It’s always surprising how many talented UX professionals stay stuck in roles they hate or job-hunt strategies that don’t work.

I know designers with stunning portfolios who haven’t landed an interview in months.

I’ve met UX researchers with 10 years of experience earning less than a junior designer.

And it’s often not because they lack skill or ambition.

It’s because they have high pain tolerance.

As UX professionals, we’re used to dealing with:

• Hiring managers ghosting us.

• Applications that disappear into the void.

• Endless rejections and vague feedback.

• Burnout from chasing opportunities that go nowhere.

We tell ourselves it’s just part of the process.

But here’s the thing: Pain tolerance isn’t always a good thing.

Sometimes it tricks you into thinking you’re playing the long game, when you’re actually playing the wrong game.

I learned this lesson the hard way.

I used to spend hours applying for jobs, tweaking my portfolio, and attending every networking event I could find.

But then I noticed something:

The people landing six-figure roles weren’t applying to 100+ jobs.

They were building connections with 10 decision-makers.

They weren’t creating endless case studies for their portfolios.

They were sending one tailored Minimum Valuable Pitch to the right person.

They weren’t playing the same game I was.

And that’s when I realized: I wasn’t just enduring pain—I was enduring the wrong pain.

The right kind of pain hurts, but it gets you results.

• It’s reaching out to decision-makers and facing rejection.

• It’s refining your pitch until it finally lands.

• It’s spending time crafting a plan that solves real problems for hiring managers.

The wrong kind of pain doesn’t get you anywhere.

• It’s sending out 100 applications and hearing nothing back.

• It’s working on a perfect portfolio that no one sees.

• It’s tweaking your resume for hours instead of focusing on what really matters.

Pain tolerance can keep you stuck. But the right strategy sets you free.

If you’re ready to stop playing the wrong game, I’ve made it simple for you.

Inside The UX Careerpreneur Xmas Store, you’ll find the 16 tools and workshops that help UX professionals focus on what works—from strategic outreach to crafting pitches that land interviews.

Right now, it’s all 50% off.

👉 Click here to get started.

This offer ends tomorrow.

Stop tolerating the wrong kind of pain. Let’s get you moving toward your dream UX job.

Cheers,

Joseph

P.S. Want personal help crafting your strategy? The January Pass includes lifetime access to all workshops and my guidance until the end of January 2025. Details are inside the link above.