A Designer's Guide to finding a job

No-nonsense advice from someone who's been in the trenches

Hi, I’m Maureen. I work as a product designer and design content creator. Cursor Magazine is my online publication on design and career.

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This guide is for all designers navigating today’s competitive job market. The advice I’m sharing is based on my own experiences job hunting and securing offers in both 2023 and 2025.

We’ll cover:

• Building a network

• Finding the right job

• Portfolios: don’t sweat the tool

• Interviews: it’s a conversation, not a test

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I. Building a Network

Before we talk about portfolios or job applications, I want to start with the most essential step in securing a job today: your network.

I know building and maintaining a network doesn’t come naturally to everyone. But if there’s one area worth investing extra time in during your job search, it’s this. In a time when you’re competing against hundreds of applicants and your resume is being filtered by automated systems, personal connections are your strongest asset.

Referrals and personal connections helped me skip the generic application form and land interviews. With success, because my last three roles (Zalando 2021, Miro 2023, and Typeform 2025) all came through referrals.

You don’t need to drag your introvert ass to Meetups if that’s not your thing. Online spaces and design-specific communities make it easier than ever to build meaningful connections. I built my network by sharing design content online and growing a following on social media. Building a network wasn’t my first goal, but it has been one of the biggest benefits that came with having an online presence. I’m not saying you should become a content creator to build a network. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend this path anymore to people starting out now if their goal is having a network. There are faster, easier and more sustainable ways to build a network today.

More importantly than where and how you build your network is when. Timing is everything, so don’t wait to start networking until you need a job.

Here are some of my favorite platforms to meet other designers

• Designer Slack Communities is a neat website that gives you an overview of different design communities on Slack.

• Rita Lab organises events for everyone coming up in tech, with online seminars and in-person events in New York.

• Friends of Figma has chapters all over the world and organises events and meet-ups for designers. The focus isn’t just Figma, but design and product in general.

• LinkedIn is an obvious place, but building strong connections isn’t as easy. In my networking guide (linked at the bottom of this article) I give you more advice on how to grow your network on LinkedIn.

→ What you should do next: Read my complete guide on how to network—linked at the bottom of this article.

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II. Finding the right job

I keep a close eye on the job market, even when I’m not actively searching. I track which companies are known for mass layoffs, which ones fly under the radar but do great work and try to catch a glimpse of the culture in companies that interest me. I regularly keep an eye on which job postings are published. At the same time, I'm also keeping track of how my own work values and goals change.

This habit helps me identify roles and companies that are truly a good fit for my strengths, interests and goals. When I started my last job search, I knew exactly what to look for:

What I was looking for:

• Midsize company

• Solid design maturity and strong design leadership

• Culture over compensation

What I avoided:

• FAANG companies. I value impact over prestige and prefer smaller teams where I’m not just a cog in the wheel.

• Design team-of-one roles. I thrive in collaboration with other designers.

• Startups and agencies. They tend to underpay and move at a pace that doesn’t align with how I work best.

Do more with less

Many people play the numbers game and apply to as many positions as possible. More applications means more chances, right? Not quite.

The problem with this is that it's almost impossible to send hundreds of thoughtful, high-quality applications. You end up with a false sense of productivity ("I applied to 10 jobs today!") while wasting energy on roles that don’t align with your profile.

On average, I only apply to 10, maximum 20 positions per job search. But not all applications are equal! Out of the average, I have…

• 1–3 top-choice applications: Roles that fit my profile well and where I see real growth potential.

• 5–10 solid matches: I’m enthusiastic but wouldn’t prioritize these over top choices.

• 5–10 practice applications: I’m not seriously considering these roles, but they help me stay sharp and test the market.

I dedicate most of my time to my top-choice roles. This means:

• Researching the company thoroughly

• Writing a tailored cover letter in the company’s tone of voice

• Creating a customized portfolio for the role

Screenshot of my Notion application tracker I used in 2025. Company names are blurred for obvious reasons.

Practice applications are exactly that: practice. I don’t over-invest and I typically withdraw if my top-choice opportunities progress. Yes, some may find this approach controversial, but I’m transparent with companies about interviewing for others roles and aim to be respectful of their time.

→ What you should do next: Assess your values and build a shortlist of companies that align with them.

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III. Don’t sweat the tool

Yes, only now are we talking about portfolios. Building a strong network and having a clear job search strategy will move the needle far more than spending months perfecting a portfolio.

Let’s clear something up: there is no one right way to build a portfolio. No magic formula.

Design purists love to share dogmas like:

“Real designers code their own portfolio.”

“Real designers don’t use templates.”

“Real designers do XYZ...”

What they often forget is that for most of us a portfolio is a means to an end. It’s a tool to help you land a job.

Run with what works for you

If coding your portfolio helps you showcase your skills, go for it. If templates get you up and running quickly, use one. When you can rely on a strong network for referrals, you can bypass traditional application routes and your portfolio may not even be your first touchpoint.

I maintain two portfolios. A public-facing site that anyone can see and my actual portfolio which I only share when applying to a job.

My public-facing site is a teaser of my work with just enough visuals and descriptions to give people a sense of what I do. It’s built in Framer using a free template that I customised.

Overview of my portfolio in Figma.

My actual portfolio that I share only for job applications is a Figma file (I know, shocker!) with case studies, prototypes and a mix-and-match system where I can reorder and edit case studies to each job.

→ What you should do next: Choose a portfolio platform that suits your needs and set a deadline to launch your first version. Get feedback early.

IV. It’s a conversation, not a test

If interviews are where your applications stall, you might be misunderstanding their purpose. Job interviews aren’t tests. They’re conversations. They’re about cultural and team fit, soft skills and collaboration. It makes this step both the hardest and easiest step.

Before the interview

Ever struggle to stay engaged on Zoom? That’s the energy gap you’re working against and this also applies to online interviews.

I try to mimic the feeling of being in the room with my interviewer:

• Bright, natural lighting

• Eye-level, centered camera

• Dressed for confidence (even if it’s a dress shirt and sweatpants situation)

• Bringing extra energy into the conversation

• Researching my interviewers in advance (LinkedIn is your friend)

During the interview

During whiteboard challenges or case study presentations, I approach interviews as collaborative problem-solving sessions. I focus on:

• Defining the problem

• Explaining my thinking

• Sharing what I find challenging and how I solve it

• Drawing from past experiences

• Asking thoughtful questions

I spend less time trying to:

• Impress with jargon and rigid frameworks

• Show pixel-perfect designs

• Find the "right" answer

After the interview

This might go against career guru advice, but I believe in transparency. If I’m excited about a company, I let them know. If I’m interviewing elsewhere, I share where I am in the process. It builds trust.

There’s a lot more to say about interviews, so let me know if you'd like a deeper dive in a future guide.

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TL;DR - What you should really know

• Start building your network today. Referrals give you a real edge.

• Be intentional in your job search. Apply to fewer roles with more focus.

• Don’t stress the tools. Build your portfolio in a way that works for you and your strengths.

• Interviews are conversations. Be curious, ask questions and show who you are.

• Read my Designer’s Guide to Networking

A Designer's Guide to Networking

Let me know in the comments what other guides you’d like to see next!

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Coming next: On the pursuit of a meaningful career.

How do you know when it’s time to leave a job that’s no longer right for you? And how do you build a career that feels meaningful? I’ll share my personal story in one of the most vulnerable newsletters I’ve written yet.