Decisions driven by fear are distractions from the path of purpose. Lead with logic, and let wisdom be your compass.

Listen up, people. We all know how hard it is in the job market. Let's narrow our focus to the design industry, which is even more challenging than ever. This article isn't about fearmongering you into giving up. This article is about noticing some of the red flags in your interviews that may have you thinking twice about working there.

The goal of this article, and in general, is to put you in a position of power when going into your interview. When you are confident about who you are and your skills and aware of some of the bullsh** people throw at you in interviews, you are fully equipped to go to war. Okay, not war, but you understand the point.

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Just like Dora the Explorer, we are going to need a map. Here's a map to spot a few early warnings during your interviews.

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The Promise of Future Resources

Promises of future resources that sound more like a fairy tale than a plan should raise your eyebrows. Feel free to scrutinize the promises made during the interview process, particularly regarding providing future resources. These resources can include tools, software, team support, or budget allocations necessary for executing design projects effectively.

Planning vs. Fairy Tale Promises

During interviews, employers often discuss the resources they intend to provide. However, we should watch out for vague or overly optimistic promises without clear timelines or plans. An example may be, "We're planning to get the best design tools soon" or "We'll hire more team members down the line." If you hear something similar that sounds fishy, ask questions and get clarification on those vague promises. Letting these promises drag on without accountability or clarity can lead to frustration.

Substance Over Speculation

To differentiate between realistic promises and speculative ones, candidates should ask:

• What specific resources will be provided?
• When are these resources expected to be available?
• What specific plans are in place to ensure these promises are met?

A Solid Foundation and a Proven Track Record

The best environment for design work requires a set of tools and a supportive environment. When those elements are provided in your workplace from the get-go, the designer can perform and meet deadlines on time. When promised and not provided, these things may reflect organizational issues, budget constraints, or a lack of commitment.

Understanding a company's history concerning resource allocation and support for its design teams can provide critical insights. Like any relationship, observe for repeat offenders, and don't put yourself in front of an employer that has those patterns. Exploring reviews on platforms like Glassdoor or reaching out to current or past employees through networks like LinkedIn can provide a clearer picture of the company's culture and reliability.

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The Portfolio Black Hole 

When the interviewer shows more interest in your horoscope than the thought process behind your portfolio, it's a sign to exit. After all, we have spent countless hours building a portfolio.

Why the Portfolio Matters

1. Skill Assessment: Your portfolio is the tangible proof of your technical skills, design philosophy, and approach to challenges. It highlights your proficiency with design tools, ability to think critically, and knack for creating user-friendly solutions.
2. Process Insight: A strong portfolio review covers more than the end products. It should also cover the "how" and "why" behind your designs. Interviewers should delve into your decision-making processes, asking about challenges and how you addressed them with your design choices. It should be music to your ears when you hear, "Tell me about a challenge you faced and how you overcame it."
3. Cultural Fit: Interviewers can gauge how well you might integrate with their team through discussions about your portfolio. They can see your work and your ability to communicate about it and collaborate on projects. On this note, let your personality shine through when talking throughout the interview, not just your portfolio.

The Ideal Portfolio Review

A quality portfolio review should be an interactive discussion where both parties ask and answer questions. The interviewer should:

• Probe Deeply: They should ask about specific design choices, challenges encountered, and the impact of your work. Noticing if your audience needs to be more engaged should be easy to spot.
• Discuss Failures and Learnings: A keen interest in projects that may not have gone as planned and what you learned from them is a sign of a healthy, growth-focused environment.
• Visualize Your Future Contribution: They should discuss how your skills might translate into their current projects or future endeavors. Suppose they don't make sure to tell them anyway. Always put yourself in the role they're hiring for.

A Portfolio Black Hole scenario suggests a workplace that undervalues the strategic importance of UX/UI and may not support your professional growth or offer projects that fully utilize your skills.

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One-Man Band Syndrome

Being a team's lone UX/UI designer might sound like a headline gig, but it can quickly become a solo act without an audience. However, many freelancers are lone wolves, so don't let this sway you. If you can run your own show, shoot for the stars, but having other designers on your team will only boost your collaboration and, in turn, your creativity.

