right job opportunity.

05:32 Deciding to switch jobs, facing role mismatches.

08:02 Job search frustration transformed by mentor program.

11:39 Gained confidence, stood out in designer career.

13:05 Rejection letter led to self-confidence and clarity.

19:03 Contract to full-time transition at Cisco.

22:58 Structured, relevant case study impressed interviewers.

24:55 Preparing to document for future case studies.

29:40 Fear of not landing job or mentorship.

30:57 Facing hesitation but achieved good investment outcomes.

36:19 Challenges for career switchers in framing experience.

39:57 Excitement for career strategy lab and alumni feedback.

42:53 Hiring doesn't slow down during holidays. Be ready to apply for jobs at any time.

🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market

👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

This week’s episode is hosted by CSL Coach Erin Lindstrom with special guest, Malavika Oak, a CSL Alumni!

Tune in to hear what led Malavika to UX and her career journey from working at startups, getting laid off, and with the help of Career Strategy Lab, landing a new role that she describes as a “dream job.”

00:38 Intro with Erin

01:55 Meet Malavika

04:51 Looking for mentorship in the UX world

07:26 Being the only designer at a startup

11:25 Her new role

14:29 Slowly getting better and better at interviews

17:03 Tips for parents and other who are juggling multiple responsibilities

19:25 But why UX?

🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market

👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

Are you using LinkedIn correctly?

It’s a social media platform, so be social! 

This week Sarah talks about how making connections using LinkedIn can not only improve your visibility on recruiter searches AND help you find job openings faster.

01:09 The one thing many professionals forget to do when looking for work

02:08 LinkedIn Recruiter and the algorithm

03:35 You should be posting on your LinkedIn profile

05:25 It’s all about increasing visibility

07:12 Putting your skills and experience on display

🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market

👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

Everyone says that recruiters spend barely any time on resumes, but is that true?

This week Sarah shares her tips to keep recruiters engaged so they never spend less than a minute on your resume.

After this, be sure to listen to Episode 29 to learn more about the one page resume and how it could be selling you short!

00:19 Spoiler Alert: It’s a myth!

01:07 Put yourself into the shoes of a recruiter

02:52 Consider the design of your resume

05:45 Instead of a list of responsibilities, go into detail, give examples

07:02 What is your conclusion? Myth or No?

🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market

👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

If you’re considering a career in UX but not sure how you can leverage your previous experience to help you stand out as a candidate we want you to know it’s absolutely possible.

In this episode, Sarah talks through how to build a bridge from your current situation to a UX career.

0:55 You may be tempted to apply to lots of jobs

1:49 Here’s how to start thinking strategically about this

2:35 When you do this, your experience gives you a competitive advantage

4:17 You’re not destined to stay in that industry forever if you don’t want to

4:59 Think of it as a stepping stone

🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market

👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

How do you know what UX career advice is actually worth listening to? If you're searching for your next UX or Product role, it's likely you've been bombarded with advice from blogs, social posts, and well-meaning strangers in Slack groups.

In this episode of the Career Strategy Podcast, Sarah Doody, a UX Researcher & Product Designer, breaks down how to critically evaluate UX career advice so you can stop spinning in circles and start making real progress in your job search.

This episode is especially for UX, Product Design, and UX Research professionals who are sick of Googling every career question and getting 14 different answers.

Topics discussed in this episode

- Why blindly following career advice can cost you time and traction

- Strategic questions to ask before trusting someone’s advice

- What “advice credibility” really looks like (and red flags to watch for)

- How to assess if someone’s results are relevant to your goals

- Why advice from 10 years ago may not apply to today’s job market

- How hiring location, role, and level affect the advice that works

- The sneaky habit of doubting yourself and trusting strangers instead

- A simple due diligence process that can save you weeks of rework

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - 00:45: Intro

00:46 - 02:23: The risk of following advice without vetting the source

02:24 - 04:15: Strategic questions to evaluate the advice you find

04:16 - 06:02: The problem with outdated advice and “LinkedIn experts”

06:03 - 08:17: Why self-doubt makes you trust strangers more than yourself

08:18 - 09:40: How to do a quick “background check” on advice-givers

09:41 - 11:00: A reminder: just because someone posts online doesn’t mean it’s true

🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market

👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

This week’s episode is a Q&A session with Sarah!

Tune in to hear how to start your job search when you’re brand new to UX, looking for opportunities to grow from within your company, and the importance of your portfolio!

01:16 If you’re early in your career, of course you want to apply to everything!

03:01 How do you approach finding your first job?

06:46 Make the most of performance reviews

08:54 Spell. Check. Your. Resume.

10:20 Curate your resume to each job you apply to

12:10 The best way to approach cold emailing? Warm things up!

17:37 How important is a portfolio at the start of your career? Very important.

20:48 Never worked in UX? You still have skills you can use to apply to UX positions.

22:32 How do I use classified work to promote my skills?

🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market

👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.