When my husband’s employer transferred us to the US, it meant an enormous transfer from Ukraine to New York Metropolis. I needed to depart my function as a UX designer for EPAM Programs, a digital transformation firm in Kyiv, and wished to discover a place with an American firm. Job searches are at all times difficult, however trying to find a UX design job once I was new to the nation was particularly powerful. There are further obstacles if you’re navigating a brand new tradition, language, and metropolis abruptly.
To maintain myself from getting overwhelmed, I divided my efforts into three phases: the search, the interview preparation, and the post-interview follow-up and reflection. The method took a number of months, and I realized useful classes that I wish to share with different designers pursuing a UX profession within the US or with US-based firms.
Laying the Groundwork for a UX Design Job Search
Earlier than you plunge into the UX design interview course of, work on the fundamentals like networking with fellow designers, working towards your language abilities, and curating a standout portfolio.
Networking is the No. 1 approach individuals get jobs, so it’s necessary to attach with others, both on-line or in particular person. Ensure you have a profile on LinkedIn and be part of related communities like LinkedIn’s Consumer Expertise group. Take part in design-oriented discussions on Twitter. Be a part of one or a number of design associations, and attain out to individuals you’d prefer to be taught from or get to know. Along with serving to you discover alternatives, networking will make it easier to keep optimistic and motivated, because the job search may be lonely.
I moved to New York Metropolis simply earlier than the COVID-19 lockdowns, which made it troublesome to attach with different design professionals. However I joined conferences and classes nearly and met a number of connections that approach. Since issues have opened up, I’ve been in a position to attend native networking occasions in particular person, such because the Tech and Startup Networking Mixer.
Develop Cultural Competencies
Throughout a job search with American firms, these of us from Jap Europe or elsewhere exterior the US face a standard problem: speaking successfully in English and understanding American tradition. The preparation section is the time to get snug with this.
Follow Your English-speaking Abilities
Talking in English with Individuals was an adjustment for me, however I used to be fortunate, as a result of in Ukraine I repeatedly used my English at work when speaking to purchasers, and I had a number of American buddies. Nonetheless, once I moved to the US, I found that the tradition and communication kinds in America had been totally different from these in Ukraine.
For instance, when an American asks, “How are you?” they’re merely extending a greeting, not searching for an account of your day. Additionally, in Ukraine I used to be fairly direct with my suggestions to colleagues, however within the US direct suggestions can generally come off as too blunt. I additionally discover that Individuals use a number of idioms, so I ask for clarification once I do not perceive one thing, and more often than not individuals are good and don’t thoughts explaining.
I like to recommend connecting with a speaker of American English—on-line or offline—and speaking to them about day-to-day matters. I do CrossFit exercises, so becoming a member of courses was a great way for me to fulfill individuals and work on my English abilities.
Immerse Your self within the Regional Tradition
America is a gigantic nation, and communication kinds fluctuate from state to state. After I visited Southern California, individuals had been so open and pleasant. It was really virtually overwhelming. In New York Metropolis, alternatively, individuals are extra reserved till they get to know you. It’s busy and fast-paced. Due to these variations, I like to recommend familiarizing your self with a number of the distinguishing components of the areas the place you’re making use of. Watch out for stereotyping or overgeneralizing, after all, however gaining some perception into regional context may be useful.
Good Your Portfolio
Your portfolio ought to replicate a powerful private model. It’s price taking the time to outline this for your self: Think about what your design philosophy and aesthetics are and study the way you wish to be seen by others. Your portfolio also needs to present your course of, since employers not solely wish to see completed initiatives, but in addition the way you resolved issues, workshopped or examined totally different iterations of a design, and interacted with stakeholders. I prefer to put my course of in a scheme that features the steps and actions every venture entails. I present how I got here up with varied options all through a venture. There is no such thing as a one technique to doc your work—you may be artistic, so long as your processes are clear.
Be sure you have an “about you” part and embody private particulars like the place you’re from and what you do for enjoyable. This part can spark dialog and construct a bond between you and a possible employer. For example, I included that I communicate 4 languages, and that I get pleasure from instructing and mentoring others in UX design. I additionally volunteer for a corporation that works to protect the orca whale inhabitants.
Begin Small
After I launched my job search within the US, I reached out to a buddy who labored at Google, figuring a referral would enhance my probabilities of getting a place on the tech big. I had no actual understanding of the hiring course of and even learn how to promote myself and did not land a job there. Had I utilized to smaller firms first to develop into acquainted with hiring practices and to work on interviewing, I might need been employed.
Don’t Be Afraid to Comply with Up
After I moved to the US, I believed that if an American employer didn’t reply to my cowl letter inside every week, that meant they did not like me. Not essentially true! Just a few days after contacting a corporation, you must name or electronic mail the human sources division to observe up. In some circumstances, hiring managers could also be evaluating candidates on how proactive they’re or how they appear within the place, so following up can transfer your résumé to the highest of the pile.
As soon as You’ve Landed the Interview
You’ve despatched out dozens of resumes, constructed relationships with fellow UI/UX designers, and made positive your portfolio is pixel-perfect. You’ve heard again from a recruiter or hiring supervisor, and now you have got an interview on the calendar. Right here’s learn how to put together your self to make sure your UX designer interview course of is a hit.
