FAQs

Everything we know about design recruitment and coaching…

Career development

  • A coach who is more advanced in their career can help you learn from their mistakes - and the successes they've enjoyed - throughout their career. We have some highly experienced designers, recruiters and business leaders on our panel who specialise in different aspects of the design world and career development more generally. Find out more.

  • There are numerous ways you can make your portfolio hit the right notes with a prospective employer but the most important factor is to make it truly representative of your skills and who you are as a designer. Don't be afraid to show what matters to you but remember to cover aspects that matter to them too (demonstrating your experience for example). We have some fantastic resources dedicated to this subject.

  • Your online presence is absolutely vital to enhancing your chances of being spotted by people looking for talent so it's important to spend some time on making it shine. We have some top tips for doing just that right here on our blog.

  • Many designers relocate to the UK or Europe - it's a great place to live and work with a buzzing design community where you can share ideas and learn from some of the world's best designers. But the red tape can be intimidating! Our founder Meg Rye, herself a US ex-pat, shares her top tips for relocating to the UK.

  • Yes! This is one of the key services we offer. We work with some of the world's leading design and tech firms who are always hungry for new talent. Find out what roles we are recruiting for.

  • We certainly accept speculative applications. If you are looking to get matched and have an excellent CV and portfolio, we encourage you to head to our open application page. We will add you to our database and alert you when something comes up that could be a match. If, on the other hand, you feel your CV or portfolio could do with some work, we'd love to help. We offer one-off CV and portfolio review sessions with our expert coaches. Find out more.

  • Design is a very broad field and there are as many routes in as you can imagine. It's not always necessary to have formal qualifications as many firms are more interested to see your portfolio of work and the experience you have with other firms. However, if you're at the start of your design career, we are working on some new resources to help you. Sign up to be sure to get them!

  • There is a vast field of possible jobs that come under the broad umbrella of design. From games and app designers to team leadership and project management - the design world requires lots of different skills. Check out our list of design jobs and click to read the short descriptions. If you see something that sounds like you, head over to our careers page to see if we have anything that might fit.

  • We always have several roles we are recruiting for. These are often posted on LinkedIn (it’s a great idea to follow us to see these first) and we have roles that we are sourcing candidates for that are not available publicly. If you're an experienced designer with a great portfolio and CV, we would love to hear from you even if we don't currently have an advertised role that fits. Check out our current openings.

Coaching

  • Coaching is a specialized skill where people are trained to use supportive questioning methods to help you find your own answers and to develop your own action plan for career development. Our coaches are experienced designers, business leaders and recruiters so can offer insights based on their own experience as well. Past coachees have mentioned benefits like: "it helped me get unstuck", "I could see my problems in a different light" and "it gave me an external perspective". Find out more about coaching in this video.

  • All of our coaching is bespoke - we don't work to any predetermined programs but do have tried and tested methodologies. We offer both CV and portfolio reviews that are intended to be focused on those specific developmental subjects - designed to help you in your career. Other than this, we are guided by your own wishes and experiences towards an outcome tailored for you. Sign up for a Chemistry Session to discuss what you're looking to achieve and we can craft a program just for you.

  • Our coaches come from a variety of backgrounds including international design recruiter Meg Rye who is our founder; business administration, leadership and change management; product design leadership; UX design and product design. Learn more about our coaches.

  • Yes you totally get to choose your coach! Our coaching services are bespoke and we have a broad spread of skills, experience and personality types to offer. You can read about our coaches and book a free chemistry chat with those that you are keen to work with.

  • Our fees range from £350 for a single session, CV or portfolio review to a 12-month package of coaching with a senior leader costing £5,750. Coaching is a significant investment in yourself and it's rare for clients to complete their development within one session.

  • Yes there is. All our coaches offer free chemistry chats before you commit. It's important to understand that these 30 minute chats are not the same as coaching but they will give you an idea of whether you can connect with your chosen coach. You can have a chemistry session with more than one coach if you need to.

  • The best coaching candidates are those that are prepared to invest in themselves and will put in time and effort to do so. Showing up on time is a great start; being open to new ideas and to sharing your own thoughts and challenges is a major part of the process; working together on an action plan and following through with the tasks you set yourself will ensure you reach the outcomes you set out to.

  • Welcome, you're in good company. Many designers are neurodivergent - it's what makes us come up with new and unique ideas! We are committed to working with people's neuro needs and to tailoring our services to ensure we are inclusive - this is an important part of our values. You can also read our equity and diversity policy.

Recruitment

  • We certainly can. We have an expert team of recruiters headed by Meg Rye, our founder, who's worked with some of the biggest hitters in the design and tech world. We've created hiring programs from the ground up for some of the most well-known companies in the world, including Instagram, WhatsApp, The Athletic, Siemens, SAP, eBay and Havas. Find out more about our recruiting services.

  • Our top locations are UK, EMEA and USA but we source candidates for and from elsewhere in the world too. We're happy to hear from recruiting companies in any corner of the globe who are looking for top design talent. Find out more.

  • We recruit for major multi-national corporations, start-ups and high-growth design firms all over the world. We've worked with some of the biggest names in the business but this doesn't stop us using our expertise to help those firms that are ambitious to get started with great people or grow into the big leagues. Find out more.

  • Candidates pay nothing at all for our services, the recruiting company covers our costs. Our corporate recruiting fees are commercially sensitive but we believe we are competitive. We are fantastically well-connected with an incredible (and fast-growing) database of talent. As individuals we are well-respected in our fields and our coaching work means we have the inside track on the next generation of great designers. Our recruiting services are completely tailored to you so the best place to start is by contacting us.

  • Our recruitment services are comprehensive: from hiring a single individual with vetting and onboarding to multi-team, multi-location hiring programs; providing group coaching programs for team development and consulting on creating inclusive hiring practices, strategic positioning and more. Learn more about what we offer.

About Good Maven

  • We’re intentional about working with people who bring a diversity of experiences, perspectives, and ideas. We are committed to accessibility for people with disabilities, long-term conditions, mental health conditions, religious beliefs, and people who are neurodivergent or require other modifications, to make the most of your time with us. Read our equity and diversity policy.

  • We are passionate about being contributing members of the design community, and making positive social impact. We are committed to building equitable systems, policies and support within our own company and to advise our clients for steps they can take to be more inclusive. We also partner closely with UK charity Breaking Barriers to help refugees transition into living wage employment. For every coaching package purchased, we donate an hour of coaching to a refugee in need.

  • We are committed to leaving a small footprint on the planet while making a big impact in recruitment. From paperless processes and carbon-neutral operations to working with eco-conscious partners, we aim to build a sustainable future for our business and beyond.

  • Meg Rye is the founder of Good Maven. She’s been at the centre of the global design community for 20+ years, working with professionals to build ambitious and fulfilling careers. Meg holds a MSc in Arts Administration, Bachelor of Fine Arts and is an ACC qualified professional coach (ACTP ACSTH ICF). Find out more about Meg.