146: How Jonathan Stopped Redesigning His UX Portfolio and Started Getting Interviews

After a UX layoff left him uncertain about his next step, Jonathan, a UX leader with 20+ years of experience, turned to Career Strategy Lab to rebuild his confidence, reposition his experience, and take control of his job search. In this open house conversation, Jonathan shares what made the biggest difference: creating a tailored UX portfolio, clarifying his story, and rethinking how he showed up on LinkedIn.

Jonathan went from unsure and out of practice to landing multiple interviews, gaining recruiter attention, and receiving an offer—all while feeling more empowered about his future than ever before.

If you’re feeling stuck, scattered, or unsure about how to sell yourself in the UX job market, Jonathan’s story will show you what’s possible when you stop guessing and get strategic.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ How Jonathan reframed his UX career story after 20 years in the industry

✔️ Why he downsized his portfolio and tailored it to each job

✔️ The mindset shift that helped him stop underselling himself

✔️ Why confidence is built through action, not perfection

✔️ What helped him go from job seeker to in-demand candidate

✔️ Advice for anyone considering joining Career Strategy Lab's UX job search accelerator

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Sarah Doody and Career Strategy Lab

00:38 Episode Overview and Open House Context

02:10 Jonathan's Career Journey and UX Strategy

05:48 Tailoring Your Portfolio for Success

09:22 The Importance of Confidence and Community Feedback

16:45 Final Advice and Encouragement

20:10 Conclusion and Podcast Information

20:49 Special Message for Job Seekers

🎬 Watch Sarah's free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in today's UX job market

👉 Join Sarah Doody's Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.

👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.