Follow the UX Interview
After I started interviewing, I carried out mock interviews with a buddy and recorded them. It was solely then that I spotted I didn’t sound engaged or excited; my voice was monotone and overly severe. Normally, I discover Individuals are sometimes extra animated in dialog; I nervous that I used to be conveying an absence of enthusiasm concerning the job, and that I might be perceived as impolite. I instantly started engaged on this. Recording your self can repay huge for those who’re seeking to enhance your interview talking abilities. Should you report your self utilizing video, you may also get an excellent sense of your posture and facial expressions. The recording could present one thing you didn’t discover about your self, and if you’re courageous sufficient to face that, you’ll enhance tremendously.
Put together to Talk about Successes and Failures
Ask the buddy who’s role-playing with you to ask you a couple of favourite venture. Then have them ask you to speak about one which was particularly difficult. Employers will wish to hear the way you dealt with a failure or disappointment. My buddy Anna—additionally a designer—did this for me, and since she knew my work, she may level out particulars I might unnoticed, or areas the place I used to be promoting myself brief. Afterward, I requested her to critique me. Was I clear? Did I emphasize my strengths and promote myself? Her suggestions helped me see the place I may enhance my voice and tone to higher show my pleasure concerning the job. She additionally helped me assemble a extra subtle story about myself and what led to my varied transitions to new roles all through my profession.
Professional tip: Though related expertise in a specific discipline may be useful, some firms want to disrupt the state of issues, so earlier expertise may very well work in opposition to you. Put together for this eventuality throughout your UX interview prep and prepare to speak about how your expertise may help in disruption efforts.
Present Enthusiasm
Your demeanor ought to show that you just’re desperate to land a brand new job. In my case, that took apply. Even once I was excited a couple of new alternative, my voice generally instructed a distinct story: I used to be usually nervous and busy translating the English in my head. I needed to actually work on projecting confidence and conveying my enthusiasm in interviews. That turned out to be an important approach of demonstrating my competence and getting that decision again.
Share Your Profession Story
Storytelling could also be one of the crucial necessary abilities for touchdown a job. An genuine story that demonstrates your ardour provides you with a bonus over different candidates. It needs to be trustworthy; don’t say you at all times dreamed of changing into a designer if that’s not the reality. Personally, I’ve a background in structure, and I by no means considered changing into a UX skilled. After I interviewed for jobs within the US, I instructed the story of how, once I tried UX design, I unexpectedly related with the method.
I additionally share how the issues I did previous to changing into a UX designer formed my imaginative and prescient, objectives, and priorities. For instance, I realized English whereas working as a bartender in Ukraine, as a result of my boss spoke solely English. It’s an excellent story as a result of I didn’t understand on the time how that job would assist me acquire the language abilities that may develop into so useful in my work as a designer. Join the dots in your life and inform your individual story. Even when the story is a couple of failure, if it exhibits the way you grew to become the particular person you’re, inform it!
Don’t Be Afraid to Take Credit score
Design is collaborative, so you will need to show which you can companion with fellow designers and stakeholders, give and settle for suggestions, drawback resolve, and share the highlight. That mentioned, you additionally want to have the ability to speak about your private achievements. Be ready to level particularly to your individual contributions that positively affected a course of or product. I’ve observed that a lot of my fellow Jap Europeans are likely to underestimate themselves and keep away from declaring their very own strengths. This can be one thing we absorbed culturally; nevertheless, when making use of for jobs within the US, it is advisable go exterior your consolation zone and be capable to articulate what you deliver to the desk.
Reflecting: Wrapping Up the UX Design Job Interview Course of
After an interview, particularly if it included a number of rounds and a design task, you may be tempted to loosen up, believing you’ve performed every little thing it is advisable do. But there are nonetheless steps you possibly can take to maximise your probabilities of touchdown the function.
Ship a Thank-you Electronic mail
Electronic mail a short thank-you notice inside 24 hours of an interview. Whereas a handwritten notice is good, mail can take too lengthy, particularly in case your potential employer needs to fill the function rapidly. If a recruiter facilitated your name and also you don’t have your interviewer’s electronic mail, ship a thanks to the recruiter and ask them to ahead it.
Attain Out As soon as Extra
Should you haven’t heard from an organization for 2 weeks, don’t be shy about sending a well mannered message to your interviewer asking if they’ve decided but. Supply to offer anything they want. Do that to emphasise that you’re severe about and nonetheless involved in working for them.
Study From Your Rejections
Being rejected is disappointing and might have an effect on your motivation. Give your self time to take a seat along with your feelings, then replicate on what might need occurred. Think about reaching out to the recruiter or supervisor who interviewed you and ask for suggestions. They is probably not keen or in a position to present it, however often they’re. One design supervisor I interviewed with mentioned she didn’t have issues about my technical or design abilities, however felt I had room for enchancment in connecting my work to the worth it introduced the enterprise.
Her recommendation was to take one other take a look at my case examine and check out reframing it round influence. She instructed organizing it like a narrative, highlighting the general narrative, beginning with the issue and segueing into how we solved it. She felt I wanted to enhance my storytelling and persuasion abilities, as a result of her staff included many colleagues who didn’t perceive the design course of properly.
Get Clear on What You Need
You may be so targeted on getting an employer to say “sure” that you could be not have thought of for those who really need the job. They could have to decide on you, however you even have to decide on them. It is essential that the corporate you’re employed for helps your profession progress and your general life objectives. Ultimately, it’s about you discovering the appropriate match. By familiarizing your self with how the UX design interview course of works within the US and investing the effort and time to apply and put together, you possibly can uncover the proper alternative whereas demonstrating that you’ve got the abilities and abilities to excel within the function.
