You put your best work into that case study.

Clean visuals. Step-by-step process. A smooth redesign.

But the recruiter skimmed it.

The hiring manager ghosted.

And you’re left wondering: “What did I miss?”

Here’s the truth:

Your case study isn’t bad.

It’s just incomplete.

→ It walks through actions, but skips decisions.

→ It shows screens, but hides the story.

→ It describes outcomes, but lacks why they matter.

Let’s fix that.

Here’s the 6-part structure I used to get hired — and land a 50% salary increase.

1. Context — give us the scene

→ Who was the client?

→ Why did this project exist?

→ What was at stake?

Frame it like a movie opener.

Not a bullet list.

2. Problem — show what was broken

→ What wasn’t working?

→ Who was affected — users and business?

→ Why did this need fixing now?

Be specific. “Confusing navigation” isn’t enough.

Say:

“ShopEasy’s bounce rates spiked 40% on mobile. Customers weren’t making it past the homepage.”

That sticks.

3. Objectives — clarify the mission

→ User goal: make checkout smoother.

→ Business goal: increase conversion by 10%.

→ Success metrics: dropoffs, NPS, task time.

This aligns your work to impact — not just activity.

4. Research — show what changed your mind

→ What did users actually say or do?

→ What patterns surprised you?

→ How did this shift your direction?

This builds credibility.

Hiring managers trust designers who listen, not just design.

5. Design — narrate the real journey

→ What did you try first? Why?

→ What failed? What changed?

→ What trade-offs did you make?

No one’s looking for perfect.

They’re looking for someone who can think under pressure — and explain why.

6. Results — bring receipts

→ “Improved UX” means nothing.

→ “15% more checkouts. 3x faster onboarding. 40% fewer drop-offs.” That lands.

Include business metrics and what you’d do differently.

Bonus? Wrap it up with an Executive Summary that slaps.

→ Headline: “Revamped checkout → 25% more orders”

→ Context: 3-week sprint for ecomm client

→ Your role: Led UX strategy + prototyping

→ Result: UX win, conversion win, team trust win

This 1–pager is what gets skimmed in the final decision.

Your case study isn’t just a portfolio piece.

It’s a trust-building story.

So stop showing just what you did.

Start showing how you think.

Reply back to this email — what’s your take?