Job Hunting in 2026? Honest Advice From a Designer and a Researcher

It's tough out there. Whether you're fresh out of school, switching industries, or just trying to stand out in a sea of AI-generated applications, the job hunt in 2026 will be brutal.In this episode, Antonija sits down with ⁠⁠Sohvi Silius⁠⁠, User Insights Lead and fellow colleague, to share honest, no-fluff advice on CVs, interviews, LinkedIn, and everything in between.What we cover:Why the one-page CV rule is outdatedHow to describe your experience without sounding like a robotThe "biggest weakness" question (and what to actually say)Why your summer job matters less than your 10 years of competitive sportsHow to network without feeling sleazyLinkedIn: trash bin or secret weapon?How recruiters spot AI-written applications instantlyStanding out when everyone uses the same toolsWhy your grandpa had it easier (and what to do about it)Being yourself in a professional setting (yes, jokes are allowed)Key takeaway: It's all storytelling. Every experience, hobby, failure, and weird side project can become a case study if you frame it right.Mentioned in this episode:"Show Your Work" by Austin Kleon

It's tough out there. Whether you're fresh out of school, switching industries, or just trying to stand out in a sea of AI-generated applications, the job hunt in 2026 will be brutal.In this episode, Antonija sits down with ⁠Sohvi Silius⁠, User Insights Lead and fellow colleague, to share honest, no-fluff advice on CVs, interviews, LinkedIn, and everything in between.What we cover:Why the one-page CV rule is outdatedHow to describe your experience without sounding like a robotThe "biggest weakness" question (and what to actually say)Why your summer job matters less than your 10 years of competitive sportsHow to network without feeling sleazyLinkedIn: trash bin or secret weapon?How recruiters spot AI-written applications instantlyStanding out when everyone uses the same toolsWhy your grandpa had it easier (and what to do about it)Being yourself in a professional setting (yes, jokes are allowed)Key takeaway: It's all storytelling. Every experience, hobby, failure, and weird side project can become a case study if you frame it right.Mentioned in this episode:"Show Your Work" by Austin Kleon

It's tough out there. Whether you're fresh out of school, switching industries, or just trying to stand out in a sea of AI-generated applications, the job hunt in 2026 will be brutal.In this episode, Antonija sits down with Sohvi Silius, User Insights Lead and fellow colleague, to share honest, no-fluff advice on CVs, interviews, LinkedIn, and everything in between.What we cover:Why the one-page CV rule is outdatedHow to describe your experience without sounding like a robotThe "biggest weakness" question (and what to actually say)Why your summer job matters less than your 10 years of competitive sportsHow to network without feeling sleazyLinkedIn: trash bin or secret weapon?How recruiters spot AI-written applications instantlyStanding out when everyone uses the same toolsWhy your grandpa had it easier (and what to do about it)Being yourself in a professional setting (yes, jokes are allowed)Key takeaway: It's all storytelling. Every experience, hobby, failure, and weird side project can become a case study if you frame it right.Mentioned in this episode:"Show Your Work" by Austin Kleon

Antonija and Vitali dive into the chaotic state of the design industry while running on fumes. From mass layoffs at Microsoft, Amazon, and Salesforce to the rapid changes AI is bringing to every profession, they discuss what it takes to stay competitive when the rules change weekly.Topics: The new job market reality and why being skilled isn't enough anymore, Canva makes Affinity free and what this means for Adobe's future, AI tools changing the game and how to stay relevant, Figma's frustrating updates and why that hotkey change was pure chaos, building apps solo with Cursor, whipping up Figma plugins in five minutes with AI, career insurance through networking and luck.Tools mentioned: Cursor for AI-powered coding, Affinity Suite now free forever, Flora AI visual workflow tool, Genie AI pushing interaction boundaries, Figma Plugins with View and React starters.

