Upgrade to Pro — share decks privately, control downloads, hide ads and more …

Acing the UX Job Hunt

Acing the UX Job Hunt

Newly revised! This is one of my favorite talks that I give to Laura Ruel's UX class at the University of North Carolina. I've updated this with more top tips! The talk covers how to prepare for the different phases of the interviewing process.

Michelle Chin

April 29, 2021
Tweet

More Decks by Michelle Chin

Other Decks in Design

Transcript

  1. ACING THE UX JOB HUNT
    MICHELLE CHIN


    PRINCIPAL DESIGN OPS MANAGER


    CITRIX


    4/29/21
    MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN

    View Slide

  2. • Masters in Interaction Design and
    Information Architecture (Univ. of
    Baltimore)


    • Product Designer -> Design Manager ->
    Design Ops Manager at Citrix


    • Hired designers and design managers


    • Struggled breaking into the UX
    f
    ield
    MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    HELLO!
    ABOUT ME

    View Slide

  3. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    WE HAVE A LOT TO COVER!
    1. Breaking through


    2. Interviewing


    3. Presenting


    4. Solving design challenges


    5. Navigating the “in betweens”


    6. Leveling up
    TODAY!

    View Slide

  4. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    BREAKING THROUGH
    Getting your foot in the door can be tough! You can be one of 10’s or 100’s of applicants.


    Recruiters are “the
    f
    irst responders” of company’s search. They’re trying to get through
    all the applications and they’re looking for 2 things.


    • Can I throw this application out?


    • Is this candidate a realistic possibility?


    How can you get yourself recognized as a realistic candidate?

    View Slide

  5. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    RESUME – ASK YOURSELF:
    BREAKING THROUGH
    • Is my resume easy for the recruiter to skim?


    • Is my LinkedIn URL and portfolio (and password) on my resume?


    • Did I only include relevant experience?


    • Did I leverage keywords?

    (Only include stu
    ff
    you actually know!)


    View Slide

  6. • Include your name in the
    f
    ile name (e.g.,
    TinaBelcherResume.pdf)


    • Save your resume as a PDF


    • Have someone proofread your resume


    • Include skills, but don’t rate yourself
    MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    BREAKING THROUGH
    RESUME – TOP TIPS:
    Expert knowledge
    of Sketch, Illustrator;


    Working knowledge
    of HTML, CSS
    Good example
    Sketch


    Illustrator


    HTML


    CSS
    Bad example

    View Slide

  7. • Did I complete all sections of my pro
    f
    ile?


    • Has someone proofread my pro
    f
    ile?


    • Have I set my pro
    f
    ile to “open to work?”


    • Am I active on LinkedIn?

    (Connections, reactions, comments, edits)


    • Did I set up the right job alert noti
    f
    ications?
    MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    BREAKING THROUGH
    LINKEDIN PROFILE – ASK YOURSELF:

    View Slide

  8. • Reuse your resume content for your
    LinkedIn pro
    f
    ile


    • Match your headline to the role you’re
    looking for


    • Make the
    f
    irst 3 lines of your “About”
    section engaging
    MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    BREAKING THROUGH
    LINKEDIN PROFILE – TOP TIPS:

    View Slide

  9. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    PORTFOLIO
    BREAKING THROUGH
    The reality:


    • Recruiters, unless highly-trained in UX (rare), will be looking for something that looks
    appealing. First impressions count!


    • Hiring managers are busy! They will only be skimming things (30-60 seconds). They’re
    also really good at picking out solid portfolios quickly.

    View Slide

  10. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    PORTFOLIO – ASK YOURSELF:
    BREAKING THROUGH
    • Does my portfolio show my best projects?


    • Does my portfolio look professional and easy to quickly scroll through?

    (Use a clean UI, short paragraphs, bulleted/numbered lists, etc.)


    • Do I show a user-centered design process?


    • Do I include examples of where I demonstrated critical thinking and resolving
    challenges?

    View Slide

  11. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    PORTFOLIO – TOP TIPS:
    BREAKING THROUGH
    • Show your process - even the messy stu
    ff
    ! UX is messy and we want to see your approach.


    • Include an “about me” section - we want to see that you’re a real human.


