Take the Time to Reflect

You’re reading an excerpt of Land Your Dream Design Job, a book by Dan Shilov. Filled with hard-won, personal insights, it is a comprehensive guide to landing a product design role in a startup, agency, or tech company, and covers the entire design interview process from beginning to end, for experienced and aspriring designers. Purchase the book to support the author and the ad-free Holloway reading experience. You get instant digital access, commentary and future updates, and a high-quality PDF download.

While the recruiter or even the hiring manager at the next role might pressure you to start as soon as possible, don’t give in. The time that you spend between your (now) past job and your future job is just as important. Use it wisely to rest and reflect on your experience.

If your previous job has caused you to burn out (or if you’ve burnt out multiple times already), then rest should be top priority. Don’t try to do much work during this period. Disconnect fully. Catch up on what you’ve been neglecting.

Once you’re refreshed, take the time to reflect. This is a good time to revisit your original job framework:

• Where are you in your career now?

• What has worked well or not so well in your prior jobs?

• What skills do you want to grow in your next job?

​important​ Getting clear and writing the questions and answers out will help you frame the narrative of your previous job and tie up any loose ends. You’ll also get a better signal of which opportunities to pursue in your next role. And when you’re ready, start planning your onboarding.