In her blog post “Debug your design interview journey, stage 1: Application,” Catt Small offers practical advice for designers aiming to enhance their job application process. She emphasizes the importance of securing referrals over submitting cold applications, as referrals are more likely to capture the attention of hiring managers. Small categorizes potential referrers into tiers, with former coworkers being the most impactful, followed by friends and family, acquaintances, and social media connections. She advises reaching out to high-quality connections and suggests offering referral bonuses as incentives. 
For those new to the industry or lacking strong connections, Small recommends building a network through local meetups, online events, and design communities such as Merit, UXDX, Design Operations Assembly, DesignX, and Design.Systems. She also highlights the importance of a well-crafted portfolio and résumé, ensuring they showcase the design process and are free from logistical oversights like missing passwords or outdated content. By focusing on these strategies, designers can improve their chances of progressing beyond the application stage. 
