How to Hire a Product Designer for Your Industry

Are you a recruiter looking to hire a product designer? A successful hiring process requires a well-crafted sourcing strategy that attracts top candidates (for your industry!) and effectively evaluates their skills and fit for the job.

@mathildeferroli founder at Woody • 11 Aug, 2024 • 21 minutes read ✨ •
How to Hire a Product Designer for Your Industry

Are you a recruiter looking to hire a product designer? A successful hiring process requires a well-crafted sourcing strategy that attracts top candidates (for your industry!) and effectively evaluates their skills and fit for the job.

To start, it's important to understand the role of a product designer and the skills and experience they bring to the table. Once you have a clear picture of what you're looking for given your industry and skills requirements, you can prepare a scorecard and job description that accurately reflect the position and its requirements. With these foundational elements in place, you can then focus on developing a creative sourcing strategy that reaches the right candidates and builds a strong talent pipeline.

Understanding the Role of a Product Designer

A Product Designer, at its core, is a problem solver. Product Designers play a crucial role in creating and improving the visual and functional aspects of products. Let’s see how famous product-led tech companies define the role of product designers:

  • A product designer at HubSpot (the marketing CRM) designs how HubSpot works. “We collaborate with our teams to produce an interactive experience that solves the needs of the customer and the business. Our role is more architect than interior decorator – meaning we spend more time thinking about how customers will use the product than making it visually attractive (although this is also important). By spending time defining the problem and understanding our users, we're able to conceptualize solutions that get at the heart of the challenges our users face and the progress they are trying to make. And by leveraging expertise in human factors, behavioral psychology, and visual design, we're able to create an experience that is highly usable, effective, efficient, and delightful.” (Source)

  • Nikolas Klein, Product Designer at Figma (design tool) says that “Product design is about the relationship that the designed product has with the user, but also addresses its competitive context. That includes user experience design, as well as product strategy and go-to-market planning.”

  • At Slack (workspace), “product designers are responsible for a whole host of things, from the UI to UX and beyond — sometimes all the way down to software sound effects. It’s our job to make the product come together in a way that our customers will find delightful and simple to use.”

When you decide to hire a product designer, it's important to understand the role they play in the design process. A product designer is a creative visionary who plays a crucial role in the design process of a product. They are responsible for ensuring that the product aligns perfectly with both business objectives and user needs, striking the delicate balance between form and function.

UI/UX Design Fundamentals

A product designer must have a deep understanding of UI and UX design fundamentals. They must be able to create user flows, wireframes, and prototypes that are intuitive, user-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing. They must also be able to work collaboratively with other designers, engineers, and stakeholders to ensure that the final product meets the required standards.

Prototyping and Visual Design

A product designer must be proficient in prototyping and visual design. They must be able to create high-fidelity mockups that accurately represent the final product. They must also be able to create visual design elements such as icons, typography, and color schemes that are consistent with the brand and product vision.

Overall, a product designer is a critical member of any design team. They bring a unique set of skills and expertise to the table, helping to bring ideas to life and create products that are both functional and beautiful. By understanding the role of a product designer and their key responsibilities, you can better identify the right candidate for your team and ensure that your product design process runs smoothly.

Kickstart your hiring: co-create your scorecard with the product, and engineering teams

Before you start the recruiting process to hire a product designer, it's essential to create a scorecard that outlines the key skills and competencies you're looking for in a candidate. This will help you to evaluate candidates objectively, compare them fairly, and make informed hiring decisions. To create an effective scorecard, start by having an initial brief with the hiring manager to identify the key skills and competencies required for the role. This will help you to understand the specific needs of the team and the business.

Once you have a clear understanding of the requirements, it's time to co-create the scorecard with the hiring manager. This ensures that the scorecard reflects the specific needs of the team and the business, and that everyone is aligned on the evaluation criteria. In an interview scorecard, you should typically include criteria such as technical skills, design thinking, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving. You may also want to include additional criteria that are specific to your business or team. To make the scorecard easy to use, you can use a rating system to score candidates on each criterion. For example, you could use a scale of 1-5, where 1 is poor and 5 is excellent. You can also include space for comments to provide additional context and feedback.

