The Smart UXer’s Guide to Career Insurance
The UX Career Safety Net
Don’t Wait for the Layoff Email to Start Future-Proofing Your UX Career
It happens quietly at first.
A hiring freeze.
Then a reorg.
Then a “quick catch-up” with your manager that doesn’t feel right.
Whether you’ve been laid off, blindsided by a contract ending, or just sensing that your job isn’t as stable as it once felt—you’re not alone. In 2025, UX professionals are more skilled than ever—and still facing an unpredictable job market.
So what do you do?
You build a safety net—before you need it.
This newsletter is your guide to creating career insurance. Not just for when things fall apart, but to grow, gain leverage, and sleep better right now.
The three types of career safety nets (and why you need more than one)
How to build a reputation that opens doors—before you’re job hunting
Skills that keep you valuable even in tight job markets
Why UX portfolios aren’t enough—and what to create instead
UXCON '25 : Don’t just learn—get hired
Resource Corner: Guides for staying visible, connected, and prepared
🛡️ The UX Career Safety Net, Broken Down
Your safety net isn’t just a polished resume. It’s a system made up of three key layers:
Visibility: So people know what you can do before you ask for help
Versatility: So your skill set still applies—even when roles shift
Relationships: So you’re not starting from scratch when you need a door opened
“The best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago. The second-best time is now.”
—Chinese Proverb (and every senior UXer who’s been through a layoff)
Visibility: Build It Before You Need It
You don’t need to be famous. You need to be findable.
Share your work publicly—even in small ways. A LinkedIn post about a UX challenge you solved last week builds more trust than a polished case study you never finish.
Keep your portfolio quietly updated. Add a “recent wins” section and update it monthly, not just when you’re job hunting.
Make it easy for others to talk about your work. If someone recommends you, what story will they tell? Give them one.
Be active in at least one community. Slack, Discord, local meetups—choose one space and consistently contribute, even if it’s just sharing a link or answering a question once a week.
🧠 Versatility: Stay Valuable, Not Just Specialized
UX roles are evolving. What keeps you marketable is range:
Can you communicate your work in business terms? That’s strategy.
Can you switch between research and design when needed? That’s adaptability.
Can you lead a sprint and write a usability plan? That’s leverage.
Even learning to work with AI tools or understand basic product analytics adds resilience.
The goal isn’t to be everything. It’s to have enough cross-functional fluency that you don’t get boxed out when teams shrink or priorities shift.
📁 Portfolios Aren’t Enough. Build Proof of Thinking.
In unstable markets, employers don’t just want talent—they want clarity and confidence.
That means showing how you think, not just what you made:
Write a short article on Medium or LinkedIn (“Here’s how I approached redesigning a flow when I had zero research time”)
Record a 3-minute video walking through your design process
Create a one-pager called “How I Approach UX” and link it on your portfolio
These things signal maturity and clarity—and they’re easier to build when you’re not in panic mode.
🤝 Relationships: Quietly Build a Strong UX Network
The UXers getting jobs fast in 2025? They’re not always the best designers.
They’re the most connected.
Start building your network before you need it:
Keep a “career allies” list: former coworkers, mentors, or classmates. Send a quick hello every few months.
Give before you ask. Refer someone. Share a job opening. Send a helpful resource.
When you attend events, don’t just take notes. Send one message afterward to a speaker or attendee. That’s the difference between passive and intentional networking.
So….
What’s the best “career insurance” in UX?
Community. Visibility. Proof of skill.
And that’s exactly what UXCON '25 is built for.
Meet hiring managers and UX leads
Workshop your portfolio and process live
Grow your network with people who actually hire
📚 Resource Corner: Build While You’re Safe
Final Thought: Build the Net Before You Fall
You don’t have to post every day. You don’t have to be everywhere.
But if you start now—quietly building your visibility, your skill range, and your relationships—you’ll be ready before things get hard.
Because the truth is: every UX career has waves.
The safety net is what carries you through.