Becoming a UX Designer in 2023 is NOT Easy.
Five Tips to Stand Out from the Crowd
As the new year brings new opportunities, it’s the perfect time to set your sights on becoming a UX designer. However, it’s important to note that the field has become highly competitive in recent years, with many people turning to design boot camps as a fast-track to a career in UX. While it’s true that these programs can provide valuable knowledge and skills, it’s also important to keep in mind that the amount of work required to become a successful UX designer will depend on your background and your career aspirations. With this in mind, here are a few tips to help you stand out from other applicants and set yourself on the path to a successful career in UX:
Tip 1: Create a Plan and Vision for Your Career
If you’re looking to become a UX designer in 2023, it’s important to have a clear plan in place for your career goals. Start by determining why you want to become a UX designer and what specific aspects of the field you’re interested in. This can be helpful in creating a mental map or mood board of where you’d like to work and what type of job you’d like to pursue.
To make a plan, consider researching companies in the field that align with your interests, such as Google, and take note of the roles available and the skills required to land those jobs. This can help you define your career goals and tailor your portfolio and application to meet the requirements of your dream job.
Another important aspect to consider when making a plan is narrowing down the specific UX roles that align with your interests. Instead of trying to become a generalist, you can focus on a specific area such as Interaction Design, and hone your skills in that area. This will set you apart from other designers who have a more general focus and make it easier for you to stand out in a competitive job market.
In today’s market, it’s important to focus on a specific aspect of UX to build a niche expertise, and specialize in one or few roles. This will allow you to deepen your skillset in a particular area and gather foundational knowledge in adjacent roles, making it easier to transition to other roles in future.
Tip 2: Specialize in a UX Domain
My second piece of advice for becoming a successful UX designer is to specialize in a specific domain within the field. The field of UX is broad and encompasses many different areas, such as Interaction Design, User Research, Information Architecture, Service Design, and more. By specializing in a specific domain, you can build a deep expertise in that area, which will make you stand out to potential employers.
It’s also important to note that the role and responsibilities of a UX designer can vary depending on the size and type of company. At a large tech company, you may have a more specialized role, while at a small startup, you may be required to take on a broader range of responsibilities. However, it’s important to keep in mind that regardless of the size of the company, showcasing your expertise in a specific domain through your portfolio is crucial for standing out to potential employers.
When creating your portfolio, highlight the skills and experiences that align with your specialization and make sure that it demonstrates your ability to solve real-world design problems within that specific domain. This will help you effectively communicate your value as a specialized candidate and increase your chances of landing the role that aligns with your interests.
Tip 3: Craft a Point of View
Creating a portfolio that effectively showcases your skills and experience is crucial for standing out as a UX designer. Once you’ve determined the specific role within UX that you’d like to focus on, it’s important to craft a portfolio that is tailored to that role. Make sure to feature projects and work that highlights the specific skills and experience required for that role. This will help you effectively communicate your value to potential employers and increase your chances of being considered for the role that aligns with your interests.
It’s also important to consider the type of company you are applying to. At larger companies, roles tend to be more specialized, so it’s important that your portfolio demonstrates your expertise in the specific role you’re applying for. For example, if you’re interested in a role that focuses on UI or Visual design, then it’s important to make your portfolio website aesthetically interesting to show off your skills in that area. However, if you’re applying for a role that does not prioritize visual design, it may not be necessary to spend a lot of time creating a custom website. Instead, allocate more time in crafting case studies and focusing on storytelling for your interviews.
It’s also worth to note that having a good storytelling and communication skills will be invaluable, as a UX Designer you will spend a lot of time communicating your ideas to leadership, stakeholders, and users themselves. This is why it’s essential to have a clear point of view for your portfolio so you can allocate your time and resources wisely and work smarter, not harder.
Tip 4: Use Your Story to Differentiate Yourself
When it comes to standing out as a UX designer, understanding the “why” behind your interest in the field and how it relates to your background and experiences is essential. It’s important to think of the process of becoming a UX designer as a design problem in and of itself, and, just like in any design problem, understanding the “why” is crucial to ensuring you are solving the right problem.
As you begin the process of applying for jobs and creating your portfolio, take some time to reflect on why you want to become a UX designer, what sets you apart from others, and what transferable skills you have from your previous careers or experiences. This self-reflection will help you craft a compelling story about yourself that will shape your application, portfolio, and resume.
Your story is what will make you stand out in a crowded job market and demonstrate your unique value to potential employers. It will allow you to highlight your background and experiences that are particularly relevant to the role and industry you’re applying for, and make you a stronger candidate. It’s also important to remember that even if you don’t have a lot of experience in UX, transferable skills and experiences you’ve gained from your previous career could be highly valuable to a company and make you a more compelling candidate.
It’s important to approach the job search process holistically and present yourself in a way that showcases all of your skills, qualifications and experience, not just your technical skills. When crafting your story for your resume, portfolio, and application, make sure to focus on the unique value you bring to the table and how it aligns with the role and company you are applying for. This will help you stand out among the thousands of other UX candidates and increase your chances of getting hired.
Tip 5: Invest in your Education
The truth is that becoming a UX designer is not as easy as some may make it seem. As I mentioned before, with the rise of bootcamps and online tutorials, there is a lot of conflicting information out there about how to break into the field. It’s important to keep in mind that landing a junior UX position at a large company without any previous design knowledge or education can be challenging, even for those with a design background.
One way to increase your chances of getting hired is to gain formal education in UX through a program longer than a 3-month bootcamp, such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree program. This will give you the time and resources to develop your skills, create a portfolio, and gain real-world experience through internships.
Additionally, consider looking for schools that offer scholarships and financial aid to help make education more accessible. And look for programs that focus on cutting-edge domains within UX, such as Interaction design, or specialized fields like Virtual reality, AR, game design, or environment design. These specialized skills will make you more desirable and help you stand out in a crowded job market.
It’s also worth considering that we are currently in a recession, and going back to school in this time can be a great way to weather out the economic downturn while also building new skills and connections.
Ultimately, when seeking to become a UX designer, it’s essential to approach the process with realistic expectations, build a strong foundation of knowledge, and develop a specialized skill set that sets you apart from the competition.
I hope these tips have been valuable in helping you kick-start your journey to becoming a User Experience Designer. Remember, the key to success in this field is first to identify the specific area within UX that you want to specialize in, research and select the best educational opportunities that align with your goals, and ensure your unique voice and values are clearly conveyed in your portfolio and applications. With a clear plan and determination, you can set yourself on the path to achieving your goals as a UX designer.
