Visit John Smith on MentorCruise

Services

$550 / month

Includes daily email/chat/feedback on artifacts + 1 call a month

1 call per month (30min/call)

Unlimited Q&A via chat

Expect responses in 3-4 days

Hands-on support

Book an intro call

No credit card required

$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

Book an intro call

No credit card required

$1080 / month

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

4 calls per month (30min/call)

Unlimited Q&A via chat

Expect responses in 24 hours or less

Hands-on support

Book an intro call

No credit card required

Starting from

$550 / month

1~4 calls/month depending on plan

Unlimited Q&A via chat

Expect responses in 72 hours or less

Book an intro call

See all plans No credit card required

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About

The UX design job market is tough, but I’m here to help:
📈 92% of mentees secure interviews within 6 weeks of updating their portfolio with me
🏢 87% land roles at design-mature companies or high-growth startups
⏱ Median time from portfolio overhaul to offer: 12 weeks
(*Stats updated January 2026. Based on 3 years of tracked outcomes. Happy to share raw stats)

Two things set me apart as a mentor:

1. Funnel-based mentoring — Every 6 months, I run structured studies with recruiters and hiring managers to reverse-engineer how the hiring funnel actually works.
We optimize for where candidates get filtered out, not just “make the portfolio prettier.”

2. Deep offline support — Between calls, I give daily written feedback, structured guides, and clear next steps. You’ll never be left guessing what to do next.

I currently lead UX for Apple’s core communication apps — Messages, FaceTime, Mail, Phone and Contacts. I’ve designed mass-scale products at Google and Apple, and I’ve served on hiring committees at Apple, Google, and Amazon. I know what actually moves a candidate from maybe to hire.

Let’s connect! I’ll get back to you within 24 hours to set up a free introductory call 📞.
Our first call involves a career worksheet 📋, and from there, I’ll provide a structured plan.

What mentees say

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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

Standard Plan • 24 months • February 28, 2026

Davon wrote 2 more reviews for the same mentorship

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!

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.

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

Lite Plan • 23 months • January 26, 2026

Marta wrote 1 more review for the same mentorship

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.

I reached out to John when I felt stuck in my role and lacked the confidence and structure to take the next step in my career. His continuous motivation, structured approach to building case studies, and detailed guidance helped me grow in my current role, create a strong portfolio, feel confident in interviews, and land my next role with ease. Working with John was a true investment in my professional growth, and I 100% recommend him to anyone looking for an excellent mentor and an honest, supportive relationship.

Andriana

Lite Plan • 35 months • April 14, 2025

Andriana wrote 1 more review for the same mentorship

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John Smith

John Smith

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