The hardest part isn't the job search

The hardest part of being an experienceddesigner at a crossroads isn't the job search.It's asking for help.You've been the senior person in the room. The one others come to. The one who figures it out, navigates the politics, mentors the juniors, hol...

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Mar 25, 2026
12 years. One career move. Everything changed.

12 years in one organization.Not stuck. Growing. Leading initiatives.Working across teams and technologies.Then the role changed.And suddenly the thing that made her exceptional — deep expertise built over nearly two decades — felt like the thing hol...

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Mar 24, 2026
She wasn't sure she wanted to stay in design.

She told me on our first call:"I need to figure out what kind of designer I want to be. Or even if I should be a designer."10+ years. Strong portfolio. Had done everything from branding to product to service design.But somewhere in the last few years...

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Mar 23, 2026
What happens in 8 weeks

People keep asking what The Backdooractually looks like. So here it is.8 weeks. Small group — 6-8 experienced designers. Monthly intake.Weeks 1-2: Core Clarity.You figure out exactly what role you want, why you want it, and how to talk about your val...

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Mar 22, 2026
35% acceptance rate. Then he froze.

Four weeks ago a designer told me there was no way this would work."Who is going to accept my connection request? Why would they even reply to me?"I said just try 30. Personalize the message. Don't pitch. Ask a question about their work.He did it.35%...

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Mar 21, 2026
What the free tools can't do

Over the last three weeks I've shared a lot of free tools.The Hiring Signal. The Wall guide. Three live workshops.They do one thing well: show you where the gap is. Where the signal doesn't match the substance. Where the translation breaks down.But s...

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Mar 20, 2026
"Keep your resume bullets short and clean."

"Keep your resume bullets short and clean." That advice is why you're getting skipped.Reviewed resumes live this morning. One designer had 8 years of experience building enterprise software.Her resume said: "Led UX design across three cross-functiona...

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Mar 18, 2026
What happened when I scored portfolios live today

Just wrapped the Portfolio Roast.One thing that came up in every single portfolio I reviewed today:The strongest work was buried.Not missing. Buried. Under process descriptions. Under methodology sections. Under "Discovery → Define → Design → Deliver...

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Mar 17, 2026
Tomorrow: I score portfolios live (register now)

Tomorrow morning I'm pulling up real portfolios and scoring them live.Same 6-lens framework behind The Hiring Signal. But instead of a self-assessment, you hear it directly — on your actual work.Four sessions this week:Tue 17 Mar — Portfolio Roast (1...

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Mar 16, 2026