Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody | UX, Product Design, UX Research

What does it actually take to get hired in UX Design and stand out to UX recruiters? Steph McDonald, a UX Recruiter from HubSpot is here to share how she approaches UX hiring. With 300+ applications often coming in for a single UX design role, the competition is intense. And behind every application is a recruiter making real decisions about who moves forward and who doesn't.In this episode of the Career Strategy Podcast, Sarah Doody sits down with Steph McDonald, a lead UX design recruiter at HubSpot who has spent over 25 years in recruiting. Steph is refreshingly honest about what's happening on the other side of your application. She breaks down exactly how candidates are evaluated, how AI is being used in hiring right now, and the resume and portfolio mistakes that get you skipped. She also shares what she actually wants to see in a portfolio (spoiler: the messy stuff), why one-page resumes drive her crazy, and why those AI-powered bots that apply to jobs on your behalf are doing more harm than good.Whether you're actively applying to UX roles, this conversation will change how you think about showing up as a candidate.Timestamps:00:00 Meet Steph McDonald, UX Design Recruiter at HubSpot01:55 How Steph got into recruiting by accident03:39 How the job market has shifted post-COVID05:28 Why companies are hiring fewer people at higher levels06:35 How long it actually takes to get hired at HubSpot07:51 How HubSpot tweaks its hiring process like a product08:41 Trauma-informed recruiting and candidate empathy10:03 How HubSpot gives candidates real feedback after interviews13:53 How AI is used inside HubSpot's hiring process16:23 Auto-reject questions and how they work18:04 Why AI application bots are hurting candidates21:49 How recruiters feel when they spot AI-generated answers24:58 Resume hot takes: font size, page length, and impact29:22 What Steph looks for in a UX portfolio33:46 Portfolio format: website vs. presentation vs. Google folder34:49 Diversity and inclusion in HubSpot's hiring process38:45 How many people actually get interviewed per role41:21 Can you reach out to a recruiter after getting rejected?45:15 Using video in your portfolio: supplement, not replacement46:02 What "experience with ambiguity" really means50:03 Is HubSpot hiring right now?51:29 Lightning round: first job, dream career, interview pump-up song💸 See how I help UX & Product people get 5-figure salary increases in my UX job search coaching program👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube.

If your first move when updating your resume, building your UX portfolio, or preparing for an interview is to Google "how do I…" — you're falling into a trap that's slowing down your entire UX job search. In this episode, Sarah Doody breaks down the "Who Not How" framework and explains why the question you should be asking isn't how — it's who. You'll learn why DIYing your job search with Google searches and Reddit threads is costing you time, money, and momentum, and how to start thinking like a high performer instead.Topics discussed in this episode: ✅ The "Who Not How" framework from Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy✅ Why Googling "how to get a UX job" keeps you spinning your wheels✅ The hidden time and money cost of DIYing your job search✅ How high performers think differently about getting help✅ A 3-step exercise to identify where you're stuck and what to do about it✅ Why this concept applies to your career, business, and lifeTimestamps:00:00 Introduction: Are you stuck in the "how" trap?01:43 The concept I can't stop thinking about02:11 The "Who Not How" book explained03:30 The physical therapist analogy04:36 How this applies to your UX job search05:30 The how trap costs you time, money, and momentum07:04 Why asking for help is not a weakness08:15 The "how trap" with your resume09:29 The "how trap" with your portfolio10:15 The "how trap" with job interviews11:44 Takeaway 1: Audit where you've been stuck14:09 Takeaway 2: Match your "how" list to a "who"16:36 Takeaway 3: The real cost of staying stuck17:30 How I took 20 minutes off my marathon with a coach18:54 This applies way beyond your job search💸 See how I help UX & Product people get 5-figure salary increases in my UX job search coaching program👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube.

UX hiring insights from a UX veteran with 25+ years in UX and product. In this episode, Sarah Doody interviews Dan Maccarone, co-founder of Hard Candy Shell and Charming Robot, fractional Chief Product Officer, and a UX expert who's worked on products for Hulu, Rent the Runway, Foursquare, and the Wall Street Journal. In the episode Dan shares about what he actually looks for when hiring UX people (spoiler: it's not your Figma skills).Dan shares why he doesn't care about tools, why he conducts interviews over drinks instead of in conference rooms, and how he evaluates candidates based on curiosity, empathy, and how they think, not what software they know. He also gets into career reinvention, the rise of fractional leadership roles, and why your hobbies outside of UX might matter more than your case studies.If you're a UX or Product professional navigating your next career move, this conversation will challenge what you think hiring managers care about.What's discussed in this episode:Why Dan has hired people who didn't know Figma — and doesn't careWhat curiosity and a humanities background signal to a hiring managerWhy Dan prefers to conducts interviews with candidates over coffee or drinks, not in conference roomsHow he uses observation and empathy cues to evaluate candidates (the same way you'd do user research)Why he hates design assignments and considers them insultingWhat "career reinvention" looks like after 25 years in UX and how to know when it's timeThe real requirements for going fractional (and why it's not for everyone)Why your identity and hobbies outside of work actually make you better at your job\How he's re-invented his own UX career multiple times💸 See how I help UX & Product people get 5-figure salary increases in my UX job search coaching program👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube.

