The slides from my presentation at Ladies That UX Ft. Worth

1. ScratchKitchen
Career
Using what you have to get the UX job you want

2. Why I think
this talk is
important
 Landing your first UX job with zero experience is tough
 A career in UX is great, more wonderful people should have one
 UX makes the world a better place
 I want to be an encourager

3. Your first UX job UX job experience
OR
Why I think
this talk is
important
Which comes first?

4. A career in UX is great
CNN Money - top 100 jobs 2017
Glassdoor - best work/life balance jobs 2016
Why I think
this talk is
important
https://money.cnn.com/pf/best-jobs/2017/list/index.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-jobs-for-work-life-balance-2015-10#2-user-experience-ux-designer-24
2. User Experience (UX) Designer
39. User Experience Researcher
57. User Interface Designer
99. User Experience Designer

5. A career in UX is great
Why I think
this talk is
important
 It’s a growing industry
 There’s job security
 There’s work location flexibility
 It’s meaningful work, but nobody will die on the table
 It’s fun

6. UX makes the world a better place
Why I think
this talk is
important
https://ed.ted.com/on/m16QBaZg

7. Who am I to
be giving
this advice?
 My personal timeline
 What I did
 What I would do differently
 The challenges & payoffs I’ve experienced

8. - Mel Robbins

9. Who am I to
be giving
this advice?
2007 20152012
Biomedical Science
with a focus on Veterinary Medicine
Join Peace Corps
Psychology Major
Communications Creative Studies
Moved back in with my
parents
Moved to
ATX
Healthcare Service Coordinator
Accountant
UX Design
Marketing Coordinator
Door-to-door AT&T sales
Unemployed & Homeless
(couch living)
Moved to
DFW
Receptionist for an HOA
management company
Clicktale/Tealeaf UX Researcher
Customer Journey Analyst Online UX Certification
Dec. 2017

10. - Unknown

11. What I did
read, read, read
tutorials & videos
network, network, network
https://careerfoundry.com/
Who am I to
be giving
this advice?

12. know the job, don’t settle
What I would do differently
network in person
make a portfolio do it sooner
Who am I to
be giving
this advice?

13. Challenges & overcoming them
 Needing experience to get experience
Who am I to
be giving
this advice?
 Another degree?Tutorial videos?
 “What is UX?” - Everyone I know
 Internships - only for students
 Financial sacrifices
 Time sacrifices
 Make your own experience
 Find a program that works for you
 Keep explaining, you’ll get better at it
 Find the UX in your own background
 Trust the payoff
 Nothing worth having comes easily

14. Payoffs
89%
Who am I to
be giving
this advice?

15. Building
your UX
career
Using what you have
Receptionist for an HOA
management company
UX ResearcherRead everything
Free online learning
Performed analysis of HOA website
Top call drivers
Website redesign recommendations
Showed passion in my interview
“Nobody wants this job more than me”

16. Building
your UX
career
From the experts
 Tenacity
“You appointed me my first UX Design job with no true prior design
job experience.Why?”
 Willing to take chances by reaching out direct about the opportunity
 Natural ability to communicate
 Mindful enough to follow up the same day
Question:
Answer:

17. Building
your UX
career
From the experts
 Good foundational background
“You wanted me on your design team even with no true prior design
job experience.Why?”
 Experience in usability, not just UI or website design
 Good UI can be taught, but understanding the “why” takes caring
Question:
Answer:
“You were worth the time and effort to train because I knew it would
stick with you."

18. Building
your UX
career
From the experts
 Work ethic
“If someone has no previous UX job experience, what other qualities
do you look for that make them a qualified candidate in your eyes?”
 Communication skills
 Hunger
 Works well with others
Question:
Answer:
“A lot of things can be taught. It’s those soft skills that are most valuable.
I know people like that will be successful.”

19. UX dream vs UX reality
Being a new
UX designer
 I’m going to be creating cutting edge designs and interactions
 If I get this job, it will turn me into an awesome designer
 Everyone loves UX, so teams will be happy to have me and my insights
 The work depends on the company, and sometimes it’s back to basics
 The education and work continues even after landing the job
 The value that UX brings can still be misunderstood or underestimated
The Dream:
The Reality:

21. Intern buddy 2019 CareerFoundry tutor 2019
You’ve made
it, now
what?
Mentoring

22. Write Medium articles Participate in Meetup groups
https://medium.com/ https://www.meetup.com/
You’ve made
it, now
what?
Other ways to give back

23. STRUGGLE
You’ve made
it, now
what?
Be an encourager
SUCCEED

24. Special
Thanks
ThankYou
Katherine Jones
Sarah Burton
Robert Skrobe
Dana Walter
CameronTubbs
KaylaWren
Chris Moezzi
Martin Wong
Megan Lamberth
Karman Barner
Carmel Gallagher
Julee Dyer
Jessica Boland

25. Appendix

26. Appendix
CNN - best jobs 2017
Glassdoor - best work/life balance jobs 2016
https://money.cnn.com/pf/best-jobs/2017/list/index.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-jobs-for-work-life-balance-2015-10#2-user-experience-ux-designer-24
Median Pay 10 Year Job Growth

27. My Favorite Books
Appendix

28. Other Recommendations
Appendix

29. OtherThan CareerFoundry
Appendix

30. UX makes the world a better place
Appendix