    • Only include relevant work


    • Don’t copy your colleagues even if you collaborated


    • Represent your work honestly


    • If you don’t have real-world experience, get creative

    (Volunteer, create projects that go through your process, etc.)

    View Slide

  12. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    APPLYING – ASK YOURSELF:
    BREAKING THROUGH
    • Does my experience match what’s being asked in the job description?

    (Recruiters cannot move candidates through unless they meet the minimum
    requirements)


    • Does my resume include relevant job titles?


    • Do you really want to apply for this job?

    (Some larger companies only allow you to apply to 3 jobs/3 months.)

    View Slide

  13. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    APPLYING – TOP TIPS:
    BREAKING THROUGH
    • Only apply for the jobs you’re quali
    f
    ied for – applying takes a lot of energy!


    • Don’t apply through LinkedIn; apply through the company’s site


    • Include a cover letter with your resume (either as separate or the same
    f
    ile)

    (This is helpful if you’re transitioning and/or don’t have the relevant job titles.)


    View Slide

  14. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    INTERVIEWING
    Interviewing processes can vary, but typically, you’ll be interviewed by (in order):


    1. Recruiter


    2. Hiring manager (typically, your future manager)


    3. Peers


    4. Other cross-functional partners


    Most will ask behavioral questions (e.g., give me an example when… ).

    View Slide

  15. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    ASK YOURSELF:
    INTERVIEWING
    • Did I practice my interviews? (Out loud is best)


    • Do I have concrete examples for answers?


    • Do I have questions to ask the interviewers?


    • Have I researched who’s interviewing me?

    View Slide

  16. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    TOP TIPS:
    INTERVIEWING
    • Google for example questions for each round or role.


    • Have a list of examples to reference during the interview

    Including examples of how you exemplify the company’s values


    • Be prepared!

    Remove distractions, test out software, have good cell reception.


    • Don’t throw anyone under the bus!

    Practice putting a positive spin on things.


    • Know yourself so well that no question catches you o
    ff
    guard and you sound natural!

    View Slide

  17. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    RECRUITERS: WHAT THEY WANT TO KNOW
    INTERVIEWING
    When recruiters say: They want to know:
    Tell me about your UX process. Do you really know what you’re talking about?
    Logistical questions

    (visa, salary, relocation, remote working)
    If you meet some basic needs
    What kinds of tools do you use? Do you really know what you’re talking about?
    Why do you want to work at the company?
    Have you done your research?

    Are you taking this seriously?

    View Slide

  18. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    HIRING MANAGERS: WHAT THEY WANT TO KNOW
    INTERVIEWING
    When hiring managers say: They want to know:
    Tell me about your UX process. Do you really know what you’re talking about?
    What’s a UX challenge you faced and how did you
    resolve it?
    Are you capable of critical thinking? Are you
    someone who will help the team?
    Tell me how you’ve worked with other designers. Are you collaborative with other designers?
    What are your career next steps? Will you be staying with us for at least 3 years?
    What’s your hando
    ff
    process like with engineering?
    How closely do you work with cross-functional
    partners?
    What aspect of UX are you strongest / most
    passionate about?
    Do your strengths
    f
    it with what the team needs?

    View Slide

  19. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    DESIGN TEAMMATES: WHAT THEY WANT TO KNOW
    INTERVIEWING
    When design teammates say: They want to know:
    What tools do you like to use? What’s your UX process like? Do you really know your stu
    ff
    ?
    Tell me how you’ve worked with other designers. Can you work well with us?
    How do you stay current with UX trends? How passionate are you about UX?
    Tell me an example of when you had an idea that others
    didn’t like. What happened?
    Can you articulate your design decisions? Can you
    compromise when necessary?
    Tell me how you’ve used research to inform your
    decisions?
    Are you data driven?

    Are you making objective design decisions?
    What are you looking for when joining a team? Do you share the same company/team values?
    Do you have questions for us? Do you really want to be part of this team?

    View Slide

  20. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    PRESENTING
    Presenting your work to a group of people (3-10) is a common step in the process.


    Interviewers will want to get a sense of your experience, your process, and how you’ve
    dealt with real-life challenges. (No project is perfect!)

