Play of the Week newsletter by Chris​ ​ ​​​​

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Newsletter issue: #181
Read time: 1m 58s

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In 2015, I landed my first UX role. It felt like an accident.

Why?

Because my resume was thinner than Vietnamese rice paper (that shit thin).

By 2019, I was leading a team of 20+ designers across 4 countries.

How?

I interviewed, A LOT.

Even with a job, every ~6 months I would “see what’s out there”.

Eventually, I learned how to play the interview game. Both from the perspective of the interviewee and interviewer.

The reality of hiring is…

Companies don't just hire the most skilled designer.

They hire the designer who can best prove they're a “fit”.

In other words, NOT a risk.

Picture this:

Hiring Manager's Brain: "This candidate has a gorgeous portfolio... but can they explain WHY they made those decisions? Will they fit our culture? Can they handle feedback without crying in the bathroom?"

The UX hiring process is like dating, except everyone's sober, and you're being judged on your ability to make rectangles look good (kidding).

Here's the 6-step gauntlet you'll face:

1. Application - Your portfolio is your Tinder profile. Looks matter (at first). Make it swipe-right worthy.
2. Phone Screen - The first coffee date. Keep it casual, honest, and don't mention how much your hate your ex (aka your previous job).
3. Portfolio Presentation - This is the “what do you do?” dinner convo. Don’t overshare. Tell tight, interesting stories:
   • Problem → Solution → Impact → Process
   • 10-12 slides MAX
   • Get to the meat FAST (no one wants your life story)
4. Design Challenge - They’re watching how you handle stress when the waiter messes up your order. They want to know your thought process and your reasoning.
5. Team Interviews - Meeting their friends. Be real. Be a human. Don’t be a UX buzzword generator:
   ❌ “I leverage human-centered methodologies to craft compelling experiences.” ✅ “I talked to users, found out they hated X, so we built Y. Sales went up 20%.”
6. Offer/Rejection - The relationship DTR (Define The Relationship) moment. Either pop champagne or a breakup text. Either way, learn, grow, and get back out there.

My survival strategy?

I stopped trying to be the perfect designer.

Instead I focused on showing my potential.

• When I didn't know something, I said so.
• When I failed, I owned it.
• When asked about my experience, I told stories about impact or what excited me.

Companies eat that stuff up, like I eat Pho at 2AM after a night out 🍜

Remember: Every company is basically looking for someone who WON'T make their lives harder.

Be that person, and you're already ahead of 90% of candidates.

I wrote more about real-world UX interview tips, so y’all can prep for each stage, and nail your next nervous first date. Brutal market out there. Go get ‘em!