Carli Sasaki

Nail Your Call with a Recruiter as a Product Designer

Product & Design Talent Director at Creative People

Get an inside look as to how recruiters think on your intro call

What recruiters don't tell you when your call falls short

Questions to ask yourself before your recruiter asks you

How to prepare before the phone rings

Learn how to position yourself in a competitive market

Recipe for success to land your next job

How to make the most of partnership with your recruiter

Rated 9.38/10 in the last cohort! Are you working in a low design maturity organization? Do others understand the value of design? Are you given space to have influence and impact in your role? This course takes you through 6 modules in 6 weeks. Together, we'll discuss how to make sense of ambiguous product challenges, make design decisions based in strong rationale, build confidence through communication, storytelling and design principles. I know what it's like to have a great idea that you spend hours working on, only to have it fall flat on stakeholders who don't share your vision. I know what it's like to work at a company with low design maturity where you struggle to get heard, let alone even considered by the product team. I know what it's like to be nervous presenting and communicating with senior leaders, where you feel like you're winging it and hoping for the best. I've worked through these and more challenges with resilience, which I believe has helped me grow from Junior Designer to Design Manager in just six years. For coaching options, visit www.femke.design/course and add a coach to your course experience for an additional USD$500.

Gain the skills needed to have more influence and impact in your design career

I'll share how to gain the confidence to take on PM responsibilities when needed, and learn the product industry's best-kept secret - how to write an effective PRD (product requirements document).

Introduction to Product

Create a vision for your team that will inspire confidence. Together we'll work towards increasing confidence in contributing to product strategy, and I'll also share how to influence product strategy through design and the difference between outcomes and output.

Develop product strategy

Learn how to write a product manifesto. By creating principles for a team, segment, or project you will learn the principles of decision-making, and alignment.

Craft principles

Communication across teams can be difficult. Through prompts, we will focus on how to create a foundation for successful collaboration with your peers, become a proactive communicator, and create a communication strategy (with tried-and-true templates!)

Lead through communication

Storytelling is an art form. Gain confidence and find your style through the components that make up a good story and ensure your story has a strong foundation - every time.

Become an engaging storyteller

Put everything you've learned into action and finally join the product roundtable. In this module, we'll discuss how to effectively bring ideas and suggestions to Design Leadership.

Influence design culture

Course syllabus

Join Femke once a week to discuss module topics, interact with peers and get insight. Sessions run at 10am PST and are recorded.

1 hr live session with Femke

Join live Q&amp;A's with industry leading guests who are experts in the field and get all your questions answered.

1 hr live Q&A with special guests

Packed with lesson videos, exercises and templates to grow your skills. A module takes about 1-2 hours to complete each week. No worries if you fall behind – modules are available on demand and you can complete them in your own time.

Self-paced modules

Course schedule

For designers of all levels with a positive mindset and can-do attitude, eager to grow influence, impact, and drive meaningful change.

In-house designers operating within a design team and working daily with product and engineering peers.

Challenge-driven individuals looking to move beyond being handed solutions in briefs – you want to influence the roadmap.

Who is this course for?

What you'll get

Develop the skills needed to strategically influence product strategy, feel empowered to make a difference on your team and present with confidence.

Specific frameworks for getting stakeholders bought into your work

Join live working sessions with Femke and course alumni mentors every week, PLUS gain templates, resources, and worksheets you can repurpose for later.

Learn hands-on with Femke in weekly live sessions

Develop the skills needed to strategically influence product strategy and feel empowered to make a difference in your team with all-new exclusive content from Femke - not available anywhere else!

Hours of lesson videos to help you build conviction in your design decisions

Hear from product and design leaders at leading tech companies in live Q&amp;A's as well as through pre-recorded expert clips. You'll get an insider look into how they work with stakeholders.

Live Q&A's to learn from industry leaders

Get FREE access to the <a href="https://www.femke.design/community" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Level up Kit</a>, a comprehensive bundle designed to help you grow as a designer while connecting with a supportive community. Includes Discord server, monthly live events and design resource perks and discounts.

