Articles about Careers
Designing for Big Tech: Top Lessons from a Junior UX Designer at PayPal
A UX designer explores what it means to work as a junior designer at an influential big tech company. He shares his top four lessons learned from a two-year journey at PayPal™. Lessons include embracing the unhappy path in design, designing and collaborating in a fast-paced environment, balancing product design with product management, and learning continuously at the intersection of business, design, and technology. [Read More]
Eating Our Own Dog Food: A Metacognitive Analysis of UX Unicorns
A poll of UX professionals shows an increasing number identify as both designers and researchers while the industry complains of a decline in the depth in UX practice. This article takes an in-depth look at the metacognitive processes used in each role and the ways in which they conflict with each other, which may reduce the effectiveness of performance. [Read More]
AI Interviewing Technologies: Concerns of Ethics, Accessibility, and Usability
This article presents information and concerns for AI-powered interviewing technology that speaks to employers to help them make informed decisions about using AI interviewing technologies. [Read More]
Who Makes a Good UX Person? Results of a Survey Using the Five Factor Personality Model
What makes UXers tick? This article discusses two surveys: one using the Five Factor Model of personality and another the RIASEC model for occupational fit. [Read More]
Assertive Communication Skills: A Foundation for UX Success (Part 2)
UX professionals sometimes struggle to communicate assertively at work. We present ideas to put this skill into practice, with examples and suggestions from real life. [Read More]
UX Research for the Gaming Industry Requires Looking through a Unique Lens
The gaming industry needs UX researchers who understand the unique challenges of creating good experiences for video games, which are very different than other interfaces. [Read More]
UX Mentoring at Scale: A How-to Guide
How do you mentor large numbers of people quickly to help them get into UX or to develop in their UX career? [Read More]
UX Education: The Rise of Educational Programs
With the rise of online educational programs, the UX industry may soon start emphasizing not only a candidate's experience, but also certification. [Read More]
An Insider’s Guide to UX Careers (Book Review)
A review of The UX Handbook by Cory Lebson. A career guideline for UX professionals. [Read More]
By Teaching We Learn: Add Value to Your Career, Workplace, and the UX Community Through Mentoring
Mentorship is one of the best ways to learn in the UX field. With many different types of mentorship available, it’s easy to get started as a mentor or mentee. [Read More]
On Becoming a UX Manager: New Skills, Requirements, and Rewards
Stepping into a UX management role is easier when you understand the opportunities and challenges of your new job. [Read More]
Empathy on a Many-to-One Basis: Navigating Empathy When You Cannot Agree with Everyone
In this article, Angela Madsen breaks apart the construct of empathy as a one-to-one or one-to-many ratio, and she proposes a paradigm shift that incorporates many-to-one thinking. [Read More]
The Evolution of UX Research: A Job Posting Analysis
Looking to becoming a UX researcher, evolve your career, or train others? Learn insights about the state of UX research from a job postings analysis. [Read More]
The Three Stooges Mock Usability Test: A Method To Train Inexperienced Facilitators
A hands-on method for training people new to research, or those wanting a refresher how to facilitate sessions with challenging participants. [Read More]
Building a UX Team: Change Is the Only Constant!
Building a UX team is a journey, not a destination. You need a strong vision, a capability blueprint, training, and team-building for success. [Read More]
A Turn of Phrase: The Politics of UX Language
Successful collaborations start with clear expectations, and to set clear expectations, we need a common language. [Read More]
Surviving Tricky and Sticky Research Situations (Book Review)
A review of The Moderator’s Survival Guide by Donna Tedesco and Fiona Tranquada. Improve your research moderating skills. [Read More]
The Case for Being a UX Unicorn: Learning to Work More Effectively with Web Developers (Book Review)
A review of Bridging UX & Web Development by Jack Moffett. A good base for getting started with learning to code. [Read More]
Finding Meaning with Ethnography (Book Review)
A review of Practical Ethnography: A Guide to Doing Ethnography in the Private Sector by Sam Ladner. A detailed view of what makes research ‘ethnographic.’ [Read More]
Corporate Training Alternative: eLearn at Your Place, Pace and Time
Personalized learning is key to progressive education and skill development. Digital technologies enable and enrich experiences across domains, and there’s plenty of potential for eLearning. [Read More]
Online Mentorship: Building a High-Touch Student Experience
Mentors support students with a high-touch, individualized user experience. In e-learning tools, adding mentors allows students to work at their own pace and meet their goals. [Read More]
Thinking Thoroughly, Widely, and Deeply: Developing User Experience Designers in China
A user experience designer must have three key abilities to create ethical and human products: to think thoroughly, think widely, and think deeply. [Read More]
Giving UX Advice: Getting Buy-In
Experience-based tips for convincing co-workers and clients to accept the idea of user testing and to implement the results. [Read More]
UX Education: Some Missing Pieces
There are multiple programs offered by design schools around the world. But gaps between the real and academic world do not entirely prepare upcoming designers stepping into the industry. [Read More]
Flexible Foundations: Preparing Design Students for a Changing Field
To prepare students for a user experience career, design programs should focus on teaching flexibility, experimentation, critical thinking, and effective communication. [Read More]