"One-Man Band Syndrome," where the absence of a supportive design team leads to significant challenges:

1. Limited Perspective: Design, by its nature, benefits significantly from diverse perspectives. Without a team to challenge and expand your ideas, there's a high risk of developing designs biased by an individual designer's style and preferences.
2. Overwhelming Responsibilities: UX/UI design encompasses a broad range of tasks. Managing all these facets alone can lead to burnout, especially without peers to help refine ideas and share the workload.
3. Feedback Vacuum: Regular, constructive feedback is crucial for any designer's growth and iterative improvement of their work. Solo designers often miss out on the critical feedback loop. Be wary of a company that only allows you to gather feedback from themselves and the stakeholders. It happens all the time, and you need to be able to confirm that what they're saying is legitimate to some extent.
4. Stunted Professional Growth: Being the only designer can also isolate you from learning opportunities that naturally arise from working closely with other creative professionals. This isolation can slow your professional growth, as you're less likely to be exposed to new techniques, tools, and methodologies.
5. Difficulty in Scaling: If the business scales up, being the sole designer can become increasingly unsustainable. What works for small user bases or more straightforward products might not hold up under the complexity of more significant, diverse user groups or intricate product offerings.

Questions to ask in the Interview Process

When interviewing for a UX/UI position, consider asking about the following:

• Team Dynamics and Collaboration: Are there other designers or teams you would collaborate with? What does the collaboration process look like?
• Professional Development Opportunities: What opportunities exist for learning and development?
• Future Team Plans: Is the company planning to expand the design team? If so, what will that look like, and how might your role evolve?

A position as the only designer might still be the right fit, depending on the context—such as in startups or small companies looking to establish their capabilities. Understanding the full scope of the role and its implications is crucial to making an informed decision that aligns with your career goals and personal well-being.

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Vague on Values

If aligning on company values is glossed over quicker than a sticky note loses its stick, it's a signal your values might not stick either. This point deserves a nuanced explanation to articulate its importance. 

Importance of Clear Company Values

Company values are the fundamental beliefs and principles that guide an organization's practices, decision-making processes, and overall culture. They are essential for ensuring that every employee, from the top executive to the newest intern, moves in the same direction with a shared purpose. Building trust company-wide is crucial; the more the big boss follows through, the more you will feel the drive to do the same.

Signs of Vagueness on Values

During the interview process, if the discussion about the company's values is brief, superficial, or missing, it should raise a red flag. This vagueness can indicate several potential issues:

• Lack of commitment: The company might not be genuinely committed to its stated values, treating them as a formality rather than principles. 
• Misalignment: There is a risk that the company's values must be better defined and understood, leading to inconsistent practices and a disconnected company culture.
• Cultural fit issues: A clear understanding of company values makes determining whether you will mesh well with the team easier. Being at a company that believes in the same values can be very impactful for some designers.

Why It Matters

As glue binds materials, a solid cultural fit unites the team, enhancing collaboration, satisfaction, and retention. When values are unclear, it can undermine personal and organizational success.

Therefore, it is essential to explore a company's values during your interview. Ask specific questions that clarify what the company believes in and how these values are reflected in its everyday operations and decision-making processes.

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In Summary

Interviewing is a two-way street; recognizing these red flags can help avoid potential dead ends. Keep your design compass ready (it's what Dora would do), and navigate to the roles that truly treasure your talents!

Circling back one last time, the key points to watch for are:

• The Promise of Future Resources: Promises of future resources that sound more like a fairy tale than a plan should raise your eyebrows.
• The Portfolio Black Hole: When the interviewer shows more interest in your horoscope than the thought process behind your portfolio, it's a sign to exit.
• One-Man Band Syndrome: Being a team's lone UX/UI designer might sound like a headline gig, but it can quickly become a solo act without an audience.
• Vague on Values: If aligning on company values is glossed over quicker than a sticky note loses its stick, it's a signal your values might not stick either.

This list is not all-encompassing and may not be what you look for when interviewing for your next position. At the absolute least, it should prime your brain to start thinking about what to look for. The more we learn from each other as designers, the more we grow.

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Happy hunting, adventurers!

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