If you're a designer struggling to land an in-house role in 2025, you're not alone. The traditional job application process is broken.

Did you know there is a backdoor into amazing companies? Contract-based design opportunities offer a proven path to full-time positions. Here's exactly how to use this strategy to break into the in-house role you've been chasing.

Why Getting Hired as a Designer Is So Hard Right Now

Applying for design jobs through company career pages feels like throwing your resume into a black hole. You're competing with thousands of other talented designers, UX researchers, and product designers for every posted position.

Even with a stellar portfolio and years of experience, your application can get lost in Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) or overlooked by overwhelmed hiring managers. The problem isn't your qualifications—it's the process itself.

The reality: Most design job openings receive 250+ applications. Your chances of standing out? Slim.

The Contract-to-Full-Time Path for Designers

Here's what many designers don't know: major companies regularly hire contract designers without even posting the roles online.

Contract design roles typically start as 6-month engagements where you work directly with internal design teams. You're not an outsider—you're embedded with the team, working on real products, shipping to real users, and collaborating with product managers, engineers, and other designers daily.

In many cases, these roles can lead to full-time positions after a few months. Think about it as a mutual trial period. You get to see whether the company’s culture, leadership, and design process align with how you like to work—and they get to see your craft, collaboration style, and impact firsthand. It’s one of the few hiring models where both sides actually get to try before they buy.

Why You Might Consider Opening Yourself to Contract Opportunities

• Less competition: Many contract positions are never posted publicly. Design leaders and hiring managers work directly with specialized recruiting agencies to fill these roles quickly. You're competing with dozens of candidates instead of thousands.

• Show what you're capable of on the job: Instead of convincing a hiring manager you're great through portfolio presentations and behavioral interviews, you demonstrate your skills by actually doing the work. You show—not tell—that you're a strong designer who delivers results.

• Inside track to permanent positions. Once you're working with a team, you become the obvious choice when a full-time design role opens up. You've already built relationships, demonstrated the value you bring to the team and you already understand the product and users. Hiring managers often prefer to convert proven contractors over rolling the dice on external candidates.

• Build your portfolio with recognizable work. Even if a contract doesn't convert to full-time, you gain legitimate experience at well-known companies, strengthen your portfolio with high-impact projects, and expand your network within the industry.

How to Find Contract Design Opportunities

The biggest challenge with contract roles? Visibility. Since many never contract roles never get posted on job boards, how exactly do you find these longer-term retained contract opportunities?

Specialized design staffing agencies like Design Humans™️ have direct relationships with hiring managers. When a design director or VP of Design needs contractors, these agencies are often their first call.

The advantages of having a recruiter advocate for you:

• Access to unlisted opportunities before they're posted publicly or never posted at all

• Direct portfolio reviews with someone who understands design work and can represent you effectively

• Insider knowledge about team culture, project types, what hiring managers prioritize, and conversion rates

• Active advocacy where recruiters pitch your work directly to decision-makers

• Guidance on positioning yourself for contract-to-full-time conversion success

Instead of your portfolio disappearing into an ATS, it lands directly in front of the design leaders who can hire you.

How Contract Work Can Lead to Full-Time Offers

Not every contract converts to full-time, but you can significantly improve your odds:

1. Deliver consistently excellent work. This sounds obvious, but quality execution is your strongest conversion factor. Meet deadlines, communicate proactively, and ship polished designs.

2. Integrate with the team culture. Show up to team meetings, contribute to critiques, build relationships with cross-functional partners, and demonstrate you're invested in the team's success.

3. Communicate your interest early. Let your manager know you're interested in full-time opportunities. Don't wait until week 24 of a 26-week contract.

4. Understand the conversion timeline. Ask your recruiter or manager about typical conversion timelines and what the process looks like. Some companies plan conversions from the start; others need budget approval.

5. Keep performing even as your contract ends. Continue delivering strong work through your last day. Many contract extensions or full-time offers come at the eleventh hour.

Ready to explore contract or freelance design opportunities? Connect with us!