5 questions UX designer should ask during job interview

One of the stereotypes about job interviews is that they are intended for the sole purpose of questioning the candidate only. That’s wrong and obsolete: in reality, as a candidate, you shouldn’t be shy to also ask some thoughtful and job-related questions in return. Asking them will not only give you some important and valuable information regarding your potential UX designer position, but will also show the recruiting team that you are really interested both in the conversation and the offered job. Moreover, sometimes you may completely satisfy the company as a specialist, but the company may not suit you as a potential space for career growth, and that’s also something you can learn by asking the right questions. We’ve collected 5 questions that we recommend every UX designer to ask during a job interview.

What role will I, as a UX designer, play in your team? How does the team function?

In development — and, particularly, in UX design — well-coordinated interaction of a team is essential for quality work. This question is aimed to get some information on how the team you’ll potentially work in interacts during the working process, and what role you’re expected to play there. It’s also important to find out about the structure of the team, as well as about how the team usually interacts with persons outside its “bubble”, like clients and investors.

How am I expected to organize my daily work? What are my everyday responsibilities?

It often happens that job recruiters don’t mention everything you’re expected to do in the job description — either to keep the description concise, or to not scare away the applicants with a large list of responsibilities. This question will help you learn more about what exactly you are expected to do in the company on a daily basis. If you realize that you don’t have skills for additional responsibilities you’re being told about, be sure to discuss that straight away rather than struggling with doing your job later.

What are my career growth perspectives in this position?

It’s a natural desire for any specialist to grow as a professional and move forward on the career path. But not every company provides an opportunity to grow. So it’s up to you to find out whether that particular company is interested in the growth of its workers and what exactly ways there will be for you to progress professionally in the long-term perspective.

Why are you hiring for this position?

One of the common questions for a candidate is “Why are you applying for this position”, but there is a reason to reverse that question and also ask interviewers why the position was opened. The answer can give you an insight to what’s going inside the company. It’s one thing if the company is growing and opening new positions, and it’s another thing if there is a staff turnover and workers quickly burnout and quit.

Is there an opportunity to get a mentor or become one?

Mentorship is a common practice in design teams. If you are a novice UX designer, a mentor can help you expand your knowledge, learn new skills and generally become more confident as a professional. Skilled designers can become mentors themselves, helping young/less skilled team members on their path. If it’s important for you to always contribute to the professional development of yourself and others, make sure to ask this question to see if the company is interested in that as well.