How to Build a UX Portfolio That Actually Gets You Hired - Theory & Best Practices (Part 1)

In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick discuss the one thing every product designer struggles with the most: creating a portfolio that actually gets interviews, callbacks, and job offers.

Most designers ship portfolios that read like academic essays. They're too long, too vague, too generic, and way too similar to everyone else’s. Even great designers get ignored because their hero section, titles, and case studies fail to communicate what hiring managers actually care about.

Tyler and Nick walk through why portfolios miss the mark, how recruiters skim your site (in less than 2 minutes), and the step-by-step structure of a high-conversion portfolio. Everything comes by from your H1 to your footer.

They also cover niching vs. generalizing, how to stand out in a crowded market, what your case study titles really need to say, and how to communicate business impact without sounding like a template (and everyone else). 

If you’re a junior designer, in a bootcamp, applying for your first product job, or rebuilding your portfolio after months of ghosting… this episode will save you weeks of trial and error, frustration, and burn out.