How a 60-Minute Resume Review Helped a UX Designer Land Interviews in 2 Weeks

Sometimes, it’s not about a complete resume overhaul. Here’s how a quick consulting call and a few strategic tweaks helped a mid-senior UX designer finally get traction after months of applying.

The Challenge: No Bites Despite a Strong Resume

I recently spoke with a mid-senior UX designer who had hit a wall. She had relevant experience, a polished resume, and solid skills, yet after three months of applications, she hadn’t received a single callback from her target companies.

Her initial plan was to hire me for a full resume overhaul, but after reviewing her resume, I knew she didn’t need that. Instead, I recommended a 60-minute consulting call to guide her through some targeted improvements she could DIY.

The Solution: Strategic Tweaks to Amplify Her Impact

In our call, we made a few focused adjustments that made all the difference:

1. Refined Her Profile Summary to Showcase Unique Value
   Her existing summary was strong, but it didn’t clearly highlight what made her unique. We reworked it to focus on the skills and impact only she could bring to the table. This quick shift made her value instantly recognizable.

2. Simplified Job Descriptions
   Instead of lengthy descriptions, we condensed her job history to emphasize specific impacts and key skills. Using my “detailed title” strategy (a Nico original!), we shortened job responsibilities and saved space for achievements and value-adds.

3. Streamlined Layout for Easy Skimming
   We revamped the layout with clear headings and sections to make her key impacts stand out—ideal for busy hiring managers and ATS systems alike. This change helped her most important achievements jump off the page.

4. Removed Irrelevant and Outdated Information
   We deleted outdated skills and old certifications that didn’t align with her current goals, strengthening her career story and making her value clearer.

5. Sprinkled in Targeted Keywords for ATS Compatibility
   Finally, we added a few more relevant keywords to ensure her resume passed ATS filters, giving her a better shot at getting in front of hiring managers.

The Result: 3 Interviews in 2 Weeks

Just two weeks later, she had three interview requests, including one from her dream company—a company she had applied to previously with no response. Sometimes, a few small but strategic changes can unlock doors that seemed closed.

Need a Quick Resume Tune-Up?

If your resume is good but not great, a short, no-BS consulting call may be all you need. I offer 30- or 60-minute review sessions where I’ll help you pinpoint exactly what’s missing so you can land interviews faster. Click here to schedule your call.