Every UX designer knows the power of design thinking.
We apply it to the products we work on every day, but we often forget to use it on ourselves.
Years ago when I was trying to break into a new role, I had a portfolio I was proud of. It was clean, intuitive, well-organized, and showcased my best work.
I’d send it out and did not hear back, from anyone. 😬
I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. The work was good, the presentation was solid, but it wasn’t landing.
A mentor of mine, a senior manager, gave me some advice. “Your portfolio isn’t for you,” he said. “It’s for the person hiring you. Think about what their goals are and problems they are trying to solve.”
I had been so focused on making my portfolio look good and forgot about the user; the hiring manager.
Your portfolio is a product designed to solve a specific problem for a specific user.
The problem was the hiring manager’s need to quickly and efficiently find a designer who could fill a role. My portfolio was the solution.
I went back to my portfolio and began to apply the same principles I used in my design work:
Empathize: Who is my user? What are their pain points?
Define: What is the core problem my portfolio needs to solve?
Ideate: What are the best ways to present my work to solve this problem?
Prototype & Test: How can I get feedback on my portfolio from real users (e.g., mentors, coaches, peers, recruiters)?
This shift changed my perspective. It forced me to stop just showing my work and start selling my value.
Actionable tactics you can implement this week
Here are two actionable tactics you can use right now to make your portfolio more effective.
1. Redesign for the "Scan"
Making your portfolio scannable is key. Hiring managers and recruiters are busy. They aren’t going to read every word of your case study. They’re going to scan it looking for key information.
Similar to how you design a landing page; headings, bold text, and visual hierarchy to guide the user’s eye to the most important information. Apply that similar logic to your portfolio.
For each case study, start with a clear, concise headline that immediately communicates the project’s purpose and impact.
For example, instead of:
Project: Redesigning a mobile app for a B2B company
Try this:
Redesigned a mobile app to increase user engagement by 25% for a B2B company.
The second option uses a headline to communicate impact, which is what a hiring manager wants to see.
➡️ This week: Take one of your case studies and rewrite the headline and the first paragraph. Focus on the results and impact, not just the process. Use bold text to highlight key metrics and findings. Make it scannable, just like a product landing page.
2. The “3-Second Rule”
Your home page is the most critical part of your portfolio. When a recruiter lands on it, they should immediately understand who you are, what you do, and what value you bring.
If a recruiter can’t figure out those three things in three seconds you’ve lost them.
When I started applying this rule to my own portfolio I realized my old site was a collection of random projects and a vague bio that didn't state my value.
Your home page needs a single, powerful statement that acts as your portfolio’s value proposition.
It should answer the question: “Why should I hire you?”
➡️ This week: Open your portfolio home page and look at it with fresh eyes. Is your bio clear and to the point? Does your hero section immediately convey your design specialty and value? If not, rewrite your bio and hero text.
Try this simple formula:
I am a [Your Specialty] who helps [Your Audience] by [Your Unique Value].
Example:
“I am a UX Designer who helps B2B SaaS companies streamline their user onboarding by applying data-driven research to create intuitive, user-centered experiences.”
This is your product’s value proposition.
Remember, your portfolio is a product designed to get you the job you want by solving a hiring manager’s problem.
By applying the same design thinking principles you use every day, you can turn your portfolio from a showcase into a powerful career-accelerating machine.
Thanks for reading, see you next week!
Anthony Faria
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