I am more than 6 years in design: Industrial, Graphic, Web, CX, UX, UI. I was federal design tutor and methodologist, co-owner of IT business. Now I have my own design bureau. Also I am passionate about fashion, expesially shoes.
After two years in industrial design, in 2020 I changed to UX/UI. Then in 9 month I became Head of Design: I made from scratch multidisciplinary design department of 7 persons. I was worked with:
In 2022 March I moved from Russia and started looking for a new job. I passed 80 interviews during 2 monthes. Was severe labour market crisis, but at the end I chose from 3 great offers from US and EU. Salary was thrice time better than in Moscow (when I was Head of Design).
Then I worked 1 year as Product designer in EU company App-Smart. I designed food-tech products and performed UX analysis of German, Denmark, United Kingdom, Ireland and Switzerland audiences. Now I do webinars to help people find a job and mentoring people.
Career guidance, CVs, portfolios, interviewing, LinkedIn, Career consulting and others
Product, UX/UI, Web, graphic design, automotive design, industrial design and illustration, art direction and creative leadership and other directions
Public speaking, Work and life balance, Copywriting, Teaching, Communication with management, Idea generation and other skills
Tell me your request and we will discuss it. I will tell you if I can help you. Maybe recommend a mentor I know, if I can't help myself
Finally an offer after a morally hard six months of job searching. EVERYTHING was updated in the portfolio. I really liked Ilya's easy-going, relaxed approach to work, which is evident in everything. It may at first seem that he is not serious about it or something, but in fact, you just need to take it lightly and everything will be much better))) During the mentorship with Ilya I even managed to work with him as a Lead Designer, as Ilya provided a freelance project, where problems appeared and we solved them together in the end. From his part, Ilya is ready to help with job search and advice in every way possible.
Also due to price fluctuations Ilya offered to raise the price of the classes, but at my request he took into account my difficult financial situation and preferred to keep the mentorship even at the old price and not very intensive mode.
On the downside, perhaps it is my own fault, but the portfolio breakdown I had imagined a little differently, although in the end it did produce results, even though I sat on it for a very long time. Ilya puts the emphasis on full-blown case parsing rather than simplifying the work, which for me was very painful, but probably necessary
Then finally I got the cherished offer from a company from the UK, I am very happy about it, as it was a total match with the company and the team, which just might happen because of the quality of self-presentation in social networks and a clear understanding of their goals and desires in terms of job searching.
What was done with Ilya:
- formulation of goals, needs and desires for the job
- preparation for the interview (only 1 time, but super helpful)
- developing a job search strategy (Ilya has many of them, believe me)
- Complete portfolio update with tips and comments from Ilya
- work on relaxation, work-life balance, generation of ideas
- heart-to-heart talks and a billion relaxation memes
PS! I think I was the first person on Ilya’s mentorship and I had a difficult situation as I was working a full time job and trying to find work, which is super mega difficult for both me and Ilya as there was super little energy and time left. And Ilya has his own experience of surviving extreme time pressure and no rest, and it helps a lot as he gives valuable advice and tips. I like him and recommend him to everyone!
I was lucky to meet Ilya when I was just getting to grips with Linkedin functionality. I didn't know or understand much about how to design my page to be attractive to potential employers. Ilya enlightened me on job search issues, helped me to design my LinkedIn page and gave me very detailed feedback on my CV. Now I am more confident in offering my services to employers. My page and resume look professional and HR companies are more willing to respond to my requests. I recommend contacting Ilya if you want to increase your attractiveness on the market!
I want to share my experience of working with Ilya.
First of all, I want to highlight Ilya’s positive and friendly attitude, which I noticed during our first interaction. Initially, I asked him for advice on job searching on LinkedIn. However, a couple of months later, I reached out to him for mentoring support. Our work together took place in a calm and friendly atmosphere. We mapped out a plan and tackled each point step by step.
