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Three UX Resume Fixes That Will Get You More Interviews

Published 3 months ago • 4 min read

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Issue #1: Welcome to the First Issue of the Level^Up Newsletter!

Thank you 🙏🏼 for signing up for updates and announcements for Level^Up, whether through Maven, an ADPList mentorship session, or the newsletter sign-up landing page - I’m excited to have you on this journey with me!

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This newsletter is packed with actionable tips, strategies, and insights to help you level up your UX job search. Get ready for a fresh perspective on how you can stand out in the competitive UX market!

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In this first issue, we’re diving into three powerful resume fixes that will help you land more interviews. These are the exact strategies I’ve teach my students to refine their resumes and get more interviews.

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Want a personalized resume review? Get expert feedback inside Level^Up - Sign up here​

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Be sure to stay tuned until the end because I’ll be announcing the winners of our Resume Audit Giveaway. You won’t want to miss it!

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Three UX Resume Fixes That Get You More Interviews

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Sending out dozens of UX job applications and hearing nothing back is frustrating. Many designers assume the problem is a lack of experience or too much competition, but often, the real issue is that their resume does not clearly demonstrate impact.

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Recruiters and hiring managers do not have time to decode your experience. Your resume needs to be clear, measurable, and optimized for both humans and applicant tracking systems (ATS).

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If your applications are getting ignored, you might be making one (or more) of these common UX resume mistakes. Here’s how to fix them:

1. Your resume is not optimized for applicant tracking systems (ATS).​
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​Most large companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter resumes before a human ever sees them. If your resume does not include relevant keywords from the job description, it might be automatically rejected.

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How to optimize for ATS:

  • Use a clean, text-based format (avoid images, graphics, or complex layouts).
  • Match key terms from the job description naturally within your experience.
    • If a job posting mentions “usability testing” and “prototyping,” make sure those exact words appear in your resume.
  • Use standard job titles. If your last company called you a “Design Specialist,” consider adjusting it to “UX Designer” so it aligns with industry norms.
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ATS optimization increases your chances of getting past the first round of screenings and landing interviews.

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Inside Level^Up, I break down exactly how to optimize your resume for ATS and hiring managers. See how it works​

2. Your resume does not show career progression.​
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​Hiring managers look for growth over time. If your resume shows multiple years of UX experience but does not reflect increasing responsibilities or more complex projects, it might signal that you are not advancing in your career.

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How to show career progression:

  • Highlight promotions, leadership roles, or increased scope of work (e.g., leading a larger team, working on more strategic projects).
  • Use bullet points to emphasize how your responsibilities evolved in each role.
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Example:

  • UX Designer, Company X (2021–Present)
    • Started as a junior designer focused on wireframes and user flows.
    • Promoted to lead UX for a new product line, collaborating with product and engineering teams.
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This signals that you are a designer who is continually improving and taking on more responsibility.

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3. Your resume focuses on responsibilities instead of impact.
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​Many UX designers make the mistake of listing what they did instead of showing the results their work created (impact). Recruiters and hiring managers are not just looking for someone who “conducted user research” or “created wireframes.” They want to know how your work improved the product, increased engagement, or helped the company meet business goals.

Instead of this:

Conducted user research and created wireframes for a mobile app redesign.
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Try this:

Led user research and redesigned mobile checkout, reducing cart abandonment by 20 percent.​
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If you do not have hard data, you can still frame your work in terms of business impact or user outcomes.
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​Example:

Improved information architecture, making it easier for users to find key features.

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Your resume should always answer the question: What difference did my work make?

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Want help crafting a high-impact UX resume? Get expert guidance inside Level^Up. Join the next cohort​

Time to Level^Up your UX Job Search

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If your resume is not getting interviews, it might need a strategic overhaul.

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Inside my UX job search accelerator, Level^Up, I teach the exact resume optimization techniques that helped me land interviews at companies like Apple, Verizon, and Upwork. Plus, I’ll guide you through crafting a standout portfolio, mastering networking strategies, and acing interviews with real-world practice.

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Here’s what you’ll get inside the course:

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  • A proven UX resume framework that gets past ATS filters and grabs recruiters’ attention
  • A portfolio blueprint to showcase your skills and increase job offers
  • Networking & interview strategies used by top designers to land roles at companies like Apple, Verizon, and Upwork
  • Live coaching & direct feedback to make your job search faster and more effective

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Spots for the next cohort are filling fast! Secure your place today and start getting interviews with a resume and job search strategy that works.

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​Join the next Level^Up cohort now​

Announcing the Free Resume Audit Winners!

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Thank you so much to everyone who entered the giveaway! I’m excited to announce the winners of the free resume audit. If you didn’t win this time, don’t worry - there will be plenty more chances in future issues! And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for...

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The winners of the free resume audit are:

  • Mel Taylor
  • Noopur Shah
  • Brandon Williams Meeks
  • Ginko Emdon
  • Lakshay Gaur

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Congratulations to all of you! Please respond to this email to schedule your audits. I can’t wait to help you take your resumes to the next level!

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Until next time,
David Campana

Level^Up
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P.S. Next time, I’ll show you how a small but powerful change to your resume can instantly grab a recruiter’s attention and get you more interviews.

If you want hands-on guidance to level up your UX job search, secure your spot in the next cohort today before it fills up!

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Level^Up

I share resume & portfolio critiques, hiring insights, and proven strategies to help UX designers get more interviews, get hired faster, and level up their careers.

Level^Up UX is for designers who want to get more interviews, get hired faster, and advance their careers. Subscribers gain access to actionable resume and portfolio critiques, hiring insights, and proven job search strategies to help them stand out in a competitive market.

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