143: UX Hiring Insights: Why It Can Take 12 Weeks to Fill UX Roles with Heather Cassar, VP of People)

If you’re in a UX job search and wondering, “Is it just me, or is UX hiring slower than ever?” you’re not imagining it. In this episode, we chat with Heather Cassar, VP of People at Narmie (a fintech startup) who brings 15+ years of experience leading hiring, people strategy, and global team growth at companies like Cash App, Uber, Block, and more. Heather brings first hand experience about what's actually happening in UX and Product hiring, on both the startup and enterprise side.In our conversation, we dig into why companies may take longer to hire, what’s changing in how hiring decisions are made, and what UX candidates can do to stand out, even when it feels like you’re sending resumes into a void.Whether you’re actively applying or quietly watching the market, this episode will give you perspective and relief. Heather breaks down what’s happening behind the scenes of hiring pipelines right now and reminds us: just because it’s taking longer doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. There are still ways to stand out, you just need a UX job search strategy that reflects the reality of today’s job market.Check out Narmi's careers page here to see if they're hiring for UX roles!Topics discussed:Why it now takes 12+ weeks (or more) to hire for UX rolesWhat’s causing hesitation on both sides of the hiring tableHow candidate caution is slowing down the top of the funnelWhy Heather says contract roles are NOT a red flag, and can lead to full-timeWhat hiring managers actually look for in resumes and portfoliosTips for standing out even when the job market feels saturatedThe value of clarity, connection, and showing real outcomesHow to tell your story without overselling or downplaying your experienceTimestamps:00:00 – Intro & about Heather’s background00:45 – Why UX hiring feels “wild” right now04:00 – What’s slowing down the hiring process from the company side06:30 – The return of more rigorous headcount approval07:15 – Why candidates are hesitant to even take recruiter calls08:30 – The emotional risk of leaving one “meh” job for another09:15 – Are contract roles bad? Heather’s surprising take10:30 – Why contract roles aren’t a red flag to hiring managers11:30 – What companies actually want to see on a resume12:30 – The importance of storytelling over perfection13:45 – How Heather screens for “intentionality” in candidates15:00 – The challenge of employer branding at smaller companies16:10 – Why “unicorn” job descriptions confuse candidates17:20 – Heather’s thoughts on AI-generated portfolios and resumes18:30 – Referrals vs. cold applications: which one matters more?19:45 – Heather’s take on design exercises and case studies22:30 – Why clarity + connection beats overly polished language25:15 – Common mistakes candidates make in storytelling28:45 – How to stay confident during a slow job search34:10 – Heather’s advice to mid-career UX pros feeling stuck40:25 – Closing thoughts & where to connect with Heather💸 See how I help UX & Product people get 5-figure salary increases in my UX job search coaching program👋 Follow me, on LinkedIn, Instagram, & YouTube.