Thanks to Ilya's well-posed questions, I gained a clearer understanding of what I wanted to convey in my profile and CV. Ilya then devoted a lot of attention to the wording, ensuring that every line conveyed information, rather than just connecting adjacent phrases. The "cherry on top" was the visual appeal of my resume.
Once we finished with the CV, we went over potential interview questions, which amounted to around fifty or more.
The result of all this work was a job offer that came about a month after we started working together.
I am very pleased that I got connected with Ilya. It's hard to imagine that I could have worked so productively and comfortably with another mentor. As they say, tested by personal experience, so I recommend him to anyone searching for their dream job.
The best mentor! 😊 I reached out to Ilya on the recommendation of a friend. At first, I didn’t have a clear idea of what to expect from the consultations—I only had some general wishes and questions. In the end, working with Ilya turned out to be the best decision I could have made. I received an offer from the place I wanted to work at and, overall, found a job fairly quickly.
During the consultations, Ilya answered my questions, helped me create a job search plan, and assisted with my resume and LinkedIn profile setup. Throughout our collaboration, he shared an enormous amount of valuable information.
After the consultations, I felt much more confident in my skills, and I approached interviews with that same confidence 😎
For me, this was the perfect mentoring experience, with support from the beginning all the way to receiving the offer.
A big thank you for this experience!
After moving to a new country, I faced the challenge of finding a job. My lack of confidence and unfamiliarity with the job market created certain difficulties. In this situation, I was advised to seek help from Ilya Bondar.
After I reached out to Ilya, we arranged a meeting. He suggested that I fill out a questionnaire before our interview to make the most efficient use of our time. The meeting went well. Ilya made it clear that I had many skills and extensive work experience that I had somehow overlooked. We created a LinkedIn profile and updated my resume. He then gave me recommendations on how to work with LinkedIn and how to present myself there. We scheduled another meeting for a week later to evaluate the results and address any potential issues. The second meeting was just as productive, and I was left with no doubts about what I needed to do.
I’m writing this review from the office of my new job. Although I didn't find the job on LinkedIn due to my lack of confidence in my English, the updated resume and acquired skills gave me the confidence to continue my search, which led to finding a job on HeadHunter. I will definitely recommend Ilya as a great specialist. I would describe him as a "psychologist" who understands the algorithms of social networks for job searching and helps you realize your strengths and weaknesses.
You're a really cooool mentor, thanks for helping me understand LinkedIn and CV and how to communicate with other people🤧Your tips and advice have been super duper helpful and helped me create a cool profile that looks professional and attractive to potential employers! 🙌I'm so happy I found you and got so much useful info Without you I would have figured out how to make my avatar picture.Arigato, Ilya-senpai!
Even though we had one session (since I managed to find a job quickly), Ilya’s mentorship was still very helpful. He helped me pay attention to my strengths and highlighted what I should focus on in my answers at the interview, which subsequently helped me feel more confident.
It's no secret that finding a work is also a work. I was very lucky that Ilya agreed to help me. We worked on my CV, completely changing and improving it. We worked on my LinkedIn profile. Ilya was not just talking, after each call he sent me notes and other materials and vacancies that I might not have written down or even missed. I have to say straight away, the profile changed so much that I wanted to hire myself.It wasn't long before a recruiter wrote to me for the first time in ages. It was the first time I got excited, because it wasn't me who wrote and asked for the job, it was me, with an offer. Plus Ilya prepared me for the interview and even more, when I was hired Ilya helped me with advice on how to conduct myself in a team, how to understand the tasks that the product manager set me and how not to be afraid of work. I got rid of the imposter syndrome and fear, and now I'm a designer in the company thanks to this man.I am happy that such people exist. And I am even happier that I have met Ilya on my career path. Thank you.
