Illuminating the Invisible: Navigating the Job Hunt as a Junior UX/UI Designer in an Era of Seniority

Hi there You, so happy to see you around here! Can you help me with a quick question first…

Can you tell me if you can see me? No really, can you SEE me? I’m right here, I promised!

For the last couple of months I have been swimming in the Job-hunting pool for the first time as a UX/UI Designer, and definitely, I can say that feeling invisible is the top thing to jump to my mind while thinking about creating this article and sharing my thoughts.

That’s why I’m asking you, my dear friend, if you are able to SEE ME, to HEARD ME and to give me some of your time so I can tell you my experience. Who knows, maybe have something to do with yours too.

What can I say now, I finished my UX/UI Design Bootcamp in late April, I was lucky enough to enjoy the ride and also feel pretty confident about my recent gain knowledge, so I decided to create my portfolio, update my LinkedIn profile and make that ugly but “hireable” CV resume to start sending ASAP.

My surprise? I haven’t sent a single resume yet, or even make public my new portfolio and I received a message from a UX Consultant of a big company here in Spain called Redbility, you can imagine, someone in the field actually was saying to me that my work was what they were looking for with such an intense certainty that of course, I buy it.

Let’s say that nothing else happen, she thought I was a Senior looking at my work and then realized I wasn’t when receiving my CV, the reality is that we will never know, because never heard anything else.

I know, I know! You are thinking “Ok, some companies do that to have more data or whatever”. That’s why I decided to swallow my pride and move on with a broken heart and without a job.

A lot of other resumes have been sent. I’m doing a lot of Online Courses, attending Master Classes, and doing side projects to keep my mind busy. I’m so passionate about learning and growing about designing experiences, I just wish this road doesn’t feel so lonely and hopeless sometimes.

To help me get on track, I also decided to start a Mentoring program throw ADP List with Lilibeth Bustos Linares, this amazing teacher also on Memorisely, the life bring her to me on LinkedIn and after our first session, I already felt so empowered and capable of changing the world.

After doing all this Job-posting reading I completely forget my personal value, my history, my two-times migrant background, my life experience in general, and all my personal skills that don’t rhyme with “perfectionism” or “wireframing” as all the companies tend to search for these days.

I’m a Latina living in Spain, who have being lucky enough to live this Bootcamp experience, to have learned English while listening to Britney Spears and the Jonas Brothers on repeat, and to have an open mind to keep learning.

I have this big, this huge heart and mind that are so difficult to show when anyone has the time to see it or give me at least the chance to know me without expecting something like a title degree, or professional experience in the field.

Where are those magical places to work when people are seen as people, with the potential to grow, learn, and where the best asset to have is this incredible curiosity to make a better, inclusive, kind, and human world?

I’m innocent enough to believe these workplaces exist. That we can be more than our career or past self-experiences and that’s it.

It’s time for me to say Goodbye, but before you go, I want to remember you something…

To all my fellow junior UX/UI designers out there, I want you to know that you’re not alone in feeling invisible during the job search. Your experiences matter, and your potential is immense. So keep pushing forward, trust in your abilities, and know that you are seen and appreciated.

To the companies and decision-makers reading this, I urge you to consider the value that junior designers bring. Embrace their fresh perspectives, hunger for growth, and passion for innovation. By investing in junior talent, you open the doors to endless possibilities for your organization.

Let’s break free from stereotypes and biases. Together, we can create an inclusive environment that nurtures talent at every level and builds a stronger, more vibrant design community.

Our dreams are worth pursuing. Believe in yourself, and know that greatness awaits. Together, let’s illuminate the invisible and shape a world where talent knows no boundaries.

I invite you to share your own experiences, feelings, and thoughts in the comments below. I’ll be so happy to hear from you!