Feel like your UX job search is full time job? Here are 5 things you can start using today to save time, reduce overthinking, and make real progress in your UX or Product job search. These are tips that Sarah sees working for people inside her UX career coaching program, Career Strategy Lab, and some she uses in her own work every day.Topics discussed in this episode of the Career Strategy Podcast:How to create a plug-and-play script document so you never start from scratch on emails againHow text replacement tools like TextExpander can automate repetitive job search messagesWhy using a Pomodoro timer can dramatically increase your job search productivityWhy committing to following up three times eliminates the worry spiral of being ghostedHow to run a weekly "Job Search CEO Hour" to track what's working and course correct fastRESOURCESText Expander https://textexpander.com/Pomodoro Timer https://pomofocus.io/Flow Timer https://www.flow.app/💸 See how I help UX & Product people get 5-figure salary increases in my UX job search coaching program👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube.

Career maximalism is a mistake that many high achieving professionals make. When you care too much about your job, you can actually become worse at it. In this video, learn what Career Maximalism is, and why this behavior is everywhere, often rewarded, and quietly working against you.Career maximalism is when your job becomes a major source of your identity and your emotional state rises and falls based on how work is going. It often looks like being a great employee, but there's a tipping point where it clouds your judgment, slows your decisions, and makes everything heavier than it needs to be. Sarah Doody discusses the difference between commitment and emotional over-identification, shares a Reddit thread about treating UX as a job instead of an identity, and gives three practical tips for caring deeply without making work who you are.3 tips for avoiding the trap of Career Maximalism: 1) Build proof of your self-worth outside your job with physical challenges, creative projects, community, etc.2) Practice emotional detachment without disengagement. Detachment isn't apathy, it's clarity.3) Set clear standards and boundaries. When expectations are vague, everything becomes emotional.Resources & Links Mentioned: Reddit thread about treating UX as a job instead of an identity🎙️ Ep 163: What is Career Minimalism and How It Can Quietly Weaken Your Career 💸 See how I help UX & Product people get 5-figure salary increases in my UX job search coaching program👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube.

The idea of career minimalism sounds healthy. But this trending philosophy of your job being a tool, not your identity (especially popular with Gen Z) could be quietly weakening your career if you're not careful.In this episode, Sarah Doody breaks down what career minimalism actually is, why it's gained so much momentum (spoiler: burnout, broken loyalty, and unpredictable layoffs), and the hidden risk most career minimalists never talk about. The real danger isn't doing less at work — it's what you're building (or not building) while you're there.Sarah also discusses the concept of "Portable Equity" and shares three practical tips so you can protect your work-life balance without accidentally making yourself less employable.Timestamps:0:00 Introduction0:58 What is career minimalism?3:24 How did we get here? Burnout, hustle culture, and broken loyalty4:41 Where career minimalism starts to get tricky6:51 The hidden assumption of career minimalists7:50 Why career minimalists often end up job hopping10:16 The reframe: building portable equity11:24 Three practical tips for career minimalists11:45 Tip 1: Optimize for portability, not just balance12:34 Tip 2: Know the difference between being useful and being valuable13:59 Tip 3: Treat every role as temporary16:35 Always be seeking — the career version of "always be closing"17:36 Wrap up💸 See how I help UX & Product people get 5-figure salary increases in my UX job search coaching program👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube.

