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Issue #10: Tell Better Stories, Win More UX Interviews
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You’ve landed the interview, now what?
One of the first questions you’ll likely hear is:
“Walk me through one of your projects.”
It seems straightforward, but in my experience as a hiring manager, this is where many candidates miss the mark.
They either ramble, get too deep into execution details, or skip over the actual business or user impact.
But when done well, this is your chance to show how you think, how you work with others, and how you drive results.
This framework will help you share your story in a way that’s focused, structured, and easy to follow.
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Step 1: Set the Stage (30 seconds)
What I often see go wrong:
Too many candidates jump right into what they did without giving context. If I don’t understand what the product is or what problem you're solving, I can’t properly assess your work.
Do this instead:
Briefly describe the product, the user, and the business or user goal. Set the scene so I understand why the project mattered and what constraints you were working within.
Example:
“I worked on redesigning the onboarding flow for a B2B platform that helps HR teams manage hiring. Our goal was to reduce friction and improve conversion from signup to first action.”
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Step 2: Describe Your Process (1–2 minutes)
What I often see go wrong:
Some candidates treat this like a laundry list of every activity they did, without connecting the dots. Others get lost in the details of Figma files or component libraries.
Do this instead:
Walk me through your thought process. Why did you choose the methods you used? How did you collaborate? What constraints shaped your approach? I want to understand how you think and make decisions.
Example:
“I kicked off with stakeholder interviews to understand drop-off points, then led user testing to identify usability gaps. Based on insights, we simplified the flow and added in-app guidance. I worked closely with engineering to ensure feasibility given tight timelines.”
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Step 3: Highlight the Outcome (30 seconds to 1 minute)
What I often see go wrong:
People either skip this altogether or talk about how they felt about the project. That’s not what I’m looking for. I want to know what changed and whether your work had an impact.
Do this instead:
Share the results and include metrics whenever possible. If you don’t have hard numbers, tell me what stakeholders or users said, or how the business responded. If all else fails, describe what changed after your work shipped.
Example:
“The redesign led to a 22% increase in onboarding completion. We also got strong feedback from the customer success team, who reported fewer support tickets related to the signup flow.”
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Bonus Tip: End With a Reflection
A quick takeaway goes a long way. I pay attention to how self-aware you are, so tell me what you learned or what you’d do differently next time. It shows maturity, not weakness.
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Interactive Exercise: Practice Your Project Story
Pick one of your projects and try this format:
- Set the stage with just enough context
- Walk through your process and decisions
- Share the outcome and reflect
Time yourself - aim for 3 - 5 minutes.
Reply to this email with a bullet-point version or Loom walkthrough, and I’ll share my feedback.
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Mini Makeover: Jennifer’s Storytelling Upgrade
Jennifer used to rush through her case studies, trying to say everything at once. The result? Overwhelmed interviewers and lost opportunities.
After applying this structure and focusing on clarity and impact, she felt more confident and communicated her ideas more clearly in interviews. She ultimately landed multiple offers.
The project didn’t change. Her storytelling did.
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Want to Land Your Next Role Faster?
If you're preparing for interviews, or just want to build confidence, 1:1 coaching is the fastest way to improve your performance and stand out.
We’ll meet live, work through your actual projects, and tailor your answers to the toughest interview questions. We’ll also refine your resume and portfolio to weave in storytelling and metrics that clearly highlight your impact and leave hiring managers wanting to know more.
In a coaching session, you'll get:
- Personalized coaching on your storytelling
- Live feedback to sharpen your structure and delivery
- Tools to prep efficiently and answer with clarity and confidence
- Resume and portfolio guidance to incorporate storytelling and metrics to demonstrate your impace
Don’t wait—book your 1:1 coaching session here
Prefer a small-group learning format?
My Level^Up course also covers storytelling, portfolio reviews, and resume strategy. It’s ideal if you’re looking for structure, community, and momentum alongside expert guidance.
Explore the course and save your seat here
You don’t need to hope for your next interview to go well. You can walk in prepared - and leave a lasting impression.
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Until next time,
David Campana
Level^Up
Ex-Apple, WeWork, Verizon | Top 1% Mentor on ADPList
P.S. If you want to do great work on take home challenges without pouring dozens of unpaid hours into them, you’re not alone. In the next issue, I’ll show you how to strike that balance.
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