The designer's survival market

The era of the "Designer's Market" is officially over.

For years, those of us in Product Design could almost pick and choose our roles. Companies actively recruited, roles were plentiful, and the leverage was often on our side. That reality has vanished. The job search today is a brutal, fiercely competitive test. We are no longer in an employer's market; we are in a survival market where companies are sifting through hundreds—if not thousands—of candidates for a single role.

This isn't just a tough phase; it’s a fundamental, structural shift. If we want to succeed, we need to understand the three tectonic forces that broke the old market.

Three Tectonic Shifts That Broke the Market

1. The Bootcamp Saturation
The demand for UX professionals fueled a massive, rapid growth in specialized tech education. The promise of a fast career change led to a boom of over 100 active tech bootcamp providers in the U.S., graduating an estimated 70,000 new UX professionals in a short period.

While these programs provide a valid, necessary path into the industry, the market simply could not absorb this sudden, massive influx of talent. For every job opening, the applicant pool swelled, significantly increasing competition—especially for junior and entry-level roles.

2. The COVID-19 Hiring Whiplash
The pandemic drove a volatile and dramatic hiring cycle. The initial digital acceleration led to a massive, desperate hiring boom and over hiring across the tech industry. That phase was quickly followed by an inevitable economic correction. The resulting mass layoffs were companies adjusting their headcounts to a more sober, post-pandemic reality.

This action had two effects: it drastically shrank the number of available jobs, and it flooded the market with thousands of highly experienced designers who were suddenly looking for new roles.

3. The AI Evolution and Dual Effect
The rise of Generative AI is currently the most significant factor reshaping the landscape. AI is a new layer of the tech stack, which is creating brand-new specialist roles to build and integrate it.

But simultaneously, it is fundamentally changing the skills required for existing design roles. The competitive advantage is shifting: it’s no longer enough to have strong technical skills; you must have AI-enabled technical skills to compete. Designers who integrate co-intelligence—the powerful partnership between human creativity and artificial assistance—will be the ones who stand out.

The Hard Truth and The Only Response

I share this frustration deeply. After leaving my role at Walmart due to the Return-to-Office (RTO) mandate, I faced the market. I've racked up more rejections than I care to count—probably north of a hundred. For over 20 years, I was recruited and poached; suddenly, I felt invisible. It was depleting and unmotivating.

But there is always a light, and there is always a path forward.

The mental shift that saved me? The mindset famously promoted by Jocko Willink. When something bad happens, say "Good." (Video reference below)

• I got rejected? Good. I know exactly what I need to fix for the next interview.
• The market is tough? Good. That means only the most prepared, resilient, and resourceful will succeed.

This isn't the time to despair; it's the time to optimize. You must become a better candidate than you've ever been before.

Your Action Plan for the Survival Market:

• Make Your Portfolio Unignorable.
Don't just show outcomes; narrate your thinking, your failures, and how you used data (or co-intelligence) to refine your solutions.

• Optimize Your Resume.
Don't just list responsibilities; quantify every achievement. Have multiple people review it.

• Practice Everything.
Practice behavioral questions, practice portfolio walk-throughs, and practice your answers to tough product questions until they're second nature.

• Engage Your Network.
Talk to your mentors and mentees. Seek advice and give it, maintaining your professional relationships.

The competition is tough, but your unique experience and perspective matter. Keep your head up. You got this.

"Humble enough to know I am not better than anybody, but wise to know I am different from the rest."

- no clear author