By co-creating a scorecard with the hiring manager, you ensure that everyone is on the same page about what you're looking for in a candidate. This helps to eliminate bias and ensures that the evaluation process is fair and objective. Overall, taking the time to prepare and co-create a scorecard is essential for hiring a product designer. It helps you to identify the key skills and competencies required for the role, evaluate candidates objectively, and make informed hiring decisions that benefit your team and your business.

Adapt your hiring strategy according to your industry (Fintech, B2C etc.)

The industry you are operating in is key to making a good hire. Let's say you are building a product in Fintech, you need designers who not only grasp complex financial regulations but also excel in creating user-friendly and engaging experiences. When reviewing portfolios, there is a chance that you look for roduct designer's ability to simplify compliance information, handle large data sets effectively, and design intuitive, streamlined forms.

💡 Learn more about hiring fintech product designers.

If youre Fintech product is closer to a social network, such as Shares, you might look for a product designer with experience in Fintech and Social Media/B2C.You can evaluate if they incorporate trends like gamification and mobile-first design to keep users engaged.

If you are on the lookout for someone that has more experience in Social Media or B2C, a portfolio that stands out will have more visual design, UI-focused elements. Elizabeth Lin for instance, is a product designer very much oriented towards visual design, illustration, and artsy products. Her portfolio makes it clear right away what type of work she is cut out for and what you should expect. On another hand, Sarah Tan is a Product Designer specializing in AR/VR for corporate clients such as Adobe or Mastercard. Her portfolio is quite different and maybe more tailored to you are hiring in Fintech, or deep tech products.

Craft an Effective Job Description

Crafting an effective job description is your first opportunity to attract the right candidates and set expectations for the role. Here are a few tips to help you create a job description that stands out:

Highlight the Benefits of Working for Your Company

Your job description should not only describe the responsibilities of the role but also highlight the benefits of working for your company. This includes your company culture, values, and mission. Candidates want to know what makes your company unique and why they should choose to work for you.

Be Clear and Concise

Your job description should be clear and concise. Avoid using jargon or buzzwords that may confuse candidates. Use simple language and focus on the key responsibilities of the role. Be sure to include the essential skills and qualifications required for the job.

Use a Job Brief Format

Divide your job description into three clear sections: job brief, responsibilities, and skills and requirements. This straightforward structure helps potential candidates quickly understand what the job entails. Here's a quick overview of the crucial components of an engaging job description:

  • Job Brief: Provide a clear, compelling description of your company's mission, culture, and goals. Highlight the benefits of working as a product designer within your team, like contributing toward game-changing products or collaborating with innovative individuals.
  • Responsibilities: Outline the key responsibilities of the role. Be specific about what the product designer will be responsible for and what they are expected to achieve.
  • Skills and Requirements: List the essential skills and qualifications required for the job. Be sure to include any specific software or tools that the candidate should be proficient in.

💡 Here is a good example of a clear job description.

Showcase Your Employer Brand

Your job description is an opportunity to showcase your employer brand. Use language that reflects your company's values and culture. Be sure to include any unique benefits or perks that your company offers, like flexible working hours, health insurance, or professional development opportunities.

Crafting an effective job description is key to attracting the right candidates for your product design role. By highlighting the benefits of working for your company, being clear and concise, using a job brief format, and showcasing your employer brand, you can create a job description that stands out and attracts top talent.

💡 When posting on Woody, I personally review each job post to make sure they look great, so don't worry if it's not perfect!

Develop a Creative Sourcing Strategy

Recruiters and founders can tap into various hiring channels to hire a product designer. I'd recommend mixing solutions from wider to nicher reach, with adapted costs.

  • First, ask your current employees, colleagues, and industry contacts for referrals. They may know someone who would be a good fit for your company and it is often the best strategy, though it shouldn't be a reason to bypass a solid hiring process. Also, you might be intro to candidates that are passively looking, and less ready to jump ships, negociations can be trickers!
  • First, post on niche job platforms where you will receive fewer applications but much more targeted such as Woody (for full-time hires) and Dribbble (for freelance hires).
  • Then, spot creative communities and networks which can be a great source of top talent. For example, we partner with top product design communitiessuch as PD Ladies to bring them the best jobs. So, if you post on Woody, you will reach small commuinties directly in their community groups.