Killer Robots and the Humanities: Building an Interdisciplinary UX Program
The next generation of technology professionals also need a background in communications, ethics, history, and even literature to be effective architects of digital experiences. [Read More]
Turning Learning into Action: Themes from the 2015 GIANT Conference
A recap of the 2015 GIANT Conference. Everyone is a designer. No one knows it all; we need each other. We should all strive to be better at design, not perfect. Ask ourselves, what are we missing? [Read More]
Building the Next-Gen UX Team: Strategies for Cultivating Generalists
With the rise of agile development, conditions are ripe for the return of the user experience generalist. User experience departments need tactics to build generalists, instead of specialists. (Full article available in English and Español) [Read More]
Onsite UX Interviews: What They Don’t Teach You in Design School
User experience design candidates are often highly qualified on paper, but struggle in onsite interviews. Learn how to prepare yourself for a successful onsite interview. [Read More]
Advice from UX Heroes: 9 Golden Nuggets
Lessons from The UX Intern podcast on working in UX. They include the value of curiosity, empathy, conversations, and the value of getting as much experience as possible. [Read More]
Studying UX Online: Advantages, Difficulties, and Best Practices
UX education has begun moving online, allowing students around the world to study UX. Despite of the challenges faced by online education, today’s programs are producing effective UX professionals. [Read More]
Tell Me Your Problems: Therapeutic Strategies for User Experience Research
Therapists and user experience researchers both aim to diagnose and treat problems. User experience researchers may benefit from applying evidence-based, solution-focused strategies used by psychotherapists. [Read More]
Negotiation: You Already Do It – Now Own It
Mastering negotiation can lead to both professional and personal gain. User experience professionals need negotiation skills to effectively advocate on behalf of user needs. [Read More]
Adapting to Change: UX Research in an Ever-Changing Business Environment
Embracing and adapting to change by evolving research planning, execution, analysis, and reporting to better meet organization needs is essential as a UX researcher. [Read More]
A UX Career Framework: Driving Conversations Between Managers and Employees
A framework with broad guidelines can help you define, design, monitor and grow your career and help managers work more effectively with employees. [Read More]
Taking Your Seat at the Strategy Table: Three Must-Have Leadership Skills
Moving from UX practitioner to innovation and thought leader is challenging. Skills from the user-centered design toolkit can make you successful in the transition. [Read More]
Multiple Skills: The Ultimate UX Career Path Expander
Six case studies show how a broader skill set increases your influence and expands your career options as a UX professional. (Full article available in Español) [Read More]
Making the Most of a UX Internship: Out of the Classroom and into the Wild
For UX students, a summer internship is a big first step in establishing yourself as a user experience professional. Take full advantage of your internship. [Read More]
The UX Portfolio: Your Golden Ticket to Job Interviews
An online portfolio is your ticket to landing a UX job interview. It doesn’t have to be brilliantly amazing, but it must showcase your work. [Read More]
Being a UXer: It’s A Lot Like Being a Therapist
Add these counseling skills to your user experience toolbox to increase positive experiences for clients and co-workers alike. Read three case study examples. [Read More]
A Career That Fits: Finding the Perfect Glass Slipper
Working in a startup company is a challenge for any UX professional. See how employees work together to create and uphold their shared user experience. [Read More]
Using Your UX-pertise to Save the World: Pro Bono Work That Also Benefits You
Take a love for helping others. Mix in a passion for UX. The result can change your career, and make a difference in the nonprofit community. [Read More]
Land Your Dream UX Research Role: Take Your Career to the Next Level
Wondering how to start your user research career? Read more for advice and resources based on years of mentorship and advice. [Read More]
Care About Your UX Career? Network Now!
Networking with other UX professionals is critical to furthering your UX career. Social media like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook are as important as in-person networking. [Read More]
Editor’s Note: Let’s Talk About User Experience Careers
Learn to successfully navigate your UX career with this collection of articles. There is valuable advice for everyone from junior to senior UXers. [Read More]
What’s News: Announcing UXPA’s New Mentoring Program. Mentors and Protégés Needed!
UXPA’s mentoring programs will begin in early 2013 and its primary mission is to provide services to those who are young in their UX careers. [Read More]
Which Path Is for Me? The Emerging Role of VP of UX
Ever wonder if you have what it takes to be a VP of UX? Chelsey Glasson and Ian Swinson spoke with twelve UX VPs about their roles. [Read More]
Where to Begin Work in Mobile UX: Digesting the Expert Advice
10 tips for mobile usability testing, 5 top questions to consider, UX design guidelines, creating mobile sketches, and lots more in the world of mobile. [Read More]
From One Student to Another: Advice for Beginning a Career in User Experience
As you enter the UX job market, remember that each opportunity is a means to build your story and showcase your value or potential impact. [Read More]
Social Skills for UX Consultants: Communication on the Job
As the UX consulting business matures, the need for developing additional skills is spurring interesting discussion within the UX community. [Read More]
