2026 is here.

New year.

Same broken hiring game.

If you’ve been applying for months, tweaking your portfolio, reaching late rounds, and still not getting offers, this is probably familiar.

You’re not failing because you’re bad at UX.

You’re failing because the people who decide never really see you.

Most experienced designers don’t lose at interviews.

They lose before the interview even starts.

I’m opening a small number of 1-on-1 coaching spots for experienced UX and product designers who want to land their next $200k+ role without living on job boards or rebuilding their portfolio for the tenth time.

This is for Career Creators.

We don’t start with applications.

We start with signal.

Job boards average under 1% response.

That’s the math most people are playing with.

When clients switch to targeted conversations inside the right companies, response rates typically move into the 20–30% range.

Some higher.

Not because they suddenly got better.

Because they stopped being invisible.

Early momentum usually looks like this:

→ Clear unfair advantage

→ A short, focused list of dream companies

→ The exact people who matter inside those companies

→ First messages sent

→ Replies

→ Real conversations

→ Coffee chats

That’s when control comes back.

At the same time, we stop doing the things that keep people stuck:

→ Mass applying

→ Endless portfolio tweaking

→ Overthinking alone

Most portfolios don’t fail because they’re weak.

They fail because they’re irrelevant to the companies you actually want.

Once conversations start, we build a Backstage Pass.

A custom, high-intent asset shaped around real problems inside the company.

Not a generic portfolio.

Not a case study dump.

It positions you as a thoughtful problem solver, not another hopeful applicant.

That’s what creates trust before a role even opens.

This is not a course.

No videos to binge.

No templates to hide behind.

It’s me and you.

1-on-1 calls.

Direct feedback.

Clear weekly actions.

Most clients spend 3–5 focused hours a week, not 30–50 hours chasing noise.

Some people land roles in 8–12 weeks.

Some take longer, depending on life, work, and consistency.

Once you’re in, I work with you until you land your next role.

That’s the commitment.

This is a $5,000 USD private 1-on-1 engagement.

It’s not for juniors.

Not for quick fixes.

Not for people who want to stay in their head.

It is for experienced designers who are ready to stop repeating the same loop and try a different path because the old one clearly isn’t working.

Reply to this email and I’ll map your Q1 backdoor plan with you.

Stop chasing.

Start creating.

Joseph