The Design Interview Process and what hiring managers are looking for

Are you preparing for product design job interviews?

ALL companies are different — but here are a few common steps in the end-to-end interview process.

Good luck! 🙌 You’ve got this!
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//LINKS

//TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
0:50 - Superpeer
1:16 - Ask your recruiter
1:46 - Recruiter phone screen
3:27 - Hiring manager interview
6:46 - Take home assignment
8:12 - Portfolio review
10:05 - Collaborative exercise
11:26 - 1:1 deep dive
12:57 - Wrap up
14:10 - Join my talent collective!
14:38 - Good luck!

// MORE

//GET STARTED IN UX

[Joker-rjnm]

Every design interview I've been to is way harder than the actual job tbh lol

[synchrxny]

Interviewing is the most insane thing right now. My company is small and almost everyone is involved in every interview. I remember a previous coworker who was fresh out of school would ask questions like candidates' opinions on highly specific schools of thought in our very niche area of design/engineering and was super critical of their responses, even though half the people at the company didn't even know what he was talking about. I remember a lengthy internal conversation that followed regarding the crazy raising of standards once in a company, even though the people doing it were still relative novices in the field. It's happening everywhere and it's completely unchecked so the hiring process is just getting lengthier and increasingly exclusive.

[angelzhelyazkov]

Nowadays, marrying someone is simpler than going through a hiring process.

[CoryMckinnonHandle]

This process is for large enterprise companies. Most small to mid-size outfits don't have the process or resources to run this type of vetting cycle.

[wetiot]

Thanks Femke. Although, I think that a lot of these companies treat the interview/hiring process as though you are applying to become the president of the USA. A lot of the vetting that happens is simply long-drawn-out and completely unnecessary.

[katerinak]

OMG, I subscribed 2 days ago and cannot stop watching the videos. Great content, very helpful! Thank you so much❤

[Rebecca]

Nowadays (and I'm old) the amount of hoop jumping that we need to go through makes me wonder who these people are actually hiring?? I would love to know. I would love to be a fly on the wall for the candidates that "do" make it past these interviews.

I agree, the interview process seems to be very lengthy, but also very vague. What do they want exactly?? On the one hand I am told they want a designer who will stand up to difficult stakeholders, on the other hand they want designers who are prepared to work in an agile environment where change can happen at the drop of a hat, so "don't be too precious about your designs" (I'm not). So, what is it to be? Do I challenge the stakeholder who's asking me to change the designs, or do I change the designs at the drop of a hat. Answers on a postcard please....

[yt.michaelbui]

Love your content, keep doing what you’re doing, it helps me so much

[gellayo]

Thanks for sharing. It's very useful.

[jaloliddinesonboyev]

Thanks Femke! I learned a lot from you! Keep it up

[CieloSkin]

Hello Femke, Thank you so much for creating such a pro and informative content. Recently I have signed up to your newsletter and I am wondering which platform did you used to created /designed it? It looks really nice! 🥰🙏🏽

[isaiahcole]

I have a recruiter call tomorrow and I’m shook but this has helped some

[MichaelBerchak]

Ok so this was 2 years ago (pre mass layoffs) do you think this has stayed the same or do you think they are changing how they do interviews?
Also what about companies that use a SaaS based software platforms to build their products?

[milecavalieri]

I find this process a bit long, in your experience, do most companies have all these steps before they hire you?

[gandreini]

Great video as always Femke! I honestly don't think I'll ever make it through that process :)

[ashutoshlawange]

Hi hope you are doing well, I am UX designer I have done when companies give out heavy take home assignments and after submission do not respond, some companies says your are shortlisted for next round and then no response after that. I have mostly stopped accepting design take home assignment. A whiteboard session interview is fine any short assignment is also fine . But end to and problem solving journey then document it. Provide high fidelity prototypes along with separate figma prototype link. I am sorry it is too much especially i am doing full time job at same time. Can we do something collectively to make industries understand it is not fair demand to ask.

[boseul]

Thank you Femke for uploading this video! I have a question, I have a working holiday visa that allows me to work up to a year. should I say about this to HR person or Hiring manger and also ask if its an option to get a sponsor visa before my visa ends?

[starting]

How inclusive is the UX Design space for people with Autism for example?

[jsm]

The hiring process is like a 10-storey building that you need to climb up by stairs only to find out that the only floor is on the 10th floor.

[llu]

Imm having issue, I'm getting called for mid senior position although I'm a junior and it gives me anxiety already! I feel like my portfolio looks really good that perhaps I set the bar way too high.