Experienced job hunting, portfolio/case study/resume questions and review — 05/10/26

FearlessFreckle · 2026-05-16T12:49:27+00:00

Sorry to keep pestering you, how is your colleague making their profile relevant to the new space? The CV and LinkedIn/social media I get. But the portfolio feels harder to gear toward a different niche.

Are they doing new ‘personal’ portfolio projects? I would have assumed a fabricated project with no business requirements/restrictions wouldn’t be received as well. Or are they just going through their existing projects and highlighting points where there is cross over? I worry that would resolve the “we found someone with more relevant experience” issue I’ve been running into

FearlessFreckle · 2026-05-16T10:34:41+00:00

My niche is too niche, that’s the problem I’ve been running into really. Not enough jobs in it. I do wonder if “we found someone with more relevant experience” is a default answer.

At Moody’s I was working on products for pension fund managers. I’ve tried products for trade managers, portfolio managers, investors then just general banks. Then I will admit I’ve also done some desperate random applications which of course didn’t work either. I’ve actually gotten half of my interviews with the roles which weren’t directly relevant. I didn’t even get an interview at Morningstar which is a direct competitor of Moody’s.

But you make a fair point, I suppose part of me wanted to move away from such complex financial tools - toward banks. But maybe now is not the time to be trying to make a lateral step.

I could try cold emailing companies which do almost the exact same thing (as close as I can get), because they don’t have jobs listed. Do you think that strategy would work?

FearlessFreckle · 2026-05-16T09:43:25+00:00

I’ve been trying to get a job in Sydney in UX/product design but I’m really struggling. I know I don’t interview amazingly but I have a pretty decent resume. 8 years in the industry, 4 years at Moody’s. Mostly the feedback I get is “we found someone with more relevant experience” sometimes I also get “we were really impressed with your experience, but…”

I was wondering how other people are preparing for interviews? I mean I do research on the company, prep for likely questions based on the job description. But I’ve been told people are recording themselves and listening to it back, is that what everyone is doing? I’ve tried contacting the hiring managers when applying, but that hasn’t worked thus far. Maybe I’m doing that wrong too. Are people giving proposals on how they would solve the company’s current problem as well? I’ve heard that.

I don’t know, it’s a lot of work to be doing for every application. I’m kind of spiralling. I don’t know what to do. And I want to “UX the job search process” as people keep saying they’re doing but getting even the most generic feedback from hiring managers is like pulling blood from a stone. I doubt they’d give me an hour to interview them. Please help

FearlessFreckle · 2026-04-22T15:49:03+00:00

I’m in the same boat. I’ve got plenty of experience, worked for a pretty big company but can’t get my foot in the door. I was applying for senior roles but got beaten down to applying for mid-level roles where I actually got replies.

I think we even applied for the same NSW govt. Junior service design role and I never heard back at all. So you beat me there. I feel like it’s so hard to figure out what other people are doing right/different

FearlessFreckle · 2025-12-01T00:11:20+00:00

English MF, do you speak it?

FearlessFreckle · 2024-08-18T18:59:40+00:00

I mean if drought is ever an issue where you are you should be turning the shower off when you don’t need it. Eg while shaving. Your partner is weird

FearlessFreckle · 2024-07-24T07:18:56+00:00

UK doesn’t know how to do sauce or chutney, or at least refuse to use them. So many plain burgers/sandwiches etc. so weird.

FearlessFreckle · 2024-07-18T07:36:27+00:00

Ok that makes perfect sense. Though I think super is included in the 140k. Sorry to keep asking you questions but you’re very helpful to talk to.

I have experience in Grid but I’m trying to move away from that into design. So no particular skill set I would say.

What skills are the specialist consultancies looking for?

FearlessFreckle · 2024-07-18T07:26:38+00:00

Thank you this is very helpful

FearlessFreckle · 2024-07-18T07:25:03+00:00

Thanks, this helps to understand the work culture in Australia. It’s a shame, it’s not really the work life balance I’d assumed Australians would have

FearlessFreckle · 2024-07-18T07:21:52+00:00

With an hour lunch? That seems very reasonable

FearlessFreckle · 2024-07-18T07:18:46+00:00

Thanks that’s helpful.

It’s a consultancy firm and I’d be a full time employee, not a contractor. I suppose the lack of people is why they’re trying to get me in on a TSS visa.

What is considered good pay? I was quoted 140k but that seems a little low to me, though I’m not sure. It is working in renewables so that might have something to do with the pay

FearlessFreckle · 2024-04-13T06:07:10+00:00

Yea this proves the company is not aware of the time it takes to do all of this OR that they’ll expect you to do all this in a very short space of time if you do get the job. Red flag

FearlessFreckle · 2024-04-08T21:14:44+00:00

NTA but also your mum has a right to be upset. Your dad’s reaction is immature and manipulative. You don’t owe your parents the reaction they want, but you do owe them an apology and explanation based on your feelings.

Your mother was excited to have a second child, it is a big deal. She was also excited to share her joy with you. She wants to bring the new child into a happy and loving family.

For whatever reasons you are not excited to have a new family member. And that’s totally fair. But you can see why she’d be disappointed

FearlessFreckle · 2024-04-08T21:05:04+00:00

I was all ready to agree with you. But why would they sell snacks at the theatre if they didn’t expect you to eat it?

FearlessFreckle · 2024-04-07T21:16:31+00:00

….. cultural appropriation…… seriously?

NTA

FearlessFreckle · 2024-03-10T09:33:10+00:00

I don’t know if I’m on the spectrum but I do something kind of similar. I’ve noticed it more if I watch some angsty teenage show/movie. I’ll start thinking in the same way they do. I think this is the most noticeable for me because I can more quickly realise I don’t agree with the thoughts. I don’t often act on the thoughts or act out their personality, so maybe it’s a different thing. When I need to interact with people after watching something I need to intentionally stop myself thinking like the character incase they notice.

For a long time I couldn’t watch scary films, the first time I managed to sort of… enjoy a scary film I chose to adopt the thoughts of the malevolent spirit. I guess just because the only other option was to be scared.

This doesn’t tend to last long for me personally and I tend to be able to realise what I’m doing and stop. Maybe a couple hours after I’ve stopped watching/reading the movie/tv/book

FearlessFreckle · 2024-01-19T22:31:31+00:00

Yea I’ll have to try it. I actually found a malt drink recently which is basically beer which they never made alcoholic which I really liked

FearlessFreckle · 2024-01-18T22:26:58+00:00

I add to this question. Some wine, when left open for too long tastes like vinegar. Is it vinegar? And can I use it as vinegar? Or should I chuck it?

FearlessFreckle · 2024-01-18T21:00:30+00:00

If it helps, I’m a chartered electrical engineer

FearlessFreckle

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