    View Slide

  21. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    ASK YOURSELF:
    PRESENTING
    • Is my presentation in a slide deck format?


    • Did I include screenshots or photos of my process?


    • Have I practiced my presentation so I feel con
    f
    ident with the content?


    • Do I have 3-4 case studies ready to present?


    • Can I present within the given timeframe?


    • Am I comfortable with the technology? (e.g., Zoom, headphones, etc.)

    View Slide

  22. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    TOP TIPS:
    PRESENTING
    • Build a rapport with people - be human, relatable, and yourself!


    • Tell a story to engage interviewers

    (What was the problem? Why was that problem important to solve? How did you solve it?
    How did it shake out in real life?)


    • Avoid “real-estate” tours, audio, and video


    • Provide just the right amount of context


    • Warn people of interruptions; be understanding if they have interruptions

    View Slide

  23. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    SOLVING DESIGN CHALLENGES
    Candidates can look really good on paper. Hiring managers and teams want to validate
    that you’re able to critically think through solutions and articulate your ideas.


    Design challenges are a great way to assess this. Challenges can take the form of:


    • Take home assignments


    • Whiteboard challenge


    • Heuristic evaluation


    • Collaborative role playing

    View Slide

  24. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    ASK YOURSELF:
    SOLVING DESIGN CHALLENGES
    • Do I have an approach for solving design challenges?


    • Am I comfortable sketching ideas on paper or an iPad?


    • For heuristic evaluations: Am I using an established method?


    • Have I practiced until I feel con
    f
    ident?

    View Slide

  25. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    TOP TIPS:
    SOLVING DESIGN CHALLENGES
    • Practice, practice, practice!

    (Practice both real-life and hypothetical prompts)


    • Don't boil the ocean; focus on 1-2 areas


    • Don’t strive for perfection! The key is to demonstrate your thinking process and ability
    to articulate your ideas.


    • Value your time - don’t be taken advantage of

    View Slide

  26. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    NAVIGATING THE “IN BETWEENS”
    Each phase of the interview process is important, but so are the “in-between” times.
    De
    f
    initely take advantage of them.

    View Slide

  27. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    ASK YOURSELF:
    NAVIGATING THE “IN BETWEENS”
    • Did I sent a thank you email to everyone I spoke with?


    • Am I clear on the next steps and how to prepare?


    • Am I continuing my job search even when things are going well?


    • Do I know who could be my references?


    • Did I do my research on the company and people?

    View Slide

  28. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    TOP TIPS:
    NAVIGATING THE “IN BETWEENS”
    • Send your thank you emails within 24 hours and be thoughtful and concise


    • Your recruiter is your ally. They want to make sure you have the best possible
    experience. Ask them any questions you may have.


    • Touch up your resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn as you gain interview experience


    • Ensure a positive experience - if this doesn’t work this time, they might want to reach
    out in the future

    View Slide

  29. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    LEVELING UP
    As with any process, there’s always room for improvement. Once you get through the
    basics, you can try a few more things to “level up” your game.

    View Slide

  30. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    ASK YOURSELF:
    LEVELING UP
    • Have I checked Glassdoor for reviews, interview questions, and more?


    • Have I studied job description patterns and aligned my resume and portfolio to them?

    View Slide

  31. MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    TOP TIPS:
    LEVELING UP
    • Establish a network – attend (virtual) events, join Triangle UXPA, Meetup/Slack
    communities


    • Seek mentorship


    • Seek career coaching from UX experts (resume/portfolio reviews, career advice)


    • Sign up for General Assembly (mostly free) + Creative Mornings (all free) webinars for
    tech career advice

    View Slide

  32. • Slide deck: bit.ly/acing-ux-jobs


    • LinkedIn: michelletchin


    • Medium/Twitter: @soysaucechin


    • O
    ff
    ering 3 free, one-time UX Career Coaching
    sessions: calendly.com/michelletchin (only for
    the month of May;
    f
    irst come,
    f
    irst serve basis!)


    • Triangle Designers Slack
    (triangledesigners.com)


    • 5/26-5/27: Triangle UXPA’s Career Fair
    MICHELLE CHIN / @SOYSAUCECHIN
    THANKS!

    View Slide