How I transitioned from being an Engineer to UX designer
I’m an Engineer turned Designer, having completed my Computer Engineering at TSEC, Mumbai. I had been involved in coding and website development for a very long time.
I got placed in Capgemini and started in a Production Support role. Although the role wasn’t as exciting as I hoped, the only positive was that it allowed me to work from home, giving me the freedom to explore new possibilities.
After working in my job for 1.5 years, I wanted to explore front-end development roles since I have an interest in coding and regularly worked on personal projects. However, I faced numerous rejections, and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, making it nearly impossible to switch jobs.
Being stuck at home due to lockdown gave me some free time to reconsider my career choices, and I started exploring various options online.
During that period, I came across Ran Segall’s video showcasing the ease of designing a website in Webflow without coding. Curious, I started learning Webflow and creating websites, finding a new love for design.
As I was learning Webflow, I discovered that I’m better at creating designs from scratch than working on things that others have already designed. This guided me towards a field where the main task is to think and design — UX Design. I did a lot of research about this field.
Around the same time, Google launched a UX Design Course, I enrolled for it, completed all assignments, and created my portfolio. If someone is very new to UX Design, I would definitely recommend that course.
I was among the Top 50 participants in India who completed the course, which led to a free portfolio review session with a Google Designer — Cheriana Griggs. The review helped me in tailoring my portfolio to showcase what hiring managers are actually looking for.
After completing my portfolio, I began applying for UX Design roles, but due to my limited industry experience, I faced repeated rejections.
Not discouraged by rejections, I changed my focus and applied for a job within Capgemini. I got the chance to work with a famous brand — IKEA. It was the best opportunity to learn and show my skills.
This experience build my confidence and I resumed applying for design roles externally, resulting in multiple offers, including two from Reliance Jio and Human Factors International (HFI). I chose HFI for its brand status in the design industry and most importantly, flexibility to work remotely.
Currently, I work with HFI on projects for the client Dell. Over the past 1.5 years, my journey as a designer has been a continuous learning experience. Each day brings new insights and challenges, contributing to my growth in the field of design.
I feel grateful as I think about the chances that guided my journey. I’m really happy to be a part of the exciting UX Design field, understanding the many possibilities it has.
While transitioning to a new field is undoubtedly challenging, my advice is simple: If you really like doing something, you’ll figure out a way to do what you really love.
I’m thrilled about the ongoing journey, committed to continuous learning, and eager to contribute to the world of design.
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In case you are looking to transition to UX Design, I have created a free user guide. You can download it here.
https://vishalthakur.gumroad.com/l/qhizip
If you have any questions about transitioning to UX Design, feel free to schedule a FREE CALL with me on Topmate. I would be happy to help. :)
You can schedule a call here.