Verified’s Post

There's 100's of talented designers available. Yet, companies are struggling to hire designers. Thoughts as to why: - Companies want "end-to-end" product designers because they need more bang for their buck. That's the reality of the economic environment we're in, budgets are being squeezed. - Hands-off managers who don't want or can't execute IC work to a high level. In my world of working with VCs, these people will not work at early-stage companies. You need to be doing the work and leading. - Non-design hiring managers can't determine which designer will be a long-term fit. i.e. you will need a different type of designer at seed stage to series B. The founding designer role IMO is the toughest role to get right. - The return of "hybrid". London is a vacuum for top designers who want to be in the office 2-3 days a week. What are you seeing? P.S. the "office hours" was great on Monday, great to see many familiar faces. Let's stick together. I'll be running every Monday 3-4pm GMT, for the community. Link in comments.

There's 100's of designers available. Yet, some companies struggle to hire designers efficiently. Thoughts as to why: - Companies want "generalist" product designers because they need more bang for their buck. That's the reality of the economic environment we're in, budgets are being squeezed. Often, they want someone who has done the exact thing they are trying to solve. - Hands-off managers who don't want or can't execute IC work to a high level. These people will not work at early-stage companies. You need to be doing the work as well as leading. - Non-design hiring managers can't determine which designer will be a long-term fit. i.e. you will need a different type of designer at seed stage to series B. The founding designer role IMO is the toughest role to get right. This is why fractional hiring is on the rise. - The return of "hybrid". London is a vacuum for top designers who want to be in the office 2-3 days a week. - Designers have on the whole had it great for a few years, now it's the companies' turn to call the shots a little more i.e salary, office time etc so it's putting off designers who companies want to hire, so it's a cycle of frustration all around. Let the fun commence.

Not enough senior designers do this... and it shows. When most designers look at a job opportunity, you think about: - The title. - The salary. - The perks. But: 90% of the frustration designers feel later in their role could have been spotted from the start, if you just asked the right questions. So, I asked a few designers what questions they'd ask if they were interviewing right now. Here's what they said: → Why is this team hiring now? → Who’s making the final call on design decisions? → Who does design report to? Product or leadership? → How much influence does design have in shaping strategy? → What are the expectations, really? Risky one but worth asking if you can → How aligned are design and engineering? → What’s the actual design maturity of the company? What are some others you've used?

Looking to hire a junior designer? Follow 3 tips to have a more impactful hire 👇🏼 🪴 Don’t only rely on portfolios to gauge their design skills ↳ Most juniors haven’t been given a chance to work on a real project ↳ Usually, their portfolios are filled with passion projects and concepts ↳ Also crafting a perfect portfolio is really tough 🪴 A designer’s value isn’t just summarized in his hard skills The whole team receives value from him being: 👉  Effective in communicating and collaborating 👉  Flexible and adaptable 👉  Influential on his colleagues 👉  Trustworthy and responsible 🪴 Prioritize character over skills ↳ Hard skills are easy to learn, but great mindsets take years to shape ↳ Characters with growth mindsets have a good potential to level up fast and take leadership ↳ Check out their LinkedIn (or other socials) to learn more about their personality 💡 If you doubt if the candidate is the right one to hire, set up an interview. ↳ If you still doubt, but see some clues of him having a growth mindset: ✅ Give him a chance. ↳ Most juniors just need a chance to prove themselves. What's the most challenging part of hiring a junior designer? - — - — - P.S. Please don’t do any task assignment, it’s toxic. But if you decide to do it, please at least appreciate the candidate with a reasonable wage. - — - — - #hiring #hiringdesigners #juniordesigner #userexperience #startup #founder

💡 Design Studios vs. MNCs: Where Should You Work? 💡 I've been curious about the best work environment for designers and have asked many senior professionals their opinions. The feedback has been quite balanced, with each having its own unique advantages and challenges. Here’s a summary of what I’ve learned: Design Studios: Pros: 🌟 Creative Freedom: Enjoy more opportunities to innovate and experiment. 🌈 Varied Projects: Work on diverse projects for different clients. 👥 Close-Knit Teams: Experience greater camaraderie and collaboration. 🕒 Flexibility: Often benefit from more flexible working hours and environment. Cons: 💼 Resource Constraints: Operate with limited resources compared to larger companies. ❓ Job Stability: Potentially less job security. ⏰ Workload: May require wearing multiple hats and longer hours. MNCs (Multinational Corporations): Pros: 🔧 Resources: Access advanced tools, technologies, and training. 📈 Job Stability: Enjoy a more stable and structured environment. 🚀 Growth Opportunities: Benefit from clear career progression and professional development. Cons: 🎨 Specialization: Roles may be more specialized, limiting creative freedom. 🏰 Corporate Culture: May feel less personal and more rigid. 🔄 Less Variety: Projects might be more uniform and less diverse. No matter where you choose to work, both environments offer unique experiences that can greatly contribute to your growth as a designer. It’s all about finding the right fit for your career goals and personal preferences. Would love to hear your experiences and thoughts below! #DesignCareer #WorkEnvironment #CreativeIndustries #CareerGrowth #DesignStudios #MNCs #JobProsAndCons

