How to Make the Most of Your UX Internship
A UX intern’s tips that are not taught in school
Have you just gotten accepted for a UX internship? Or are you about to start one?
Congratulations! After going through all those rounds of preparations and interviews, you are finally ready to set foot into this UX industry.
UX internships can be very intimidating, more so if it is your very first one. Having spent my first ever internship experience here at 55 Minutes, I have had a fulfilling and meaningful experience with countless skills learned to excel in the UX industry.
From my experiences and lessons learned along the way, here are some tips that can help you make the most of your UX internship.
Pre-Internship
1. Come prepared
Now I know what you are thinking: “Internships are meant for me to learn!”
True, but not every company will be well-prepared to onboard you comfortably into their projects.
You never know how heavy your workload will be when you begin your internship. You could be guided onto your projects gradually, or you could be thrown into the deep and handle big projects from the jump. Therefore, it will be beneficial to be mentally sensitized to UX processes and critical thinking.
- Refresh yourself on different research methods and mapping processes
- Brush up on Figma or Adobe XD skills and practice wireframing and prototyping
- Carry out design sprints and practice crafting interview questions
Here at 55 Minutes, I was onboarded comfortably, being tasked with simple desktop research for my first week. Before I knew it, I was already starting interviews and mapping processes with the rest of the team. Having revisited my previous projects and research methods used before my internship began, it was much easier to familiarise myself with the company’s standard procedures for each research method. More importantly, I found it beneficial that I was able to correct my mistakes and misconceptions from what I already knew.
2. Set your goals (with an open mind)
Before starting your internship, take some time and think about what you want to gain from this internship. Setting your personal goals and expectations will provide an intentional and clear direction behind your internship experience.
Here are some questions you can ask yourself:
- What do you hope to learn from this internship?
- What do you think are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What are you most excited about coming into this internship?
- Conversely, what are you most afraid of?
For my internship 55 Minutes, some of my personal goals were to:
- Learn and refine real industry UX design wireframing and prototyping skills
- Further develop empathy skills to understand target users’ needs and motivations
- Be exposed to many different research methods and research participant groups
- Practice designing specific research plans that can highlight accurate actionable insights
It is alright to keep your initial goals high-level and broad initially. However, once you begin your internship, it will be more meaningful and effective to set SMART goals instead (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound).
Clearly-defined goals that are realistic will keep you focused and on track to achieve personal successes. You may also see how these specific goals contribute to the overall high-level goals that you had initially set out for yourself.
During the Internship
3. Have proactive conversations with your team
Sit down with your supervisor or mentor and have a 1-on-1 chat with them.
Ask about your projected involvement in what kind of projects you will do during your internship and learn about their goals and expectations for you. This will also give you the perfect opportunity to communicate your own goals and expectations, along with opening opportunities for you.
Other than your mentor, start talking with your teammates!
They are the spirit of the company and are the people who you will work with closely during your internship. Be it from team bonding or self-initiated lunch sessions, get to know them on a more personal level. Aside from making new friends, you will understand the team dynamics and how they work. Talking to your teammates helps you find greater clarity in your career trajectory. It also makes it a lot easier to reach out for help and gives you a sense of identity within the company.
At 55 Minutes, I had such a wonderful time getting to know and working alongside my teammates. It made meetings fun and it was very inspiring seeing their creative minds and dedication.
Also, do not be afraid to ask questions.
If you ever feel lost or unsure, ask for help when you need it. Do not feel intimidated or judged when you reach out for help. It shows your effort in taking the initiative to learn and better yourself. So, whenever you are facing any difficulties after trying your best, just drop any of your teammates a question!
4. Plan and track your work
As an intern, you will be exposed to real-industry projects with many deadlines and deliverables. Here at55 Minutes, I was involved in a multitude of heavy projects and client work, alongside juggling a module I was simultaneously taking in university. With all these responsibilities and tasks, it is especially easy to get lost or drown in your work.
