Why you’re not getting interviews (and how to fix it): 10 common CV mistakes designers make

When you’re putting your portfolio, CV, or LinkedIn profile together, it’s easy to fall into vague descriptions of your work.

But the details matter. A lot.

Small reframes in how you talk about your role can be the difference between getting an interview or being passed over.

Hiring managers don’t have the time to fill in the blanks.

If your job history leaves them guessing, they’ll move on.

Especially in this current market.

Below are 10 common mistakes, along with simple reframes that show your true impact.

1. “I built the design team.” ??

Did you hire your cousin as the intern, or did you build the team from 0 to 20? This is one of the most common phrases I see. It sounds impressive, but without numbers, it’s incomplete.

• If your company isn’t well-known, the hiring manager might not know the size of the team or the scope of the work. Provide that context.
• “Built the design team.” How many people? 0 to 5? 10 to 20? Numbers make the story real.

Reframe: “Built a design team from 0 to 20 over two years, establishing onboarding, workflows, and team operations.”

What it shows: You didn’t just hire a couple of people. You built a scalable team, set up processes, and was able to grow it strategically.

2. “Worked closely with stakeholders.” ??

Who? What role did you play? What did you accomplish together?

• The term “stakeholders” is vague. Be clear about who they were and what you achieved together.
• Did you shape decisions? Influence strategy? Bring alignment?

Reframe: “Partnered with C-suite leaders to define product strategy, increasing user engagement by 40%.”

What it shows: You had a direct influence on strategic decisions, and the results speak for themselves.

3. “Responsible for delivering design projects.” ??

Okay, but what kind of projects? And what was your specific role?

• What impact did these projects have? Did they achieve measurable outcomes?
• Were you leading, executing, or supporting?

Reframe: “Led design for 10+ product launches, driving a 25% increase in customer retention.”

What it shows: You delivered projects that directly contributed to business outcomes, and you were a key player in making it happen.

4. “Improved the design process.” ???

How did you improve it? What was the measurable result?

• Was it through tools, systems, or team structure? What was the impact?
• Be specific about what changed and how it benefited the team or company.

Reframe: “Introduced a design system that reduced turnaround time by 40%, improving consistency across teams.”

What it shows: You made a tangible, positive impact on efficiency and quality through a strategic process change.

5. “Worked on a variety of projects.” ??

What kinds of projects? How did they contribute to the company’s goals?

• Variety is good, but the details matter more.
• What specific challenges did you solve, and how did your work move the needle?

Reframe: “Led cross-functional projects, including a redesign that increased conversions by 15% and a feature launch that boosted MAU by 10%.”

What it shows: You took on key projects that had a direct impact on both product performance and business growth.

6. “Collaborated with cross-functional teams.” ??

What role did you play in these collaborations, and what did they achieve?

• Collaboration is expected, but how did your input affect the outcome?
• Were you driving alignment, or simply part of the process?

Reframe: “Collaborated with product, engineering, and marketing teams to launch a feature that increased user signups by 20%.”

What it shows: Your collaboration was integral to launching successful features, and the results were measurable.

7. “Designed the company’s first design system.” ??

What problem did it solve, and what value did it add?

• How did it improve the workflow, consistency, or efficiency?
• Did it scale across teams or products? Be specific about the impact.

Reframe: “Created the company’s first design system, reducing design-developer handoff time by 50% and ensuring consistency across 5+ product teams.”

What it shows: You built a solution that significantly improved efficiency and collaboration across the organisation.

8. “Led UX/UI design for new product features.” ??

What features, and what results did they drive?

• Be specific about the features and the value they brought to the company.
• Did they improve user experience? Drive engagement?

Reframe: “Led UX/UI design for a new onboarding flow, reducing drop-off rates by 25% and increasing retention by 15%.”

What it shows: You solved a critical user problem, and your design decisions had a direct impact on retention.

9. “Helped the company grow.” ??

What kind of growth? How did your work contribute?

• Growth can mean many things. Be specific about what grew and how your contributions helped.

Reframe: “Contributed to a 15% growth in revenue by designing features that drove user engagement and product adoption.”

What it shows: You played a measurable role in helping the company grow, directly through your design work.

10. “Managed the design team.” ??????

How big was the team? What did you achieve together?

• Managing is more than overseeing tasks. How did your leadership make the team better?
• Did you improve performance, grow the team, or solve key challenges?

Reframe: “Led a team of 10 designers, increasing output by 30% and introduced design sprints that cut project timelines by 20%.”

What it shows: Your leadership made the team more effective and efficient, driving tangible results.

The Big Takeaway

Be specific. Show the impact. Let the results of your work speak for themselves, without making anyone guess.

P.S. I’m Mindaugas, building Coho . Too many designers navigate their careers feeling isolated, with no real peer support when it matters most. After curating mastermind groups manually for over 2,500 professionals, it became clear there wasn’t a space for designers to face tricky career situations together. We’re creating those spaces — small, curated groups where senior designers can connect, share experiences, and tackle challenges they can’t face alone.