The Job Market Feels Like Tinder. But Worse
It’s a weird time to be a designer.
You open LinkedIn and see endless “We’re hiring” posts.
Job boards are full.
Designers are jobless.
Founders say “We just can’t find the right person.”
And talented people with solid work? Still not getting replies.
So what’s really going on?
Both Sides Are Swiping. No One’s Matching.
If you’re a candidate, you’re probably applying to roles that sound like they were written by ChatGPT.
You’re guessing what the company actually wants.
You’re polishing case studies hoping someone gets it.
You’re writing “I’m excited about this role” for the 37th time.
And if you’re hiring?
You’re probably drowning in applications.
Half the portfolios are mid. The other half… don’t speak to your actual needs.
You want someone who just fits. But no one quite does.
It feels like dating apps.
Swipe.
Skim.
Next.
This Isn’t About Talent. It’s About Signal.
Let’s be honest:
There are plenty of great designers looking for work.
And there are plenty of great companies looking for talent.
But the filters we’re using? They suck.
- ATS systems ghost good people because they didn’t keyword stuff their résumé
- Hiring managers are over-indexing on logos instead of proof
- Candidates are doing everything “right” and still getting nothing back
- Nobody has time to build context anymore
We’re not filtering for depth.
We’re filtering for convenience.
And in the process, we’re burning everyone out.
Everyone’s Playing Defense
Candidates are scared to be honest.
Founders are scared to take a risk.
Everyone’s trying to look perfect. No one wants to show cracks.
So we get templated portfolios.
We get vague job posts.
We get no real conversation.
Just “apply here” and hope for the best.
The System Isn’t Broken. It’s Working As Designed.
This mess isn’t an accident.
The job market, especially in design and tech, has turned into a performance loop.
Show up a certain way.
Say the right thing.
Pray the algorithm notices.
But creativity isn’t optimized. It’s recognized.
And the current system doesn’t recognize nuance, growth, or potential.
It just looks for matches that already exist.
Which is why so many great people are getting left behind.
What Do We Do?
If you’re hiring, write better job descriptions.
Talk like a human. Say what actually matters.
Be upfront about what you value. Don’t just list tools.
If you’re applying, show your thinking.
Don’t just show what you did. Show why.
Be clear, be personal, be real.
And if you’re in this loop feeling stuck, you’re not alone.
You’re not underqualified.
You’re not invisible.
You’re just stuck in a system that wasn’t designed to see you.
But you’re still here.
Still trying.
Still showing up.
That counts for something.
Final Thought
Playing it safe might feel smart in the short term, but in a world moving faster than ever, hesitation often costs more than boldness. The best opportunities rarely come gift-wrapped in certainty. Whether you’re building, hiring, designing, or launching, fortune still favors the brave.
Hey, I’m Vishal, a product designer, vibe coder, and someone who’s been deep in the trenches with tools like Webflow and Framer for years. I run OhhMyAds, a small studio where we help brands go from messy ideas to clean, high-performing websites that actually do the job.
Most of what I write here comes straight from real client work, late-night rebuilds, and way too many “quick fixes” that turned into full-blown redesigns. If you’re into design that looks good but also makes sense, stick around.