To stay on top of all your responsibilities, it is important to plan your schedule and ensure you spend enough time for each of your tasks. Other than your meetings, write down all your deadlines, set aside space for head-down work time and remember to give yourself rest to avoid burning out.
Moreover, have a compiled list of the projects you are involved in and what your contributions are. Not only will this be helpful in seeing your overall work but will also be especially useful upon completion of your internship when you are compiling your projects and contributions for your own portfolio.
(Note: Remember to ask your boss/supervisor if your contribution to projects can be used as case studies or included in your personal portfolio! Not every project or client work will allow this due to confidentiality clauses.)
5. Soft skills are important too!
It is important to take responsibility for the work that we do. As a UX Designer, the addition of a single feature may significantly change the entire user experience. As a UX Researcher, one finding you bring up may shift the direction of the entire project. However, not all our responsibilities lie within the perceived expectations of our internship positions.
Oftentimes, many challenges you may face do not entail just research or design.
- Presenting your findings or design decisions to clients
- Communicating between teams
- Planning and contributing during team meetings
- Organizing files, notes and scheduling your project work timeline
Essentially, do not neglect soft skills, as they are just as important (in some cases, more) as technical hard skills.
Moreover, it is one thing to be prepared with technical skills, but it is a whole different ball game being mentally prepared to deal with your expectations and emotions. One of the most difficult challenges working in the UX industry might be the mental and emotional stress that comes with the job. These include:
- Impostor syndrome (feeling like a phoney or a fraud)
- Handling demanding or micro-managing clients
- Dealing with criticisms and rejections of your designs that you have worked tirelessly on
- Bearing the brunt of users’ frustrations during interviews while staying neutral
- Delivering bad news to your teammate’s hard work and effort
These can really take a toll on your mental health, especially if these stressors are gone unchecked. It is important to be kind to yourself and remember to take breaks. Talk these struggles out with your colleagues since they have been in your shoes and have experienced the same struggles as you.
On a personal note, as someone who is easily absorbed in my work, I found it crucial to remember that I am not my work, and that I am not defined by harsh comments or rejections. These protected my emotions and ensured that I did not take these criticisms to heart, which allowed me to continue learning and working as confidently as possible.
Post-Internship
6. Stay connected
Leave on good terms!
Hopefully from your internship, you have gained an abundance of experience and skills that you can confidently apply to your future projects. Remember to thank your teammates for the guidance they have given, the lessons imparted, and even the laughs shared.
Some ways you can stay connected and maintain positive relationship are:
- Ask for a referral (and write a review in return on LinkedIn or Glassdoor!)
- Connect with each other on social media (e.g. LinkedIn)
- Ask for updates on projects you previously worked on down the road
Even if your internship experience was not the most ideal, remember to part ways amicably. You never know when you may cross that bridge again, such as for networking opportunities, finding a job, and even embarking on future projects.
7. Relax and reflect
Congratulations on completing your internship!
You deserve a good break. Remember to relieve stress and have fun doing what you love to do!
As you take a well-deserved break, do take some time to reflect on your internship journey. This will provide you with some enlightenment on the lessons you have learned and gives a beautiful closing to this internship experience.
Think and reflect on these questions:
- What have I learned during this internship?
- Have I met the goals I set for myself? Why or why not?
- What can I do better in my next internship/position?
- How did I grow as a UX researcher/designer and as a person?
Your answers and insights from these questions will help you recognize how much you have grown, and identify what you can improve on in your next UX work opportunity. This will guide and provide you with a clearer direction as you develop your career in UX.
I hope these tips will be useful as you venture forth in your internship with greater confidence. Remember, not all companies will have a nurturing environment or consistent support for interns like in 55 Minutes, so take control of your own internship experience. Working in UX is not always easy, but will definitely be worth it.
Farid is a final year student from the National University of Singapore, who was a UX & Communications intern at 55 Minutes. Passionate about UX design and understanding communities, Farid strives for designs that are logical, emotional, and inspirational. His recipe for a full recharge includes gaming, bandung, and sushi.