  • Then, you can get more volume by posting on Linkedin (you will receive a LOT of applications, but maybe enough to vet the right candidate. You will have to do a lot of screening).

  • Finally, if you want a tailor-made search, you can work with a talent agency or recruiting firm who will handle the screening process. It is an expensive service though!

  • Your current employees can be a great source of referrals for top talent. Encourage them to share job postings on their social media profiles and offer incentives for successful referrals. This can help you tap into a wider network of potential candidates and increase your chances of finding the right fit.

Build a Talent Pipeline

Once you have identified the skills and qualities that you are looking for in a product designer, it's time to start building a talent pipeline. A talent pipeline is a pool of qualified candidates that you can tap into when you have a job opening. This can save you time and effort in the long run, as you'll have a ready-made list of candidates to choose from when you hire a product designer.

Identifying Qualified Candidates

One of the most important steps in building a talent pipeline is identifying qualified candidates. You can do this in a number of ways, including:

  • Referrals: Ask your current employees, colleagues, and industry contacts for referrals. They may know someone who would be a good fit for your company.
  • Social Media: Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to search for potential candidates. You can also post job openings on these platforms to attract candidates.
  • Applicant Tracking Systems: Use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to manage your candidate pipeline. An ATS can help you track candidates, automate your hiring process, and provide analytics on your hiring performance.

Maintaining a Candidate Sourcing Database

Once you have identified qualified candidates, it's important to maintain a candidate sourcing database. This is a database of potential candidates that you can refer to when you have a job opening. You can use an ATS to manage your candidate sourcing database, or you can create your own database using a spreadsheet or other tool.

When maintaining your candidate sourcing database, be sure to include the following information:

  • Name and contact information
  • Skills and qualifications
  • Work experience
  • Education
  • Notes on their suitability for your company

By maintaining a candidate sourcing database, you can ensure that you always have a pool of qualified candidates to choose from when you have a job opening. This can save you time and effort in the long run, and help you find top talent for your company.

The Product Design Hiring Process

Hiring a product designer is a crucial step in building a successful product development team. Here are some key steps to follow when hiring a product designer:

Screening and Skill Tests

The first step in the hiring process is to screen resumes and portfolios to identify candidates who meet the job requirements. You should also consider conducting skill tests to evaluate the candidate's technical abilities and creative skills. This will help you narrow down the pool of applicants and identify the most qualified candidates.

Conducting Interviews and Assessments

Once you have identified potential candidates, the next step is to conduct interviews and assessments. When conducting interviews, it's important to ask a mix of technical, creative, and interpersonal questions to get a comprehensive understanding of the candidate's capabilities and suitability for your team. You can also consider conducting assessments such as design challenges or case studies to evaluate the candidate's problem-solving and design skills.

Some Effective Questions to Consider

When crafting your interview questions, consider asking questions that evaluate the candidate's understanding of essential UX design skills, such as empathy, user-centric thinking, and collaborative ability. You can also ask questions that test the candidate's ability to promote key principles of user experience within a team setting, highlighting their communication and persuasion skills. Here are some effective questions to consider:

  1. "What makes a good UX designer?"
  2. "What's your understanding of design thinking?"
  3. "How do you advocate usability and accessibility in your workplace?"
  4. "Can you tell me about your design process?"
  5. "Where do you go for UX design inspiration?"

Finalizing the Hire and Onboarding

Once you have identified the most qualified candidate, the final step is to finalize the hire and onboard the new product designer. This includes negotiating the terms of the offer, providing a clear job description, and outlining the onboarding process.

💡 You can the following companies hiring process for product designers: Figma, MixPanel, Thumbtack, Canva and Duolingo.

So, are you ready to hire your product designer?

Share this article:

Don't apply more, apply better! 🎉

Receive handpicked jobs that match your search criteria in your inbox, and be the first to apply.
🔔 Create you Job Alert
Loved by +1000 Product Designers 💜