inasmuch

I'm a designer (product, brand, etc.) with 13+ years of professional experience (20+ personal), predominately in-house at startups and freelancing for agencies and established companies. I’m 34 and working remotely in the US.

I didn’t have much trouble finding work and opportunities in the first half of my career, but it’s become nearly impossible for me to even get interviews anymore and I’m not sure why. I know it can be a numbers game but I promise you I have put in the numbers. I /promise/.

I need to leave my current job ASAP. It’s a bad environment and has effectively no benefits, and I’m at least a year deep into burnout. To that end, I’m putting together a new portfolio and résumé in hopes of sending out a volley of new applications in 2023.

For those of you who are or have been involved in vetting and hiring design talent, what do you look for in a designer? What do you like to see in an application or portfolio? What turns you off?

Thanks!