Tips for Overcoming UX Career Change Obstacles

This UX Designer almost quit their career because of ONE wrong assumption. A talented UX Designer with 3 years of experience told me they were ready to leave the field entirely. The reason? Their job search felt "impossible." Here's the assumption that nearly derailed their career: "There must be an easier path somewhere else." ❌ WRONG. After coaching 1,000+ professionals through career transitions, here's what I've learned: There is no such thing as an easy job search - in ANY field. Think Product Management is easier? It's not. Think Marketing has less competition? It doesn't. Think Sales roles are just waiting for you? They're not. Here's the REAL strategy that works: Instead of jumping ship, leverage what you already have: ✅ Your 3 years of UX experience (GOLD in this market) ✅ Your existing portfolio (proof of real impact) ✅ Your domain expertise (impossible to replicate quickly) The Lady Gaga Method for Landing a UX role: - Target 10 dream companies (not 100 random applications) - Research key decision makers (bypass HR gatekeepers) - Start conversations BEFORE they're hiring (80% of jobs are never posted) - Create your own opportunities (stop waiting in the sidelines) The fundamentals that separate winners from everyone else: Laser focus on specific companies 6-month commitment minimum One compelling career story Your toxic work environment is temporary. Your career momentum doesn't have to be. What's the #1 thing stopping you from landing your dream UX role? Drop it in the comments 👇 And if you're ready to leave that role for one that suits you, DM me "Accelerate" and let's talk :)

Jr. UX designers, if you are struggling to talk about your past career, you might be thinking about it in the wrong way… As UX designers, we are constantly tasked to brainstorm i n n o v a t i v e solutions to fill gaps for our clients. Our notebooks are filled with sketches of good, bad, ugly ideas. But when it comes to brainstorming about ourselves, our whiteboards are empty. I’ve seen this hundreds of times, been there, and maybe this is you… Are you using the same old buzzwords and phrases to describe yourself: “I’m a storyteller.” “I’m a curious, problem solver.” Is that really how someone who actually solves problems, talks? As a career changer, you have a whole arsenal of ideas that you can use to see what makes the most compelling representation of how you think and operate. Start thinking of your personal branding as a design challenge.   If a client came to you and was like, “give me an innovative solution to order food,” would you immediately pitch Doordash? No! You’d probably assess what already exists, think about what the customer needs are, and start thinking about different ideas. Let’s take Charlie, 8th grade teacher turned UXas. How can he approach personal branding as a UX case study? User research: Hiring managers are trying to find a UXer that exhibits skills of iteration and problem solving Painpoints: All the candidates look the same, use the same language, and it’s difficult to differentiate people who are actually creative, and those that just use buzzwords How might we: convey iteration and problem solving abilities about Charlie? Stakeholder research: Upon closer inspection of available materials, you see that Charlie has been an 8th grade teacher for 7 years and has several examples of solving problems secretly tucked away. Competitor analysis: How does everyone else describe themselves in their personal branding? What can we do differently? Brainstorming: Thinking about limited time and resources, let’s start sketching solutions with what we already have: stories and skills from being a teacher Ideas: Every year Charlie iterates on his lesson plans as the requirements from the State change, and from student feedback. He runs experiments on which projects keep his students the most engaged, which have the highest adoption rates. He collects feedback after different projects to see what needs improvement. Wireframing: Charlie makes a list of his top examples of teaching that seem to overlap with UX the best. UI design: Rewriting and rewriting. Charlie has to figure out how to best present the past examples to engage users and get them from point A to B in a cohesive and consistent way. User testing: Getting feedback from mentors, people on Linkedin, seeing what gets traction from hiring managers Do you ever feel like you’re starting from a blank canvas when it comes to UX? Take a step back and see what you already have to work with. #uxdesign #personalbranding

Recently, I had a UX student struggling to find her footing as a UXer. Despite having a solid career before entering a UX bootcamp (yes, that's where she started her UX education), being a super quick UX learner, proactive in-person connector, and having a portfolio full of interesting projects – she couldn't land a job. She faced the same daunting rejection cycle many did: - Her resume vanished into the abyss. - Her experience failed to meet elusive standards. - Being a non-native English speaker only added to her doubts. She felt like her new career was slipping out of her grasp. That's when our conversation led to a pivotal shift. And this is when she "took a chance" on LinkedIn. Instead of just sending out resumes and waiting, she decided to actively engage on the platform. She started by sharing her journey, the challenges she faced, and the small victories she celebrated. She reached out to people for advice, commented on industry posts, and participated in discussions. Her wit, authenticity, and persistence began to pay off. People noticed her original insights and determination. Connections grew into meaningful conversations. She even started a newsletter for aspiring UXers. Finally, she was getting invites for interviews... Within 6 months, she landed her first UX role! Yep, it took 6 months of daily consistency to get there. But the real win wasn't even the job itself – it was the network she built, the confidence she gained, and the recognition that her unique voice had value. I'm not saying that LinkedIn is for everyone, or that it's a sure way to land a UX role. But it's definitely a way to become more visible and create your own opportunities. So if you're feeling stuck, maybe the key to breaking the cycle is to change the game you're playing? 😉 #ux #uxcareer #linkedinforuxers

Thinking about a career change? Here’s how to actually make it happen, step by step. I’ve spoken with hundreds of people stuck between “I don’t want to do this anymore” and “But where do I even start?” Here’s the truth: Changing careers isn’t about starting over. It’s about repackaging what you already know, and proving you can solve a new set of problems. Here’s how to do it (with examples): 1. Start with your story. What’s pulling you away from your current path—and what’s pulling you forward? ✅ Example: “I’ve spent 6 years in education, but what I really loved was designing systems and learning tools. I’m now pivoting into UX design for edtech.” Make the shift clear and intentional. 2. Identify your transferable skills. You’ve built real value, name it. ✅ Example: Sales → Relationship-building, persuasion, handling objections Ops → Process design, cross-functional collaboration, execution List your strongest 4–6 skills and align them with your new target role. 3. Learn the language of the new industry. Every field has its own lingo. Start speaking it. ✅ Tip: Search 10 job listings in your target role. Write down the top 5 repeated words/phrases. Mirror those in your LinkedIn, resume, and pitch. 4. Rewrite your resume to match the direction, not the past. Lead with relevance, not chronology. ✅ Example: Add a “Career Summary” section: “Operations leader transitioning into product management, with 7+ years leading cross-functional teams, driving process improvements, and delivering results.” 5. Build proof fast. Don’t wait to get hired to show your skills. ✅ Options: Freelance Volunteer Build your own project Take a short course and create a case study Demonstrate that you’re not just interested, but also taking action. 6. Apply smart, not just often. Instead of applying everywhere, focus on quality roles in flexible environments. ✅ Pro tip: Use DailyRemote to find legit, remote-friendly roles across industries. It’s especially helpful for career changers who want fresh opportunities and a bit more breathing room. 7. Network with purpose. Start with conversations, not asks. ✅ DM example: “Hi Alex, I saw your post about transitioning into UX. I’m making a similar shift from content strategy. Would love to hear about your journey, no pressure at all.” Career changes take courage. But they’re absolutely possible. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience. Now package it with purpose, and go get what’s next.