Free access to the Level Up Kit ($150 of value)

Advocate for your ideas, influence product and step up your design career.

Femke

Lead product designer, podcaster, educator and mentor.

Cohort 5

Cohort 6

Utilize years of my Product Design &amp; UXR recruitment experience and thorough strategies to secure a new role in weeks. / What This Course Offers / ⚫️ Craft CV and portfolio that highlight your core skills and are liked by recruiters and hiring managers.-&gt; Students reported better conversion from the application stage to the first interview with their updated application materials after this course. ⚫️ Navigate the recruitment process with confidence by knowing what to expect from each stage and how to get the missing information from your recruitment partner to increase your chances.-&gt; Students reported feeling much more confident and progressing further in more processes after this course. ⚫️ Learn how to reflect your seniority and convince employers and stakeholders of your potential impact in just a few minutes.-&gt; Students reported receiving feedback like, "This was the best pitch I have heard," from recruiters and hiring managers after this course. ⚫️ Understand the rules of networking and create outreach strategies that convert LinkedIn connections into job leads.-&gt; Students reported receiving more responses to their networking requests after this course. Several students secured new roles through their networking efforts 🚀﻿⚫️ Engage in practical exercises to get real feedback from a former Product Design and UX Research recruiter, improving the first impression that recruiters and hiring managers could have of you.-&gt; Students reported learning many insider tips and a better understanding of hiring teams, resulting in more interviews for some and signed offers for others. ⚫️ Collaborate with fellow professionals who understand your journey and provide encouragement and ideas for your success.-&gt; Students reported building strong connections with classmates and finally receiving the support they have been looking for.

This course will equip you with the tools and skills to get a new job.

Provide a brief description for each module as a way to sell the value of what students will be learning throughout the course.

First Module

Second Module

Third Module

Join me for weekly live sessions to get all of your questions answered, practice, and learn from a guest speaker.

2 Live Sessions on Thursdays

Access all pre-recorded materials and go through them at your own pace to maximize your learning from the course. You’ll retain access even after the course is complete, allowing you to refresh your knowledge at any time!

Pre-recorded Sessions with all Materials You Need

Complete the home assignments on time and get personalised feedback from me on strengths and areas for improvements!

Weekly Projects and Personalised Feedback

Everyone will be completing their projects and submitting them to the designated channels, providing an opportunity for all to view each other's work.

Access to All Projects from Other Students 

Mid, Senior, Lead-level in Product Design and UX Research who are looking for a new role

Product Designers and UX Researchers who are struggling to secure their desired roles despite continuous applications

Anyone in Product Design and UX Research who has at least 3 years of experience in a company / freelance

Who is this course for

What you’ll get out of this course

Four modules include hands-on projects to create CV, Portfolio Case Study, Pitch, and Networking Outreach. Get personalised feedback to leave with "ready to be used" assets or strong templates.

Live Sessions and Personalised Feedback

Analyse common mistakes in CVs and learn the exclusive framework I've developed to highlight your skills, experiences, and impact with concise and powerful bullet points. Create a CV that stands out and receive personalised feedback from me.

Guidance on Building a Winning CV 

Review 5 examples of strong portfolios from Product Designers and UX Researchers at leading design-driven companies. Dive into the best and worst portfolio practices, and craft your own strong case study with personalized feedback from me.

Real Examples of Strong Portfolios 

Insider information on what to expect during skill assessment tasks and whiteboarding challenges, how to best prepare for them, and examples of how to present your hard and soft skills while solving problems.

Problem-Solving & Whiteboarding Session Tips

Overcome imposter syndrome by showcasing your achievements, impact, and goals in a way that inspires both you and your employer. Build confidence and success with methods like video prep, ice-breakers, and mental strategies.

Confidence Building

Learn what makes any pitch a strong pitch! Understand its key elements, how to best prepare, and the ways to build a connection with an interviewer to smoothly transition from the pitch to interview questions.

