Last night, I had dinner with 4 strangers.

4 designers I’d never met before.

We laughed.

We talked about the hard stuff.

We asked weird questions like:

“If you stopped doing design… what would you do for the next 10, 20, 30 years?”

It was a mix of nerves, excitement, curiosity.

But here’s what hit me the most:

I don’t remember every word we said.

I can’t quote every story or every insight.

But I do remember how I felt.

I left that dinner buzzing.

Happy. Fulfilled.

Grateful.

And it made me think about something else:

Every message you send,

Every call you schedule,

Every interview you attend—

Yes, the content matters.

But what really sticks?

The feeling.

That’s what people remember.

So in your job search, don’t just think:

“What should I say?”

Ask yourself:

“How do I want them to feel after talking to me?”

Do you leave them confused? Or clear?

Cold? Or warm?

Nervous? Or reassured?

Same goes for you too.

How did you feel after that call?

If you’re sending 50 resumes and feeling emptier with every one…

That’s a sign something needs to shift.

You’re not a robot. Neither are they.

Whether it’s a recruiter, hiring manager, or fellow designer—

People remember how you made them feel.

What kind of feeling are you leaving behind?