Erica Jiminez went from facing a potential layoff at the CDC to landing her dream role as the first-ever User Experience Officer at WK Kellogg Foundation. In this episode, Sarah Doody chats with Erica about her experience in Sarah's UX job search coaching program, Career Strategy Lab.Erica shares how she got clear on what she wanted, made sense of a non-linear career path, and landed a mission-driven UX role.Erica talks about how the Career Roadmap and Compass Statement in Career Strategy Lab helped her shift from a fear mindset to clarity, why her "messy" career path across social work, public health, and UX research actually became her biggest strength, and how she got hired using a whiteboard and Mural board instead of a polished portfolio. She also shares why she negotiated her salary and got what she asked for, and what hiring managers actually look for when multiple candidates are equally qualified.Erica's 3 lessons from her UX job search:1) Follow what you're passionate about2) Go for it even if you're not ready3) Know your worth and advocate for yourself — the worst they can say is noTimestamps0:00 Introduction 1:00 Meet Erica, the first UX Officer at WK Kellogg Foundation 3:00 The career roadmap: realizing how unintentional her career had been 4:30 From social worker to UX researcher — a 12-year non-linear path 5:00 Seeing the story in a "messy" resume 7:00 The Product of You: Design yourself before marketing yourself 8:00 Getting clarity vs. jumping straight to tactics10:00 The Gumby mindset & reframing your experiences12:00 Lesson 1: Follow what you're passionate about13:00 Lesson 2: Go for it even if you're not ready 15:00Lesson 3: Know your worth & salary negotiation17:00 The heroes exercise & discovering what matters beyond UX19:30 Applying UX skills beyond big tech20:00 Advice for anyone on the fence about Career Strategy Lab22:00 Why the human element matters most in hiring💸 See how I help UX & Product people get 5-figure salary increases in my UX job search coaching program👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube.

Jared Tredly, a Shopify design recruiter who builds and scales design teams, talks hiring realities and portfolio pitfalls. He explains how reviewers scan portfolios, why clarity and hierarchy beat flashy visuals, and what separates senior-level signals from junior work. He also covers why micro case studies often win and how to get visibility through Shopify’s design pool.

In this episode, Sarah Doody chats with Faith, a Product Designer who successfully transitioned from a layoff to a Product Design role, all while navigating UX career uncertainty. Faith shares how she used Career Strategy Lab’s intentional UX job search framework to slow down, get clear on what she wanted, and create a UX portfolio and application strategy that aligned with her career goals.In this episode, Faith shares how Career Strategy Lab helped her prioritize the “why” behind her career choices, overcome imposter syndrome, and set clear boundaries to avoid ending up in the wrong role. From networking on LinkedIn to being picky about where she applied, Faith’s story will inspire anyone going through a career transition or navigating a tough job search.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why being intentional about your job search makes all the difference✔️ How to avoid the trap of applying to jobs just for the sake of it✔️ How Faith used Career Strategy Lab to design her job search strategy✔️ The importance of knowing your “Compass Statement” to guide decisions✔️ Why Faith turned down a “perfectly good” offer in favor of the right fit✔️ How CSL’s support and community made her more confident in interviews✔️ Tips for networking and finding job opportunities that align with your values✔️ Why staying true to your career goals led to better offers and more optionsTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Sarah Doody and Career Strategy Lab00:38 Episode Overview and Open House Context01:46 Faith's Career Journey and UX Experience03:09 Navigating Job Search Challenges05:05 The Importance of Intentionality in Job Applications07:43 The Role of Career Strategy Lab in Job Search09:21 Finding Job Opportunities and Networking14:38 Impact of Career Strategy Lab on Personal and Professional Growth17:11 Advice for Prospective Career Strategy Lab Members25:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts💸 See how I help UX & Product people get 5-figure salary increases in my UX job search coaching program👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube.

In this episode, Sarah talks about how AI is reshaping the UX landscape and why three key skills are more important than ever for professionals looking to stand out in the evolving job market.Despite the rise of AI tools, it’s not about being replaced—it’s about evolving your mindset and skills to stay relevant. In this episode, Sarah explains why UX professionals need to stop thinking like "doers" and start thinking like "drivers." You’ll also hear why the critical skills of speed, quality thinking, and impact are necessary to stay valuable in your career.This episode is for anyone feeling uncertain about how AI fits into your skillset or wondering how to stay relevant in an AI-powered UX job market.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why shifting from being a “doer” to a “driver” is essential for staying valuable in UX✔️ The 3 most important skills for UX professionals in the age of AI: speed, quality thinking, and impact✔️ How to leverage speed without sacrificing quality in your UX work✔️ Why quality thinking (and not relying on AI) is crucial to uncovering nuances and insights✔️ How to make sure your work has true impact—going beyond just delivering information✔️ The danger of de-skilling and how to stay sharp while using AI as a toolTimestamps:00:00 Introduction: The Future of UX Jobs in the Age of AI00:39 Meet Sarah Doody: Your UX Career Guide01:19 The Value of Strategic Thinking Over Task Execution02:05 Three Critical Skills for UX Professionals05:39 Skill 1: Speed with Strategy09:42 Skill 2: Quality Thinking14:52 Skill 3: Impact and Influence19:44 The Risk of De-Skilling in the Age of AI24:50 Conclusion: Be a Driver, Not a Doer25:54 Call to Action: Support the Podcast💸 See how I help UX & Product people get 5-figure salary increases in my UX job search coaching program👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube.