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Hey and welcome back to another week! 👋

When you are reading this I’m busy unpacking boxes and putting up furniture as I’m moving house at the moment. Therefore expect slightly fewer jobs this week and no portfolio review. I’ll be back in full swing next week with the content you know and love!

In this issue:

My Tool Stack For The Job Search: Whenever I wrote about these it resonated but actually my tool stack has gotten more lean.

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The Tools I Actually Use for My Design Job Search 🛠️

There are hundreds of tools out there for portfolios, resumes, tracking applications—you name it. But when it comes to your job search, more tools don't mean better results. What matters is using a lean, effective setup that helps you stay organized, present your work well, and prep like a pro.

Here’s the exact toolstack I personally use and recommend—tested across applications, interviews, and mentoring others.

1. Portfolio → Framer

There are plenty of ways to build a portfolio—and if you already have one on a modern, capable tool (like Webflow, Semplice, etc.), switching just for the sake of it may not be worth the time. You're better off improving your content than rebuilding everything from scratch.

But if you're still using Behance, Dribbble, only have PDF slides, or don’t have a portfolio at all—Framer is my go-to choice.

Framer continues to be my top recommendation for designers in 2025. It’s fast, flexible, and doesn’t require much technical know-how. Even better, it looks and feels like a real product.

Framer makes it easy to:

• Build multi-page sites with smooth animations

• Embed video or motion content

• Iterate quickly, without code

Framer’s free plan is also very generous. You can fully build and publish your portfolio—even without a custom domain. The only real limitations are a small badge in the corner and no custom URL. But if your portfolio is good, that won’t matter. Nobody is going to skip inviting you just because of those things.

Bonus: I recently built a portfolio in one of the new AI-powered prototyping tools, Lovable. These tools (Lovable, V0, etc.) make it super easy to get something polished up and online—even without traditional web skills. Here’s the LinkedIn post where I shared that example.

2. Tracking Applications & Notes → Notion

Notion is my go-to hub for tracking job applications, saving job listings, and keeping notes from interviews. It’s clean, flexible, and easy to update.

What I track in Notion:

• Every job I apply to (status, link, contact)

• Research and prep notes per company

• Responses or interview outcomes

• Interview prep notes and outcomes from ChatGPT sessions

When I prep interviews using ChatGPT (see section below), I also jot down takeaways and prep notes directly in my Notion tracker. That way, everything stays in one place and I can revisit it when similar roles come up.

This also includes structured interview prep—like noting what went well or what to follow up on—and any research or links I want to bring into future conversations.

Tip: Use a gallery or board view to sort by stage (e.g., Applied, Interviewing, Offer). This gives you a quick sense of where things stand.

3. Resume → Google Docs (ATS version) + Figma (custom version)

When applying to companies using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), you want something simple and parseable. Google Docs is perfect for that.

I keep a master resume file in Google Docs that contains all of my experience and skills. Whenever I apply, I duplicate the file and trim down the content to only include the most relevant points for that role. Quick, easy tailoring.

If I ever send a resume directly (e.g., via DM), I use a visual version designed in Figma. It’s still clean and readable—nothing overdesigned—but adds a bit more personality.

4. Interview Prep → ChatGPT (with voice) + My Custom GPT

Interview prep used to be tricky. Now, I use ChatGPT to simulate realistic interview scenarios—especially with my custom Interview Coach GPT. It lets you:

• Simulate real interviews based on the job description

• Practice follow-up questions

• Get immediate feedback on your answers

I recommend using it in voice mode—it makes the whole thing feel more like the real deal.

5. Networking & Finding the Right People → LinkedIn

It might sound obvious, but LinkedIn is still one of the most powerful tools you can use during your job search.

If you’re targeting a specific company, aim to connect with someone who works there—not to immediately ask for a referral, but to learn what it’s actually like to work there. Genuine conversations go a long way.

Make sure your LinkedIn profile tells a consistent story across your portfolio and resume. It doesn’t have to be a copy-paste—but it should align with the roles you’re aiming for and reflect your skills and experience clearly.

Done right, LinkedIn helps you:

• Stay visible in the right circles

• Discover open roles early

• Have meaningful, low-pressure conversations with people in the industry

That’s It—Lean and Effective

You don’t need a 12-tool setup to run a good job search. These five are enough to:

• Present yourself professionally

• Stay on top of every opportunity

• Practice in a way that builds real confidence

• Connect with the right people along the way

Let me know if you want a Notion template, a Framer walkthrough, or resume feedback—I’ll try to include more of that in future articles!

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That’s it for this week—thanks so much for the support! ♥️

If you’d like to support my efforts on Open Doors further you can buy me a coffee. If you ever got any value from my emails consider it so I can keep this newsletter free and available to everyone out there.

Do you want your own portfolio reviewed in-depth with a 30-minute advice-packed video review? Or do you require mentoring to figure out a proper strategy for your job search?

I got you!

• Book an in-depth portfolio or resume review with me

• Book a mentoring session with me

• Book a quick 15 min chat to ask a question and see if we vibe

Keep kicking doors open and see you next week!
- Florian