(During the Job Search):
I took a mentorship with Ilya. Right from the start, I appreciated that he explained all the possible formats for our sessions and helped me choose the best one. Regarding the sessions themselves, I really enjoyed them—they were cool, engaging, and, most importantly, lively!!! That’s a crucial aspect for me. We worked together for a month, with four sessions, and I learned a lot of new things, such as how LinkedIn works and how to set it up. I also significantly improved my CV and wrote drafts of cover letters, which, by the second week of our work, began bringing me more responses and, consequently, more opportunities!
I can definitely recommend Ilya as a mentor! 🔥
I really enjoyed the atmosphere during the sessions. It was calm and relaxed. At the same time, Ilya provided a tremendous amount of information, so it was not only comfortable but also very beneficial.
After each session, I felt like I was actually doing well. I have a very strong case of imposter syndrome, and it often seems like everyone around me is doing a better job than I am. Somehow, he managed to quiet that feeling.
It’s nice that Ilya is focused not just on conducting the session but on achieving results, and it's clear that he invests a lot of time and effort into it.
Throughout the process, I received a lot of feedback, and it felt like I wasn’t alone and had someone to turn to if needed.
I had previously worked with a mentor who helped me put together a portfolio, but that doesn’t compare to the work we accomplished in just one month. It was very quick.
As for drawbacks, I felt there wasn’t enough information on which specific Telegram chats are currently relevant. Maybe some other alternative options could have been suggested that are equally effective. I mainly relied on online solutions because I’m too shy to look for offline opportunities.
The main feature of this service, in my opinion, is Ilya himself. His knowledge, skills, ability to convey information, and the calm atmosphere he creates helped me become more confident, expand my competencies, and, of course, find a job.
I would definitely recommend him to friends, especially juniors who have no idea how to approach the job search or how to assess themselves—or to anyone who is simply afraid to take the first step.
(After Completing the Job Search):
I’d like to write a great review about my mentorship with Ilya!
Our acquaintance began in June 2023, and we had a month of intensive work ahead of us. I want to note that I skipped the trial call because Ilya was able to clearly and comprehensively explain how our work would be structured from the very first messages.
I started at a point where I had been unable to find a permanent job in design for over a year and a half after completing my training courses. With Ilya, we filled in some of my knowledge gaps, explored job search hypotheses, revised and adapted my CV, and under his guidance, I put together a successful new case for my portfolio and practiced interview skills.
After the sessions, the results didn’t take long to show, and a month and a half later, I was offered a job at a company where I have successfully passed the probation period. I suspect the company’s leaders found me because I started building my personal brand and became more active on LinkedIn.
I want to highlight that during the mentorship, everything—from communication to the work itself—was as easy and comfortable as possible. From the first call with Ilya, it felt like we had known each other for a long time.
I can 100% recommend Ilya’s mentorship to all designers, whether you’re just starting or already working. Even now, I still have questions, and I’m confident that Ilya will be able to provide thorough answers.
Additionally, I’d like to point out that Ilya always stays in touch, even after the mentorship ends, for which I’m especially grateful! 🙂🙃
I came to Ilya after six months of looking for a job. He is not only a professional, but also a sensitive person who knows how to support me in a difficult situation and motivate me to take action. The greatest outcome of this collaboration was the job I found within a few weeks, and I was looking for a job abroad. I consider it as a success.
I would like to thank Ilya Bondar for helping me last autumn during my job search. Ilya helped me to quickly get started on the difficult job search path, even in an overseas market... His structure, easy waiver and knowledge gave me confidence in my abilities and the drive to go and conquer the western market. We made a clear work plan to follow from the first meeting: CV / LinkedIn profile, packaging a basic "personal brand" on social networks... and all this in a couple of meetings.And, most importantly, Ilya's help is very much felt even after we've finished the work: from linking posts to memes and interesting articles in my personal account) Thank you very much for your care, help and open-mindness ❤️
Ilya is a wonderful person! I was looking for a job and decided to go to him for advice.We only spent 2 hours with him, but we managed to get my CV and portfolio in such order that I found a job within 2 weeks without any problems!
It's not enough for Junior designer to just look for a job, upload his resume and respond to all the vacancies that appear - you need a system, the right approach and a person who will give advice on how to do things! I was looking for a mentor for a long time and tried different services. And I was lucky! Ilya helped me to understand many nuances in job search, competent CV writing, portfolio recommendations. Thanks to mentoring sessions with Ilya I found my first job! For that I thank him very much!
Meeting Ilya was a turning point in my job search. Before that, I had been working with a career consultant for 3 months with no results. Ilya’s knowledge of the design field and market turned out to be a key factor in our successful collaboration. But let me go through everything step by step 🙂
First, I want to point out that Ilya has a very positive and confident approach to job searching, which was incredibly helpful, uplifting, and eased all my anxieties during this stressful process.
Second, if you (like me) are a designer looking for a career consultant, Ilya is the one to go to. He has a solid and deep understanding of the industry, along with diverse "on-the-ground" experience. My job search journey proved how crucial this is. Ilya helped me improve my portfolio and present my cases in the best possible light. With his help, I was able to see my portfolio from an outside perspective (believe me, I was too close to it), understand where there were gaps, and figure out how to address them with minimal time investment.
I will definitely reach out to Ilya again, but next time for advice on growth and development as a designer. And I will 1000% recommend him to my friends and colleagues! Ilya is a power!
I had one session with Ilya, during which I received an excellent analysis of my initial data and future prospects. Everything was as informative and friendly as possible. Ilya gave great advice on improving my LinkedIn profile and resume. I should note that after this, my profile views increased, and recruiters started reaching out to me more frequently. It's also important to mention that Ilya’s positive attitude instills confidence that everything will be awesome, which is just as important as having a strong CV and portfolio. Thank you, Ilya! 👍
I purchased consultations from several mentors in the design field while looking for a job, and I can confidently say that Ilya’s sessions are the most informative, open, and relaxed. It was very comfortable to talk to him, like chatting with a friend.
After the first session, I even gained more confidence in my level as a UX/UI designer, and the imposter inside me quieted down!
I appreciated that, in addition to the information provided during the sessions, Ilya would periodically check in on how my job search was going and would send me useful chats and additional recommendations.
Perhaps at times, I felt the information could have been more structured. It might be helpful to record the sessions or to provide a summary list of what was discussed, along with all the relevant links and resources.
But I definitely recommend Ilya as an experienced and motivating mentor who supports you even outside of sessions, for which I’m immensely grateful! I will reach out to him again, but since I’ve found a job, it will be for design-related questions instead!
After working as a designer at the company for three years, I realized I needed to find another job, preferably at an international company. However, since I found my first job almost by accident, I had no experience in job searching and no portfolio. There were two options: either to search on my own, going through trial and error to find a job, or to consult a specialist who could provide me with all the necessary knowledge for a successful job search in a short period of time. I chose the second option and consulted with Ilya.
Ilya helped me compile my portfolio and prepare my cases for Behance. I had many questions regarding the portfolio, and I was completely unsure about it — I didn't know how to present my work properly or whether they were professional enough. Ilya evaluated my work, gave me design advice on what could be improved, and we thoroughly worked on each case, analyzing the structure and content in detail. In the end, I had a complete and solid portfolio.
Ilya also worked with me to develop my CV, helping me structure all my experience and reflect it correctly. It was incredibly valuable to receive job search tips from Ilya — he told me how to use LinkedIn and about less obvious ways to search for jobs there. He provided me with scripts for job searching and recommended channels and websites where job searching is most effective right now.
Overall, I can definitely recommend his consultations to anyone who wants to quickly dive into the job search process without spending time on self-directed research and strategy development, and to those who need to improve or revise their portfolio and want a professional evaluation. The consultations helped me address all these issues. I think it’s possible to go through this process on your own, but it would take much more time, so in general, I’m satisfied with the results of my consultations with Ilya.
Course programme: