I was contacted by a hiring manager on LinkedIn, and then we had a call where I was asked about my experience, accomplishments, and other topics related to the designer role. I wouldn't say it was a difficult interview, but at the end, I was told that there are other candidates with more experience and whose backgrounds are more aligned with the company's field. On one hand, I appreciate the honesty. Thank you. On the other hand, my portfolio and CV provide enough information to draw conclusions about my experience, so we could have avoided spending time on the call. My personal take is that unless you’re building rockets or solving quantum gravity physics, there's no such thing as a designer lacking industry-specific experience. The design process is fundamentally the same everywhere, and a great designer can solve any problem given to them. Experience from other fields is actually a benefit that can bring a fresh perspective. So after a week of thinking, they decided not to move forward with my application.