“I need more experience.”

I hear this all the time from UX designers struggling to land jobs.

But here’s the contradiction—when I ask if they’re working on new case studies, they say:

“I don’t have time.”

So let’s get this straight:

You think you need more projects.

But you don’t have time to build them.

So you stay stuck, feeling unqualified.

See the problem?

The truth is, you don’t need more case studies. You need better ones.

Most designers think hiring managers want a portfolio stacked with 10+ projects. They don’t.

They want to see clear results and your thinking process.

A portfolio with 2 solid case studies > A portfolio with 10 weak ones.

So if you’re stuck in the “I need more experience” trap, here’s what to do instead:

1️⃣ Pick 1-2 projects and refine them deeply.

• Focus on the problem, your solution, and the impact.
• If there’s no impact? Add reflections: “If I had more time, I’d improve X.”

2️⃣ Make your case studies business-relevant.

• UX isn’t about making pretty screens. Show how your design solved a problem.
• Did it improve conversion? Reduce friction? Increase engagement? Show that.

3️⃣ Craft a strong pitch.

• You’re not just your portfolio. Learn to talk about your work clearly.
• If a hiring manager asks, “Why should we hire you?”—you should have a confident answer.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about making what you have better.

So stop waiting for “one more year of experience.”

If you focus on depth over quantity, you’ll be ready sooner than you think.

Need help refining your case studies? Reply with “portfolio” and I’ll share my favorite framework for making any case study stand out.