What gives? Why aren’t job searches working like they used to?

It’s been 20 months of awfulness in the UX job market, and people are still trying to figure out what they can do differently to finally land that next job. I wrote at length about this a year ago, and sadly everything I said still stands.

Cutting to the chase, the solution to your woes is not to go into overdrive on your networking, nor is it to revise your resume for the 100th time to beat the ATS bots (there’s no such thing). Sharing your thoughts on LinkedIn doesn’t work nearly as well as it used to. Casting hexes on your fellow job seekers is also not an option, nor would it be very nice of you. And mass applying has never, ever been a good use of time.

Recently I spoke with a Lead UX Designer who just wrapped up a successful 5-year stint as an independent consultant working with well-known brands. Now she’s ready to go back in-house to make more money, get better health insurance, and ideally have more impact through her work. Historically, she’s had no issues landing interviews and making it through the full interview process with multiple companies.

Several weeks into her search, most of her applications have resulted in a generic “thanks but no thanks” response from a do-not-reply email, plus the occasional dead-end recruiter call. Sound familiar?

Sorry, but there is no secret method to the madness that ~you’ve simply yet to tap into.~

This is a nearly universal experience for job seekers today. And it doesn’t take much to find ourselves in a cognitive trap where we conclude that it MUST be me, something I did wrong, something I'm lacking, that I'm not good enough for this field. And before we know it, we're ashamed and depressed and demoralized and totally convinced we'll never get a job ever again.

I’ve partnered with hundreds of job seekers over the past five years, first during the best of times in 2020-21, and more recently during the worst of times of 2023-2024’s mass layoffs trend (now continuing into 2025 with Meta’s 4,000-person layoff on February 10th). A quick assessment of this person’s approach made it clear that she’s checking all the boxes. She knows exactly what she wants and has a goals-based plan for getting there. Her positioning is clear, her resume and portfolio are strong. Her interview chops? No comments, no notes. She’s networking, iterating her process, and prioritizing how she spends her time.

The reason she reached out is because she hoped that I could tell her something, anything, that she could do better or differently. What she didn’t expect was some straight talk about the realities of our limited control over the job market, and a validation of her current approach. This is a conversation that I’ve had with many, many people in recent months.

So, now what? Some alternatives to consider.

Let’s assume that just like our Design Lead protagonist, you’ve checked off all the suggested boxes for your job search, but you’re feeling despondent. While there are no insider secrets to landing a job in 2025, there are some alternate ways of framing the situation that can help alleviate some pressure, put your inner critic in its place, and maintain momentum to keep your eye on the prize.

1. Accept this shitty reality. I wish we were back in the heyday of UX where there were jobs galore (a lá Oprah tossing out free goodies to audience members). In the 2010s, it was fairly easy to get a UX job. Today there are far fewer openings, way more candidates, slower processes, and so many other variables out of our control. This has been the case for a loooooong time now and I don’t know when or if it will get better. No one does.

2. Set appropriate expectations. Think about what these trends mean for your search—it will probably take longer to get a job. Response rates to your applications will be lower than you’re used to, no matter your talents. Compensation and perks have also decreased. Offers may be pulled, or you may not get the job you are a perfect fit for, for unclear or unfair reasons. If you are trying to leave your current position, ask yourself how you can bide your time without harm to your mental health.

3. Evaluate your circumstances. Patience and acceptance are helpful (and sometimes a luxury). You may have to make concessions depending on your finances, obligations, or other needs. You might have to take a job working on a boring product or make a lateral move so you can pay your bills. When possible, honor your non-negotiables so you aren’t jaded on Day 1 of a new job because it’s missing something essential to your values. Assessing your situation and the risks and tradeoffs of any potential decision is crucial.

4. Strategically pivot your focus or transition to something new. Niche down hard (e.g., go all on in a specific industry, product type, platform, or technical specialty). Consider adjacent roles in UX, hybrid roles, and industries or company types you’ve avoided. You might have to get some training for in-demand skills, e.g., new technologies, research methods, tooling, etc. Know which roles are the most viable right now (e.g., generalists) and which ones are harder to come by (e.g., managers). Consider a new career path altogether if you have the means to do so. Explore what piques your interest. Experiment with mixed income streams. A part-time retail job doesn’t mean you’re no longer a UX pro!

5. Find a job search buddy or community. Job searches are hard to go at alone in a system that forces us to compete with others for a livelihood. Find someone who is going through what you are and provide mutual support, accountability, tips, and resources. Community beats competition all day, every day.

Focus on what’s within your control.

We can alleviate some stress, reduce a tendency toward biased and catastrophic thinking, and maintain some hope and momentum, by focusing solely on what we can control.

Factors that are not worth worrying about (i.e., not within our control): 🙅🏻‍♂️

The supply of jobs, other candidates (qualifications, luck, privilege), budget and resource changes, internal bureaucracy and politics, rescinded offers, project cancellation, reduced capacity of recruiters, ill-designed hiring processes, poor communication and transparency, hiring manager pickiness/biases/whims/indecision, cronyism & nepotism, internal candidates, roles pulled at the last minute, anything else going on behind the wizard's curtain, and random unknown variables within the chaotic nature of the universe

Things we can do (and do a good job of): 🤗

Being strategic and proactive with our search, knowing who are are and what we're good at, applying to right-fit jobs we are actually qualified for, effective communication, solid professional assets, interview performance, targeted networking, and the ability to let go and move forward.

Thanks Amy, now I’m depressed. 👍 👁️ 👄 👁️ 👍

No one chose this, we didn’t expect it, and it’s not fair. I am totally with you. Seeing things for what they are, knowing that many others are dealing with the same thing, and choosing how to respond, all help take away some of the pressure of this bad situation.

We’ve got to remind ourselves and each other of our innate self worth and value as humans, which has nothing to do with our ability to get a job, what job we have, our income or lack of it, getting laid off, or any other form of capitalist external validation.

We’ve also got to take care of ourselves. And I’m talking real self and communal care. Be with people, go birdwatching (my personal passion), take a nap, do an improv class, hike in the woods, cook for someone, volunteer, show up for a marginalized group, talk to a co-worker about unionizing your workplace, or schedule a therapy appointment. Make friends with your neighbors. Paint, draw, write. Focus on your art, your hobbies, your interests. Practice mutual aid.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, but it might take a bit longer for the light to appear. As always, let me know if I can be of help in any way.

Thanks for being here!

P.S. Want to explore working with me on your UX job search, career goals, and workplace challenges? Check out my offerings, or reply to this email and let me know what I can help with! ✨