Job searching, freelancing, and the constant question: what do I actually need to prove?

Let’s talk about job searching.

Actually, let’s talk about work in general right now.

I freelance. Most of the time, I enjoy it. I like the autonomy, the variety, and the ability to focus on doing good work. But freelancing also means constantly looking for clients. Explaining what you do. Why it matters. Why it is worth paying for.

I know this probably sounds like a moan. Sorry. But right now the world feels like a very negative place, and it is hard to see the good in it.

And sometimes, that gets to you.

Because the reality is that a lot of people don't really see the value of design. Not in a meaningful way. Many people choose to DIY, and that isn't a criticism. People are doing the best they can with the tools and budgets they have. But the wider impact is that experience, craft, and process are quietly devalued.

So every now and then, I get a bit of a bee in my bonnet and decide to apply for jobs. Something steadier. Somewhere my experience is understood and respected.

And this is where the job market really shows its teeth, because frankly, it is not great!

You tailor your CV.

You update your portfolio.

You carefully explain your thinking, your decisions, and the outcomes of your work.

You apply even when you don't tick every single box, because nobody ever really does.

And then nothing.

No response.

Or a rejection weeks later that tells you very little.

Sometimes you invest real time, thoughtful answers, even unpaid tasks, and still receive no feedback.

Job rejection is seriously demoralising. Not because rejection exists, that's part of life, but because of how impersonal and opaque the process has become.

At some point you start asking yourself: what do I actually need to prove?

I have the experience.

I have the portfolio.

I know how design supports users, teams, and business goals.

I'm not trying to get rich or chase titles. I just want the chance to do good work, contribute properly, and be treated like a professional.

What wears you down is the sense that all of that can be filtered out without a second look. Meanwhile, companies say they want specialists, people who understand their craft and can think critically, yet the systems used to hire them often do exactly the opposite.

So you end up caught between two worlds.

Freelancing, where you're constantly explaining why your expertise matters.

Job searching, where you're constantly proving that you have it.

Both require resilience. Both can be exhausting.

I'm writing this because many capable people are stuck in the same position, and ignoring how difficult the job market is right now helps no one.

If you're going through it too, you're not failing.

If you are hiring, a response or a bit of clarity goes a long way!

As for me, I'll keep doing the work.

But honestly, sometimes you just want someone to say, “Yes, we see you. Let’s give you a chance.”