To say that the tech / tech adjacent job market is dismal right now is a bit of an understatement. What does this look like as far as numbers go? To get a better understanding of what the numbers mean in 2025, it’s good to know what the lead-up to this looked like. In 2023, over 190,000 tech workers were laid off in the US in mass-cut events and hiring demand in core tech categories began a multi-year slide. In 2024, the tech sector saw another ~95,000 layoffs in the US and many roles remained under hiring pressure. In the first half of 2025, ~80,000 tech jobs were cut in mass layoffs in the US.
To get a clearer picture of what it’s actually like to navigate this market, I turned to someone with deep experience in the field: Matthew Oliphant. With decades of work spanning design leadership, user experience, and digital strategy, Matthew has seen the tech and design industry evolve through its many highs and lows. His perspective offers valuable context for understanding what today’s job climate really means for professionals trying to stay relevant and employed.
I sent Matthew a short list of questions over LinkedIn to get his take on what it’s really like out there right now. His responses were honest, unfiltered, and probably mirror what a lot of us have been thinking, but don’t have the courage to say out loud.
What’s the biggest surprise in your job search over the past year?
Ageism is absolutely real and anyone who says otherwise is a fucking liar.
How’s the job market changed since the last time you were searching for a role?
There are so many people on the market now who actually know what they are doing and I am competing with them. It makes me not the obvious choice, which is a big change.
Have you noticed recurring patterns (like ghosting, overly long interview process, or unclear role expectations)?
I know from internal recruiters that there are plenty of ghost jobs and ghosting recruiters. Some of it is because they are overwhelmed with applications. Some because there are so many good candidates that they don’t have to be nice anymore. And some just keep posting the same jobs over and over because they are resume farming for when they actually get back to hiring.
What kinds of roles have you been targeting and have you had to expand or shift your criteria?
I’ve been looking for Research and/or Design leadership roles. I’m currently expanding into Product leadership roles. There isn’t a lot of likelihood I’ll be a good candidate for an IC role. I know too much—in the sense that I know companies like to use up ICs and I won’t stand for that.
Do you feel like your years of experience have been an asset or a barrier in this market?
Mostly a barrier. See question number one.
Have you had to reframe or “translate” your experience differently for today’s job descriptions or interviewers?
My first job title was Interface Design Specialist. So I’ve been reframing for a long time. But frankly, I am not sure how to reframe anymore due to how far I’ve drifted away from what UX has become.
Do you feel like the current market values depth of experience, or is it more focused on specialization and trendiness?
It’s almost always focused on specialization.
What’s the strangest or most frustrating experience you’ve had during the interview process?
What’s an interview? :) Sigh… The most frustrating thing is interviewing with hiring managers who aren’t very good at their jobs and watching them realize I know more than they do. 100% of the time their egos can’t handle that, even though I’ve no interest in their job.
How do you approach tailoring your resume or portfolio for each opportunity?
I don’t. Conventional Wisdom™ says I should, but I don’t.
Are there any tools or platforms that you’ve found especially helpful or disappointing in your search?
It’s all shite.
Do you think creative roles are being squeezed more in this job market (either devalued or consolidated)?
I think they’ve always been that way. It stands out more now due to the rise in layoffs and in “AI”. Business Leaders think they are the creatives and the creatives should be visualizing their ideas. Same ol’ same ol’ forever.
Have companies been clear about the scope of creating roles or are you seeing a lot of job descriptions that feel all over the place?
I think it’s a mix. Bigger companies that have been doing it a while know what they are doing. Smaller ones and/or ones run by someone who found themselves in this leadership role with no experience or support…not so much. But I don’t think this is new.
I got turned down for a job once because I didn’t have Ethnography on my resume. I did have Contextual Inquiry. Hiring manager was hiring by buzzword.
What would a meaningful or fulfilling next role look like for you?
To be in a chaotic place that wants the calm I bring. I want to help and I want the company to want my help.
Do you think you’ll stay in the field or has this time away led you to consider other directions?
I need to stay in tech to get the salary (I’ll note the ranges are already going down) I need to undo all the debt I’ve accrued over the past 1.5 years. But mostly I want out. I’m tired of having the same damn conversations. It’s exhausting.
What advice would you give to someone just entering the job market right now; especially in a creative or adjacent field?
You’ll only be able to move forward with a lot of luck and being connected to people who have decision-making capability to give you work. Being good at your job is (almost) not relevant. It helps a lot, but those two things are far more important.
Talking with Matthew was a reminder that behind every statistic is someone trying to keep their footing in an industry that keeps shifting under them. The honesty in his answers says what a lot of people are thinking but rarely say out loud.
If your company is lucky enough to be hiring right now, you’d be even luckier to have someone like Matthew on your team. He’s seen it all, done the work, and still cares enough to want to make things better.