Over the past few years I’ve had the privilege of coaching hundreds of designers from recent grads to mid-level professionals looking for their next role.
While every designer’s story is different, I’ve noticed a few common traits among those who land the jobs.
It’s not just talent.
It’s about mindset, consistency, and the willingness to do things that feel uncomfortable.
Here are 4 areas that designers who get hired all have in common:
1. They stay positive (even when it’s hard)
Job hunting can be exhausting.
You send out dozens of applications and hear nothing back.
You interview and don’t get the offer.
You start to wonder if you’re good enough.
But the designers who make it through don’t let rejection define them.
They stay optimistic. They treat every application as practice, every rejection as information.
This is all about perspective.
They know that landing a role is a process, not a single event.
And that mindset keeps them moving forward while others burn out.
2. They do the uncomfortable things
Most designers say they’ll network but few actually do.
The ones who get hired push past that discomfort.
They start small, reconnecting with a former colleague, reaching out to a classmate, commenting thoughtfully on posts from hiring managers or other designers.
And slowly, it gets easier.
They realize networking is about building relationships.
They also take that same courage and apply it to showing up publicly: posting online, sharing projects, opinions, or writing about their design process.
It feels uncomfortable at first, but they understand that visibility creates opportunity.
3. They use LinkedIn as an extension of their portfolio
Designers who stand out know that LinkedIn isn’t just a job board.
They post regularly about their design interests, share articles that resonate, and talk about what they’re learning.
Hiring managers and recruiters do notice. Many of the designers I’ve coached have had opportunities come directly from their posts.
They know that every time they share something, a reflection, a project, even a question they’re giving people a chance to see how they think.
They also optimize their profiles; adding results to their experience section, sharing more of themselves in 'About', and adding recommendations from others in their field.
4. They find creative ways to build experience
For designers early in their careers this is key.
The ones who get hired look for ways to find real projects they can work on.
They volunteer with organizations like TechFleet, UX Rescue, or Catchafire. They join designathons, hackathons or contribute to nonprofit projects.
This gives them hands-on experience and stories to tell in interviews.
And more importantly it helps them build confidence.
After completing a few of these projects they stop introducing themselves as “aspiring” designers. They’re designers with real work to show.
Final thoughts
When I look at the designers who get hired it’s not luck.
It’s intentional effort.
They stay positive.
They do the uncomfortable things.
They put themselves out there.
If you’re in the middle of your job hunt take a cue from them.
This week, try one small uncomfortable thing:
Message someone in your network. Share a post about something you’ve learned. Volunteer for a small design project.
You’ve got this.
Thanks for reading, see you next week!
Anthony Faria
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