John Smith

Senior UX Design Manager @ Apple | ex-Google, ex-Microsoft
5.0
(166 reviews)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 165 Reviews | Live & daily async UX mentorship
United States of America Active today Usually responds in a few hours

Services

$820 / month

Includes a call every two weeks + daily email/chat/feedback on artifacts

2 calls per month (30min/call)

Unlimited Q&A via chat

Expect responses in 3-4 days

Hands-on support

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About

My job placement rate is 94%. I help designers and product professionals land roles, earn promotions, and stay competitive in an AI-driven tech industry.

A little about me:
I currently lead product design for Apple Intelligence across iOS (Messages, FaceTime, Mail, Phone, Contacts, etc). I’ve served on hiring committees across Apple, Google, and Microsoft. I know exactly how candidates are evaluated and how to help you stand out.

Here are the results from the past 12 months (April 2025 to March 2026, Sample of 42 mentees):
✅ 39/42 mentees landed full-time roles at design-mature companies or Series B-D startups
✅ Median time from portfolio overhaul to offer: 7 weeks
(Anonymized data available upon request)

My mentorship is structured in 2 parts:

1. Daily offline support
You get daily written feedback, structured guides, examples, portfolio reviews, interview feedback, and clear next steps between calls, so you always know exactly what to improve and why. Progress happens between sessions, not during them.

2. Live calls using a funnel-based approach
I run structured studies with recruiters and hiring managers every six months to better understand how candidates are evaluated and what separates those who get interviews from those who don't. Combined with my experience serving on hiring committees at Apple, Google, and Microsoft, this gives you practical, up-to-date guidance based on how hiring decisions are actually made.

📊 2026 Q1 outcomes
• 14 mentees went from 0 interviews to 3-4 onsite interviews after redesigning a single case study with me
• 1 career switcher landed their first UX role in under 3 months after more than a year of no traction
• 2 new graduates requiring visa sponsorship landed UX roles within 19 weeks after building real client work and turning it into compelling case studies
• 9 mentees secured roles at top tech companies

Now offering a free, no-commitment intro call 📞
I’ll reply within 24 hours to schedule
We’ll start with a short career worksheet and I’ll map out a clear, personalized plan

What mentees say

5 out of 5 stars

Hang

Hang

Lite Plan • 11 months

Hang wrote 1 more review for the same mentorship

5 out of 5 stars

When I started looking for mentorship, I wanted clarity, how to strengthen my case studies, build a more focused portfolio, and grow my interview skills. John provided exactly that and more. He has a thoughtful, attentive approach and always makes sure his feedback translates into clear, actionable steps. Together we worked on refining my case study narratives, analyzing the job market to focus on the right opportunities, and sharpening my interviewing skills through whiteboarding practice. Every session left me with concrete next steps and a better sense of direction. The impact has been huge. I now feel more confident telling my story, more strategic about how I position myself, and more prepared for the interview process. John is resourceful, honest, and genuinely invested in helping you grow. If you’re a designer navigating uncertainty and looking for a mentor who can provide sharp insights, practical tools, and thoughtful guidance, John is the kind of mentor who can help you unlock your potential.

Hang

Hang

5 out of 5 stars

Truly the best mentor! Goes above and beyond, providing thoughtful, detailed advice and practical tools on anything you ask about. From case studies and interview prep to design challenges, industry knowledge, resumes, and cover letters, I learned so much. I’m incredibly grateful for everything and will carry it with me into my future roles.

Harriet

Harriet

Pro Plan • 6 months

5 out of 5 stars

John was phenomenal. I went back and forth for a while on whether I even needed a mentor and tried to figure everything out on my own first. Looking back, I wish I had worked with him sooner. He completely changed how I approach my portfolio, resume, and interviews. He helped me turn my work into a clear, structured story, refine my resume to match what recruiters are actually looking for, and prepare for interviews in a way that feels natural and confident. Before working with him, I struggled to explain my work and wasn’t sure if I was on the right track. Now I go into interviews feeling prepared, confident, and much clearer in how I present my experience. Within a few weeks of refining my portfolio, I started getting traction with interviews. What stood out most was how honest and practical his feedback was. Nothing felt generic or surface-level. Every session had clear, actionable next steps, and I always knew exactly what to improve. Really grateful for his help. It made a much bigger difference than I expected.

Taylor

Taylor

Lite Plan • 1 year

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This is how real progress happens

Mentees who work with a mentor for 3+ months reach their goals 2x faster than those going it alone. Long-term mentorship means fewer false starts, more focused sessions, and support that builds week after week.

97% satisfaction across all mentors

Personalized feedback and growth plans

Trusted by thousands of mentees

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