i agree it is too much. of course not all *required* but it seems as though if you’re not prepared with most of this list, you’re SOL. unless you know someone… it’s tough. it’s probably because design talent or design in general is not taken seriously, and companies want...

heard. in my feelings a bit i suppose. im a bit more understanding than im leading on. i feel there is a mutual rift in this whole process. somehow needs to be re-worked. different for everybody though.

to take every measure, often to the extent of making the candidates feel fatigued and bail, allowing for them to weed out the “bad” when really, it’s wasting so much time and money on for both parties.

Why do designers need to jump through so many hoops…

- Resume
- Portfolio website
    - Case studies
    - KPI’s
    - Research
    - Mock-ups
    - Videos
- Portfolio PDF
- Portfolio presentation
- Multiple interviews
- *Take-home challenge

(All need to be designed as well) 🙃

Plus all the training I do with designers to interview well. Companies spend dozens of hours per candidate.

Having hired many, many designers over my 20+ years of being in the industry, you could never do this in 2 interviews. While I get that having all the list being required is a bit much, there are many signals you’d miss in a shorter process.

I would scratch a few things from that list, like a Portfolio PDF (depending on the type of design you do, a PDF might not be the best way to show your work).

I normally refuse to do take-home assignments unless it's for a company I want to work at.

I wish I could like this to infinity. 

Standards and expectations are too unrealistic.

Remember that while it seems the majority of work is on the designer applying, that’s not totally the case. In just my time alone as a hiring manager I’ll spend 8+ hours getting a candidate to an on-site, plus multiple hours of everyone else on a panel.

just to get rejected at the 190383th round!

all you need...

1) can you do the work? are you qualified?

2) do you have some work to showcase and back that up, if so, show us, but keep it very simple, just talk us through your ideas.

3) are you a trustworthy, good person? (references, and background experience.)

4) Done.

All that said, I get it. It’s a hard process to interview as a designer. But if you put in the time as an interviewee you’ll end up with a better outcome and you’ll join a company and team that will make you better.

all of this can be done in probably 2 interviews. add a 2rd step for a potential “screening” call.

Saying their “hoops” has a negative connotation that’s unfair. There are two parties involved and both need to do work to make sure it’s a good fit.

If we started collecting referrals / endorsements would we need all this? We’d need some of it, but not all surely 🤔

Idk, at this part of carreer i am like… see top companies i worked for, look at my top projects, anything else you need to know, ask me or look at my LinkedIn.

We need all the design leaders (and "design leaders" tbh) in the industry to band together and put a stop to this, seriously. 

There needs to be a realistic set of standards that actually help people be employed rather than obstacles that keep people out.

well said all around, Aaron. thanks for the candid response and offering another pov. i may lean on you more in the future as it pertains to this area of hiring and interviewing, process, etc. ty.

I’ve been on both sides of an interview and interviewing in a way that builds a successful team is way harder than it was as an interviewee.

having not nearly that much experience on my end, I can empathize with that. i think what helps the most is when the process is clearly outlined and precise. well communicated and expectations are set. no guessing. helps with both parties.

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