Simplifying Your Design Hiring Process Hiring a designer shouldn't be a hassle. Forget the traditional methods of requesting quotes, vetting candidates, and dealing with tedious contracts. Our streamlined approach makes it easy to get the work you need, fast. With our subscription service, you can: Subscribe and request unlimited designs. • Get each design started and delivered within 2 business days. • Enjoy unlimited revisions until you're 100% satisfied. • Best of all, you can cancel anytime, just like any other subscription service. Ready to simplify your design process? Let’s get started! 🚀 #Design #Hiring #BusinessGrowth #DesignServices

Companies trying to hire design the same as other roles, Which is wrong. Here is why. In today’s competitive landscape, hiring the right talent is crucial. But here’s a truth bomb: hiring for design roles shouldn’t be approached the same way as other roles. Here’s why: 1. Creativity Over Credentials: While degrees and certificates can be important, a designer's portfolio speaks louder. Look for creativity, problem-solving skills, and a unique style. 2. Diverse Skills and Thinking: Design isn't just about aesthetics. It’s about understanding user experience, psychology, and sometimes even coding. A designer’s toolkit is vast and varied. 3. Cultural Fit Matters More: Designers often work across multiple teams, translating complex ideas into visuals. I think it's important that they fit into your company culture and can communicate effectively. 4. Iterative and Agile Mindset: The design process is iterative. A great designer thrives on feedback and constantly evolves. Look for someone who’s flexible and welcomeschange. 5. Showcase, Don’t Just Tell: Instead of traditional interviews, consider design challenges or collaborative projects. This gives you a real sense of how they think, solve problems, and work under pressure. 6. Value of Personal Projects: Personal projects and side hustles can be a goldmine for assessing passion and creativity. Don’t underestimate these in your evaluation. 7. Communication is Key: Designers need to convey their ideas clearly and justify their choices. Assess their ability to articulate design decisions during the hiring process. Remember, a star designer can transform your brand, product, and user experience. So, rethink these hiring strategies and find the creative minds that will drive innovation forward! #DesignThinking #Hiring #TalentAcquisition #CreativeMinds #Innovation #CompanyCulture

🔍 Navigating through Job Applications and Titles in Design 🎨 I’ve been seeing different job titles in the field of design, such as #Design_Lead, #Design_Manager, #Lead_Designer, and #Head_of_Design. It’s important to understand the roles of each title to apply for jobs effectively. Here’s a breakdown of each role: Design Lead 👥: This role involves guiding a team of designers, doing design work, mentoring junior designers, and making sure the design matches project goals. Design Manager 📋: A Design Manager focuses on the operational side of the design team, overseeing workflow, managing resources, setting deadlines, and making sure the team meets its objectives. Lead Designer 🎯: The Lead Designer leads design projects and sets the creative direction. They work closely with other departments to ensure designs match broader company objectives. Head of Design 🚀: This is a strategic leadership role, responsible for the overall vision and direction of the design department. It involves setting long-term design strategies and fostering innovation. Understanding these roles is important for targeting job applications effectively. Each role requires different skills and experiences, so identifying which aligns with our career goals and strengths can help us position ourselves for success. 🎯 Have you encountered confusing titles in your job search? What are your thoughts on the differences between them? 💬 #JobSearch #DesignCareers #UXDesign #ProductDesign #CareerGrowth #DesignLeadership

Hiring good designers is hard 🤨 Here are 5 things I look for when hiring designers: Will you ever find a designer you can trust? So many things can go wrong... 🔴 How do I read design portfolios? 🔴 How much do I pay them? 🔴 How can I make sure they are good? After reviewing over 400 design applications in the last 2 years, here's what I'm looking for: ✅ Great presentation skills, mainly as a portfolio ✅ The applicant asks questions about the product/service ✅ Great writing skills, especially in the application email or message ✅ Transparent pricing/salary expectations (they know their worth) ✅ Culture fit, familiarity with remote & async work (essential at Grauberg) What else should founders look out for when hiring designers? #hiring #uxdesign

A lot of hiring managers DM to ask me if I know of any good designers to hire. I've met a lot of designers. Not a lot of them know how to self advocate or build quality relationships for me to recommend them. Every conversation you cross path. Every message is a give and take experience. Every social interaction is an exchange of energy. Opportunities are everywhere. Networking is a fine art. Treat them with care. Think 5 steps ahead. #networking #think5stepsahead #systemthinker #productdesign #designcareer