In this episode, Antonija and Vitali dive deep into the weird, wild, and wonderful future of design, AI, and everything in between.Topics we cover:🤖 Sam Altman’s vision of UI disappearing into the background🖖 Star Trek as the blueprint for voice-based interfaces🧠 ChatGPT psychosis and people forming relationships with bots🎤 Dictation tools: Aqua vs. MacWhisper (and why $8 = too much)💀 Trust issues with AI agents booking vacations or spending your money🛡️ Security horror stories from AI-generated apps🧾 Why no one trusts AI with taxes and Verokorti💔 The death of interfaces and rise of parasocial AI relationships🔌 Figma’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) and why it's a game-changer👩‍💻 Designers, please learn some code or you’re toast🧃 Microplastics, content fatigue, and looking 40 at 26🍿 Apple still uses Sketch (??) and why Figma only cares about 2% of users💸 Indie app dev pain + begging for mercy in App Store reviewsAlso: existential dread, universal basic income, and whether AI will ever stop hallucinating.🔗 Links & MentionsMacWhisperOne Sec AppFigma MCP docsCharacter.ai📩 Got thoughts, tears, or predictions?Hit us up in the comments or DM us, we might read your message on the next episode.

Episode 72: Vitali and Antonija dive into Figma Config 2025, why Figma Sites aren’t production-ready, first impressions of Figma Buzz and Make, and how AI is reshaping design workflows. They compare prototyping tools, explore AI content trends and job impacts, and debate “human-first” creativity. Plus, Android’s Material 3 for Gen Z, iPhone 17 wishlists, headphone showdowns, and personal updates, including the Finnish language exam, React Native fixes, Vandal growth, and hopes for sunnier days ahead.

Antonija and Vitali catch up after a weird week in tech, starting with Figma’s unexpected “villain arc” and all the drama around Dev Mode. They dive into how it’s pissing off both designers and developers—and what it says about Figma’s direction lately. Then things get a little existential as they chat about the future of capitalism, burnout, and the weird pressure to constantly innovate. It’s one of those episodes where we laugh a lot, rant a bit, and accidentally unpack our late-stage tech anxieties.

What We Talked AboutAI is eating our jobs? Or is it just making everything more annoying?Ethics in design: Can you really be a “good” designer while working for a business that just wants $$$?The “no experience” job market paradox: Should you just apply and let them say no? (Yes, duh.)Antonija’s app launch fail: Spent months coding, launched it, login was broken. 😭Cursor & AI coding tools: Are they making us smarter or dumber?Big Tech’s mask-off moment: DEI efforts gone, profit-chasing in full force.Design system geekery: Boolean vs. dropdown properties – the war rages on.Why Bootstrap’s 10px grid makes us irrationally angry.The power of being nice: A LinkedIn chat from two years ago came full circle. 🥹

In this episode, we’re getting into why UX tends to go downhill as companies get bigger, how AI is shaking up design and coding, and what’s going on with Arc now that The Browser Company is switching gears. We chat about Figma’s growing pains, the AI tools that are making work faster (and maybe more fun), and why designers need to think beyond just pixels. Plus, we’re sharing some must-try apps that are seriously changing the game.Topics Discussed:​Why big companies struggle with UX and innovation​ AI-powered design and coding tools: Cursor, V0, Bolt.new, Replit​ The browser wars: What’s next for Arc?​ The role of Figma, Blender, and Auto Layout struggles​ Why startups often fail and how AI might change that​ The best tools for video and photo editing on iPhoneMust-Try Apps:🔹 Cursor – AI-powered coding assistant that speeds up development🔹 V0 by Vercel – AI code generator for building React components🔹 Bolt.new – AI-powered UI generator, similar to V0🔹 Replit – Cloud-based IDE for AI-assisted development🔹 MacWhisper – Local AI transcription for Mac🔹 Fireflies.ai – AI meeting transcription and note-taking🔹 Kino – High-quality iPhone video recording with Apple Log support🔹 Halide – Advanced iPhone photography app for pro-level shots🔹 BlueSky – The Twitter alternative with an open API🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Join Antonija and Vitali on Design Party as they dive into enhancing designer value by understanding developer needs, improving workflows, and fostering collaboration. They discuss the importance of holistic evaluation, the pitfalls of handoff, and the human aspect of teamwork. Discover insights on design tools, the future of prototyping, and why learning basic coding can transform your design career. Tune in for practical tips and engaging discussions!