UXINDIA15- Keys to a Successful UX Career(William Albert) by uxindia

Have you ever wondered how to make a bigger impact on your organization or simply get noticed by senior management? This presentation will share some insights on how to move your UX career to the next level. As the head of the User Experience Center (UXC) at Bentley University, one of the largest UX graduate programs in the world, I have had the unique perspective of helping many students who are starting to build a career in the user experience field. I will share some ideas on how to advance your UX career and common mistakes to avoid. For example, I will discuss how to choose the right projects, effective ways to present your work, and how to champion for user experience within your organization.

Transcript

2. KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL UX CAREER Bill Albert, PhD Executive Director Bentley University User Experience Center 7 October 2015
3. Bentley UXC 3 • 150+ graduate students in HFID • UX Certificate program • UXC = “teaching hospital” model
4. Why It Matters • Personal satisfaction/happiness • Career advancement • Monetary security • Contribution to the UX field • Making the world a little better 4
5. My Motivation 5
6. UX Career Growth 6 UX Training “Basics” First Job “Practice” Early Career “Building Confidence” Mid-Career “Showing Value” Late Career “Big Picture”
7. UX Areas of Focus 7 Design Research Strategy
8. Training • Learn from others • Academic programs • Professional programs or certification • Online courses 8
9. Continuing Education 9 • Always be learning • Books/articles • Online resources
10. Networking 10 • Meet people • UX events • Non-UX events • Informational interviews • Online communities
11. Projects 11 • Not all projects are equal • High profile • Big impact • ROI calculations • Great teams
12. Expanding Your Expertise 12 • Wear different hats • Research – Design – Strategy • New tools • Qualitative – Quantitative methods • Business data
13. Demonstrating Value 13 • How can you provide value? • ROI – align with business goals • Communication to management • Intangibles (make others great)
14. UX Champion 14 A UX champion reduces friction • Senior Management • Institutional Support • Budgets • Priorities http://www.uxforthemasses.com/what-makes-good-ux-designer/
15. Mentorship 15 A mentor is your compass • Technical skills • “Soft” skills • Career guidance
16. Leadership 16 • Anyone can be a leader • Start small • Find leadership opportunities • Seek feedback • Set an example
17. Building Relationships 17 • Your career is about people • Trust - value • Different perspectives • Learning from others • Working towards common goal
18. Flexibility 18 • Don’t be hardline UX • Incremental improvements • Adapt on the spot • Hold your ground when you need to
19. Publish / Present 19 • Dive in! • Find the right venue / publication • Go broad – new perspectives
20. Volunteer 20 • Give back • Find an organization • Contribute (don’t wait) • Meet people!
21. Find Your Passion 21
22. Thank You! Bill Albert, PhD Bentley Univ. User Experience Center Executive Director www.bentley.edu/uxc walbert@bentley.edu @BentleyUXC @UXMetrics LinkedIn Group – Bentley UXC