You’ve been polishing your portfolio for weeks, maybe months. You’ve added animations, tweaked every pixel, and agonized over the perfect case study titles.

But still… nothing.

No calls. No interviews. No offers.

Why? Because the best-case-studies-ever won’t get you hired if no one’s looking at them.

The hard truth:

Landing your dream UX role isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection.

Most UXers pour 100% of their energy into portfolios. But portfolios are only 30% of the hiring equation. The other 70%? Networking and storytelling.

Think about it like this:

A perfect painting hidden in a closet doesn’t get discovered. But a scrappy sketch displayed in a gallery gets seen, talked about, and remembered.

That’s the difference networking makes.

When you focus on building relationships, you’re not just another application in the pile—you’re someone they want to know.

Here’s what I teach my clients:

1. Network intentionally:

Spend time connecting with hiring managers, peers, and industry insiders. Use platforms like LinkedIn to engage meaningfully—not to sell yourself, but to build trust.

2. Tell a story:

Hiring managers don’t just want a pretty portfolio. They want to see how you solve problems, deliver results, and make an impact.

3. Focus on value, not perfection:

Instead of obsessing over case study details, focus on showing how your work impacted businesses or users. What’s the measurable outcome? That’s what resonates.

One of my clients, Wei Neng, transformed his job search by shifting focus from a “perfect” portfolio to a strategic one. Instead of just showcasing visuals, he emphasized business impact, storytelling, and results. The result? A flood of recruiter interest and interviews​.

If your job hunt feels stuck, it’s not because your portfolio isn’t good enough—it’s because you’re spending all your time on the wrong 30%.

Stop striving for perfection. Start building connections and telling your story. That’s what gets you hired.

Want help crafting a portfolio that stands out and building a network that opens doors? Reply to this email, and let’s chat about how my UX Careerpreneur framework can help.