02. Stop Applying. Start Connecting.

It’s time to start connecting with other humans.

So you’re sending out a bunch of applications and getting nothing. Silence. Not a single response.

You may be starting to wonder what might be wrong with your portfolio. Maybe your case studies aren’t as impressive as you thought. Or perhaps you don’t have that fancy design degree, so you’re getting overlooked by more talented or experienced designers.

Well, I have some good news. The good news is that I bet it isn’t any of those things. I bet you’re a real design badass. I think it’s your job-hunting strategy that might need some tweaking.

I’m willing to bet that your portfolio is fine. Your resume is fine. Your understanding of UX methods, rules, whatever, is totally fine.

You just have to get a human involved to help move the process forward. Unfortunately for most candidates, It’s really hard to get to the part where humans take over.

So in this episode, we’ll offer some insight into how you can really up your job-hunting game and start talking to actual humans. 

Topics:
• 01:24 – You’re wasting your time applying to 100s of jobs
• 02:17 – We need to get a human involved
• 03:10 – Stop applying for jobs
• 04:27 – How many people have you talked to?
• 05:24 – The Message
• 08:22 – Don’t go in asking for a handout.
• 09:44 – Don’t copy and paste
• 10:27 – Jayneil Dalal – Advice
• 11:00 – Job hunting is a job
• 12:01 – Find an industry or company you’re passionate about
• 12:50 – Find the right leader and design team
• 15:05 – Don’t just focus on the large companies
• 16:05 – Take advantage of social networks

Helpful Links
• The Design MBA Podcast
• Jayneil Dalal – How to cold email, network and apply for jobs as a designer
• Over 98% of Fortune 500 Companies Use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
• Hidden Workers: Untapped Talent
• Harvard Business School Study Says Software Overlooks Millions Of Qualified Job Candidates

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