STOP APPLYING TO THE WRONG UX JOBS: A RESEARCH SYSTEM THAT ACTUALLY WORKS

Summary from the TLDR Design newsletter

Most UX designers fail at job hunting because they apply to mismatched roles using a "spray and pray" approach that no longer works in today's competitive market. This article presents a five-phase research system: audit readiness through tool fluency and portfolio quality, target specific industries with tailored resumes, research companies beyond job descriptions, strategically network, and treat rejection as diagnostic data rather than personal judgment. By filtering opportunities rigorously and iterating on feedback, designers can turn their job search from a numbers game into a precise matching system that increases hiring success.