The more appealing your UXR/UXD portfolio is, the easier it is to land a job.
I was sitting on a panel interview with a UX Researcher. The candidate was good on paper and said all the right things. I gave them a good review because they could’ve done the job well.
Then I was sitting on another panel (because, you know, you need to have options to choose from to select the best candidate for the position). This person was the same as the first one: looked good on paper, said all the right things, and I gave them excellent reviews.
But things changed when I interviewed the third candidate.
This person also had an excellent resume, said all the right things we wanted to hear, etc. But, their portfolio stood out. It was 600% visually more appealing than the first two candidates’ portfolios. We all were blown away by the visuals and how the candidate's storytelling was woven into the portfolio.
Guess who was hired?
Yes, the last candidate!
There was no question about that.
All three candidates could’ve done the job well, but only one blew our socks off during the portfolio presentation, even though they all said the same things, talked about the same impact, etc. Actually, the person who was hired had the least amount of experience out of the three. Still, we decided to go with the person with the visually most appealing portfolio.
Not that long ago, I wrote an article about the Aesthetic-usability effect. It made me think: how can we use the aesthetic-competence effect to our advantage when searching for a job?
Our UX design and research field is so competitive right now that we can’t leave things to luck. So, a visually appealing portfolio can be more powerful than you think. In 2024, it’s also not a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have.
Here’s why people (including myself) favour candidates with aesthetically pleasing portfolios and how you can use the aesthetic-competence effect (did I just coin a term?) to enhance your job search prospects.
A visually appealing UX design or UX research portfolio makes a strong first impression. It shows professionalism and attention to detail. Something that we all look for in a UX candidate.
When I review a candidate’s portfolio, it immediately captures my attention if it’s nice to look at. It suggests that the candidate values aesthetics, which is an essential aspect of the job. It makes me assume the candidate will produce work of a similar quality if I hire them.
We’re humans. We can’t help our brains. When we see a pretty portfolio, we think nice things about the candidate. We perceive them competent and credible.
If your portfolio looks polished and organized, that’s the portfolio I will put forward for others to see. It can make a big difference between a portfolio that gets a second look and the one that is quickly dismissed.
Just think about it for a second: we all love things that look good, right? The same goes for hiring managers, too!
If your portfolio is aesthetically pleasing, it’ll catch their eyes. When we see something stunning, it makes us feel something. That emotional connection can make us want to learn more about you & your work.
Make sure your portfolio looks clean and put-together. Stick to a consistent colour scheme, typography, and layout throughout your portfolio. Keep each page free of clutter and unnecessary information, and go for a minimalist style that puts your key projects and skills front and center.
If you have no graphic design skills, that's no problem. Use tools like Canva, which has lots of beautiful pre-made presentations. Or outsource your portfolio design to Upwork or Fiverr so someone else can zhuzh it up for you.
Is it authentic?
Well, you can certainly look at this differently. It's okay to outsource if you want to get a better job. The company that hires you next very likely has a slide-deck template you need to use anyway, so no one will ever figure out you worked smart on your portfolio (mu-ha-ha - evil laugh, jk).
Show that you care about the little things by crafting a visually appealing and meticulously designed portfolio.
Use high-quality visuals, such as screenshots of your projects, graphics, and little arrows that lead people’s eyes and aid good storytelling. It can make your portfolio more memorable.
Either way, if you’re designing or outsourcing your portfolio, pay close attention to elements like alignment, spacing, and typography. These small details can show your commitment to quality and leave a lasting impression.
Make sure your portfolio is easy to navigate. Use clear headings and a logical flow of information. If you have an online portfolio, ensure you have intuitive menus.
A user-friendly portfolio not only showcases your UX skills but also makes it easier for hiring managers to appreciate your work.
While aesthetics are important, the content of your portfolio must also be compelling.
In the past, we all wanted to see your process. Nowadays? Not so much!
We all know that the process can be messy. If I see a process showing the stages of product design as a linear line, I know the person hasn’t worked IRL or lacks the experience I’m after. The UX process is messy. I would rather see the impact of your work, so start with that. And if I’m interested, I’ll dive deeper into your methodology and how you navigated your project.
Your impact is more important than your process!
It’d be nice to have one portfolio and call it a day. But unfortunately, it’s not the case.
You need to customize your portfolio for the specific role you seek. Highlight relevant projects and skills that align with the job description. If the role is looking for at-scale experience, ensure your first portfolio piece is an at-scale project impacting multi-products and teams.
When I see a tailored portfolio, it shows me that you understand the role and have what it takes.
Have an aesthetic portfolio because it can really boost your chance of landing a new UX job. When your portfolio is visually attractive, it makes a strong impression not only on hiring managers but also on the rest of the panel interviewers.