Pitch Development

Rethink what effective networking means and learn how to build it from day one. Enhance your outreaches with exercises and examples of both successful and unsuccessful networking to boost your success.

Networking Essentials

Learn how to better understand ambiguous job descriptions and role requirements through real-life examples of job posts. Discover what questions you can ask and how to prepare your CV, portfolio, and yourself to show that you are a match for any role you decide to apply for.

Role Clarity

Learn how to get recruiters' feedback and handle ghosting by creating effective follow-ups.

Feedback and Persistence

Build a strong portfolio and CV, master your pitch, and gain the confidence to become the candidate that employers can’t ignore.
 

Lena Kul

Design Recruitment & Job Search Advisor | Founder at ku:l | ex-Miro

Cohort 4

Feeling stuck in a role where you’re merely executing someone else’s ideas? Ready to move beyond just moving pixels and start leading the charge in shaping product strategy? Unsure how to make that next jump in your product design career? This course is your blueprint for making that leap—from being perceived as a pixel pusher to becoming a strategic partner and design leader. ———— What You’ll Gain: • A path to promotion: Build the skills that get you noticed—and promoted. Learn how to align your design work with business objectives, influence product direction, and lead strategic conversations that drive decision-making. • Practical tools for immediate impact: Get templates, frameworks, and real-world strategies that you can apply immediately to increase your influence and visibility within your organisation. • Confidence to lead: Whether leading product discovery sessions, presenting your work to stakeholders, or managing cross-functional teams, you'll develop the confidence and skills to lead with authority. ———— This course is for ambitious designers who want to: Communicate the value of their work:• Learn how to articulate the impact of your designs in ways that resonate with stakeholders.• Master frameworks and templates to showcase your work’s alignment with business goals.• Gain tips for advocating for your work and driving its recognition. Lead product discovery sessions:• Understand how leading discovery can fast-track your career growth.• Use a proven discovery template to uncover actionable insights.• Get practical advice for running discovery sessions that lead to real outcomes. Present their work with conviction:• Use my versatile presentation structure to craft compelling narratives.• Cut through the noise of storytelling advice to use a tried and tested framework to communicate your work.• Request structured feedback in ways that improve your designs and your reputation.• Get access to the slide deck I used to land my last role. Shape the future of their product:• Learn stakeholder management strategies and frameworks.• Practical advice for aligning leadership, planning workshops and driving a cohesive product vision.• A three-part framework to transform your role. ———— Is this course right for you? This course is perfect for product designers ready to take control of their careers, get promoted, and make a real impact.However, it might not be the right fit if: • You’re looking for design tool instruction: This isn’t a Figma tutorial or a beginner’s guide to design.• You’ve never worked in a design role: This course assumes you have some design experience.• You’re not in the tech industry: Our focus is on tech-driven product design. ———— Ready to take the next step in your design career? Enrol now to start your transformation into a design leader.

From pixel pusher to design leader

Live sessions will be held to discuss the modules' content, visualize the frameworks, and answer questions.

Every Monday

Completing the projects before the end of the week Q&amp;A sessions will help you identify areas where you want more context and feedback.

Weekly projects

A Q&amp;A session to go through any questions you might have about the course content and the projects.

Every Friday

Aspiring design leaders: For designers aiming to transition into leadership roles, seeking to increase their influence.

Ambitious designers: Junior to mid-level designers aspiring to senior and beyond roles, eager to be seen as strategic partners.

Overlooked design teams: Where advocacy is critical to elevate the role of design within product and engineering-led organisations.

