Right now the usually reliable glassdoor.com says there are 1,454 jobs open around Seattle with “UX” in the title, and another 2,306 with “visual design.” While the opportunities truly do abound, you might wonder what kind of portfolio (and resume and LinkedIn profile) you’d need to get a second look. Let us seek the answer from a very experienced talent recruiter who has seen hundreds of portfolios from the exquisite to the painful.

Dave Miller is the principal recruiter for Artefact, a 100-plus person design consultancy that uses human-centered design to solve complex problems and create timeless experiences. Before joining Artefact, Dave was the director of recruiting for the staffing firm, 24 Seven. He was also an account manager for The Creative Group and a technical recruiter for Volt. A graduate of the Art Institute of California-San Diego, Dave is the director of community outreach for AIGA Seattle.