Your Guide to Design Hiring Seasons: Best Times to Apply for Your First UX/UI Role

Mar 3

Feeling stuck in your job search? If you're a new designer applying for UX, UI, or product design positions without much response, don't worry—you're not alone! The design job market follows predictable cycles throughout the year, and understanding these patterns can significantly improve your chances of landing that first design role.

Timing really can make all the difference. Let's explore the seasonal hiring patterns in the design world and how you can use them to your advantage as you begin your UX/UI career journey.

Small note : there are better times to apply, and there are worse but there is never a single, perfect best time. Candidates find jobs in the dead of winter, and they can struggle at the height of open roles. The following are suggestions to optimize for timing, but you should keep searching with a disciplined routine, through the whole year.

Late Fall and Early Winter: Preparation Season (November-February)

November-December: The Planning Phase

What companies are doing: The end of the year typically sees a slowdown in hiring. Most teams have filled their positions by now, and hiring managers are often working with limited remaining budgets. Teams are starting to go out of office for PTO and holiday time. Companies are busy wrapping up year-end projects and planning for the coming year.

What you can do as a junior designer/ junior researcher:

Set clear goals for your design career path (decide if you want to focus on UX research, UI design, or product design)
Create a thoughtful action plan with monthly milestones (e.g., "January: Finalize portfolio," "February: Apply to 15 positions")
Take this time to rest and recharge—creative energy matters for producing your best work!
Update your portfolio with your latest work, making sure your homepage clearly communicates your design specialty
Add depth to your case studies by including your design process, research methods, and measurable outcomes (this is especially important for new designers to demonstrate problem-solving abilities)
Ask for portfolio reviews from peers or mentors—join communities like ADPList, DesignBuddy, or local design meetup groups you can find through Meetup.com and Eventbrite
Schedule dedicated time blocks for your job search in the new year (aim for 10-15 hours weekly during peak hiring seasons)

January-February: The First Hiring Wave

What companies are doing: With new annual budgets approved, teams know what positions they can fill. Mid-January sees a gradual return to normal operations after the holidays, with February bringing a significant uptick in interviews and hiring decisions.

What you can do as a junior designer/ junior researcher:

Begin researching companies that align with your values and interests—create a spreadsheet tracking 25-30 companies you'd love to work for. Use our resource 600+ Career Pages to give you insights into what kinds of companies are out there, and make your own list.
Look for roles with titles like "Junior Designer," "Associate Designer," or "Design Graduate" that explicitly welcome entry-level talent
Start submitting applications (aim for 5-7 quality applications per week rather than mass-applying)
Prepare for interviews by practicing your portfolio presentations—record yourself explaining a case study in under 5 minutes
Set up job alerts on LinkedIn, Indeed, and design-specific job boards using key terms like "junior UX designer" and "entry-level UI"

Spring: Opportunity Season (March-April)

What companies are doing: Leadership teams might be taking breaks or focusing on fundraising and product planning. Interestingly, this can work in your favor! With potentially fewer applicants and a sense of urgency to fill remaining roles, hiring managers often make faster decisions.

What you can do as a junior designer/ junior researcher:

Tailor your applications to specific roles using relevant keywords from job descriptions (highlight phrases like "wireframing," "user research," or "prototyping" that match your experience)
Continue applying consistently—persistence matters! Set a weekly application goal (10-12 per week is a good target during this season)
Be responsive and flexible with interview scheduling—check your email and LinkedIn messages at least twice daily
Follow up professionally on applications submitted earlier in the year (send a polite check-in email 10-14 days after applying)
Create a "master" cover letter template that you can quickly customize for each application
Research typical interview questions for junior designers and prepare concise, thoughtful answers
Join spring design hackathons or challenges to add recent, relevant projects to your portfolio

Summer: Skill-Building Season (May-August)

What companies are doing: Hiring typically slows as teams adopt summer schedules and vacation time increases. Major decisions often get postponed until fall.

What you can do as a junior designer:

Use this perfect opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge—focus on mastering at least one industry-standard tool (Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD)
Join design communities like Figma Community, Dribbble, or specialized Slack/Discord groups (Her UX Path, Designer Hangout, UX Mastery, or Design Buddies)
Look for short-term contract positions including startups that can build your experience—check platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Toptal for smaller UX/UI projects
Create personal projects that demonstrate specific skills employers want: conduct a usability test, redesign a problematic app, or create a design system from scratch
Ask for informational interviews with designers you admire (prepare 3-5 specific questions and keep meetings to 20-30 minutes)
Volunteer your design skills for non-profits or local businesses to build real-world case studies
Learn about accessibility standards (WCAG) and practice implementing them in your designs

Fall: Refresh Season (September-October)

What companies are doing: Companies experience a second hiring wave as they aim to fill positions before the holiday season. Teams are looking to use remaining budget allocations before year-end.

What you can do as a junior designer:

Update your portfolio with summer projects and learning—aim to replace at least one older case study with your strongest new work
Refresh your resume with any new skills or experiences, ensuring you include both soft skills (collaboration, communication) and hard skills (specific tools and methods)
Ensure all your online profiles reflect your current capabilities—update LinkedIn, Dribbble, Behance, and any other professional profiles with consistent information
Share recent work on design platforms like Dribbble or Behance with detailed descriptions of your process (post at least 1-2 times weekly during this season)
Join design conversations on social media to increase visibility—comment thoughtfully on LinkedIn posts from design leaders or participate in Twitter/X design discussions using hashtags like #UXDesign or #JuniorDesigners
Practice interviewing with peers or mentors—prepare for specific questions like "Walk me through your design process" or "How do you handle feedback?"
Record video responses to common portfolio presentation requests to review and improve your delivery
Apply with renewed energy to open positions, targeting 12-15 applications per week during this peak hiring season
Reach out to recruiters who specialize in placing junior design talent

Tips for Junior Designers Throughout the Year

Be patient with yourself. Finding your first design role typically takes 3-6 months—this is completely normal! The average junior designer submits 80-100+ applications before landing their first role.
Celebrate small wins. Each interview, portfolio improvement, or new skill learned is progress. Keep a "wins journal" to track these achievements when motivation dips.
Build relationships, not just applications. Connect with other designers at all levels—send thoughtful connection requests on LinkedIn (with a personal note) to at least 5 new people weekly.
Ask for feedback often. It's the fastest way to improve both your work and your presentation. After interviews, politely request feedback regardless of the outcome.
Stay curious and keep learning. The design field evolves quickly—your willingness to grow matters more than knowing every tool perfectly.
Create a support system. Find other junior designers to share the journey with—form a small accountability group to review each other's work and celebrate progress.
Mind your digital footprint. Recruiters often check your social media—ensure your online presence demonstrates your passion for design through what you share and comment on.
Track your applications. Use a spreadsheet or tool like Notion to monitor where you've applied, follow-up dates, and contact information.
Develop a consistent daily routine. Allocate specific hours for skill-building, networking, and applying to maintain momentum without burnout.
Consider adjacent roles. Positions like Design QA, Product Coordinator, or Marketing Designer can be stepping stones into full UX/UI roles.

Remember that every experienced designer started exactly where you are now. The average time to land a first design role is 3-6 months, with many successful designers facing 50+ rejections before their first offer. Understanding these hiring cycles can help you plan strategically, maintain your motivation, and make the most of each season.

What part of your design job search are you finding most challenging right now? Feel free to reach out in the comments below or connect with me on LinkedIn—I'm here to help you navigate your path into the exciting world of UX/UI design!