John Smith

Senior UX Design Manager @ Apple | ex-Google, ex-Microsoft
5.0
(165 reviews)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 165 reviews | 94% of my mentees land roles
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

I help designers land UX roles through a mentorship system that combines live calls with daily offline feedback.

Read 165+ mentee reviews below ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

A little about me:
I currently lead UX for Apple’s core communication apps including Apple Intelligence, Messages, FaceTime, Mail, Phone, and Contacts. 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
• 4 mentees went from 0 interviews to 3-4 onsite interviews within 5 weeks after restructuring a single case study
• 1 career switcher landed their first UX role in under 3 months after more than a year of no traction
• 2 mid-level designers earned promotions
• 2 new graduates requiring visa sponsorship landed UX roles within 19 weeks after building real client work and turning it into compelling case studies
• 3 mentees secured contract roles at top tech companies, with 2 converting to full-time positions

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

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

5 out of 5 stars

I can’t recommend John enough. When I first started working with him two years ago, I was a fresh bootcamp graduate struggling to find my footing. Thanks to his guidance, I didn’t just break into the design industry—I’ve already navigated a promotion from Associate to Mid-level designer in less than a year at my current company. John’s greatest strength is his structure. His resources and strategies are incredibly clear, which took the guesswork out of my professional development. Unlike some mentors who give vague advice, John provides actionable feedback that makes it extremely easy to identify and execute next steps. He has a deep understanding of the current market and knows exactly how to help a mentee plan for it. I am incredibly thankful for his support and would encourage any designer looking to level up to work with him.

Davon

Davon

Standard Plan • 2 years

Davon wrote 2 more reviews for the same mentorship

5 out of 5 stars

I can't thank John enough for his incredible mentorship over the past 8 months. His guidance and insights have been instrumental in advancing my UX design skills, helping me grow both creatively and strategically. John's personalized advice, actionable feedback, and support made a huge difference in my development as a designer. Thanks to his mentorship, I was able to land my first UX design role at an amazing company—a milestone I couldn’t have imagined without his help. If you're looking for a mentor who is genuinely invested in your success and growth, I highly recommend John!

Davon

Davon

5 out of 5 stars

I love working with John. He is very detail oriented, and has a structured plan. He is very knowledgeable in the field of design. My skills as a UX designer have improved so much in the last couple of months. He has tons of resources to help you succeed in crafting your portfolio and resume. John is always quick to respond to any questions and provides detailed feedback that sets you up for success. He provided tons of resources to be able to land real world experience jobs. I am confident I will be able to land a full time role with the continuing help from John.

Davon

Davon

5 out of 5 stars

I had a truly great experience working with John. From the very first session, I felt listened to and understood. His feedback was thoughtful, practical, and always tailored to my specific goals and challenges. What I appreciated most was his ability to ask the right questions - not just giving answers, but helping me think more clearly and confidently about my next steps. The sessions were well-structured, yet flexible, and always left me with concrete takeaways and a clear direction. I would highly recommend John to anyone looking for honest guidance, strategic thinking, and genuine support in their professional growt

Marta

Marta

Lite Plan • 2 years

Marta wrote 1 more review for the same mentorship

5 out of 5 stars

I had the privilege of being mentored by John, and it was a life-changing experience. John's expertise in our field is amazing, but what really makes him different is his deep empathy and great motivational skills. For me, the greatest obstacles were projects that were too numerous to handle efficiently. John helped me structure a strategic plan which helped me increase my productivity at large, while simultaneously reducing stress levels substantially. His approach is tailored; he takes the time to understand where I need the most help and then tailors his mentoring technique to that. John's feedback was always constructive and timely. The resources with which he provided me were of tremendous value and really directly applicable to my work. His responsiveness was really amazing, and he would go above and beyond to make you feel supported and appreciated. What really defines John is his ability to pivot according to my changing needs. Whether I needed detailed feedback or wanted advice on my professional journey, he always provided me with the most insightful level of help. The progress I made with John was exponential compared to any prior attempts to tackle these issues alone. Our mentoring meetings were always enlightening and enjoyable. One of the most memorable was when I was extremely stressed at work and felt overwhelmed by not fulfilling our plan. John helped me to know it wasn't my fault and never ever judged me for the setback. His empathy and reassurance during that time did wonders in helping me regain confidence and put things into perspective. Overall, I am greatly satisfied with John. His empathetic and motivational skills were what made my professional journey better. I definitely recommend John for those who want to be under the wing of a mentor whose support will definitely have a positive effect on their growth and development.

Marta

Marta

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