Learn to connect your design work to business objectives, speak the language of stakeholders, and demonstrate tangible value. <ul><li>Frameworks to help understand the business environment.</li><li>Templates to communicate your projects.</li><li>Tips for advocating for your work.</li></ul>

Showing value and connecting your work to business goals

Ensure you solve the right problems with the right solutions. Gather insights, validate assumptions, and lead discovery sessions that engage cross-functional teams.<ul><li>Templates, tips and tricks for running discovery sessions with practical outcomes.</li></ul>

Drive product discovery

Present your designs in a way that leads the conversation and drives decision-making. <ul><li>A versatile template for presenting your work.</li><li>Adapting storytelling frameworks to design work.</li><li>A template for requesting structured feedback.</li></ul>

Showcase your work

Transform your role from executing tasks to building alignment and mapping out the future of the product. Gain the skills to influence product direction.<ul><li>Stakeholder management frameworks and tactics.</li><li>A structured process for approaching alignment and vision work.</li></ul>

Position yourself as a key strategic player 

Become a strategic partner by connecting design with business, driving discovery, and crafting compelling narratives that build alignment.

Dan Winer

Transform your career with insights from a seasoned design leader

Winter 2024

Spring 2025

As an experienced designer, you want to make the right next career move. Meanwhile, landing a new role is harder than ever. The industry is evolving rapidly, the job market feels unfamiliar, and some skills no longer seem to matter. Approaching your job search without a strategy isn't an option anymore. Throughout my career, I’ve zigged when most others zagged. As a candidate, I learned to pick the right companies (leading to 4 exits), tell compelling stories (leading to consistent offers), and tailor my messaging to each company (leading to multiple, competing offers). As an in-house designer, I've hired design leaders for top roles. As a leadership coach, this year I've taught designers at all levels how to land new roles and that propel their careers forward. In&nbsp;Career &amp; Job Search Strategy for Designers, I'll help you optimize your job search with my MBA-level business insights and hands-on exercises focused on two critical areas: Building your career &amp; job search strategy and mastering design job search tactics to target, find, and successfully apply to opportunities that will be great for your career. If you want to stand out in a sea of competition, find the right next opportunity, get a foot in the door with leading companies, and land a better design job faster, this course is for you.

Accelerate your design career in any job market

Build an effective career and job search strategy with business lessons, Ryan's proprietary career frameworks, and hands-on exercises.

Saturday: Design Career Strategy

Learn &amp; practice key tactics to encourage inbound leads and make your outbound efforts more effective, including revising your portfolio case studies and avoiding common messaging mistakes.

Sunday: Design Job Search Tactics

Drop in for career strategy feedback or portfolio critique after you've had time to implement the learnings from our workshop.

Two bonus Office Hour sessions

Experienced Senior to Principal ICs who are considering a change or actively seeking roles that align to their long-term career goals.

Experienced Managers, Senior Managers, &amp; Directors who want to make sense of new market conditions and reposition themselves accordingly.

NOT for junior or aspiring designers. This course will only resonate with designers who have had 3+ previous full-time design roles.

Who this course for

What you’ll get out this course

Designers often apply too broadly to too many jobs. Avoid burnout by targeting the right companies where your application is more likely to succeed.

A winning strategy for the roles you should be targeting

Gain a deep understanding of how factors like business stage &amp; ROI-based decision making shape what companies look for. Learn to position &amp; communicate strengths &amp; skills—and describe your work's outcomes—in relation to the company's goals.

An MBA-level understanding of key business factors that affect hiring decisions

In class, we'll review and dial-in your case study stories with hands-on feedback on your portfolio website and on-site portfolio presentations. Learn what notes to hit, and what mistakes to avoid.

Polished case studies that are more likely to land & win interviews

Asking smart questions makes you stand out as an insightful candidate and gives you data to know whether the company is the right fit for you, too. Get Ryan's top questions, and learn how to build your own questions that give you the insight you need.

A list of questions YOU should ask in interviews

Applying to design roles is unlike anything else. We have to build perfect portfolios, explain the value of Design to non-designers, and are judged on project criteria that we don't have full control over.

A career & job search course designed just for Designers

We'll go beyond lecture &amp; frameworks, actively working through exercises together in real-time. Every step of the way, Ryan will help you dial-in your strategy and deliverables to accelerate your job search.

Live hands-on instruction & real-time 1:1 feedback

Build the right strategy & leverage uncommon tactics to land an exceptional design role.

Lightning Lessons

Nail Your Call with a Recruiter as a Product Designer