You will likely be asked about your research many times during grad school and many years after. Perhaps the most important time to have a good answer is during a job interview. In preparing for an interview you may wonder: What is the interviewer looking for in your response? How much detail should you go into? What if it looks like your answer is going over that person’s head? What follow-up questions might be asked, and how can you respond? In this workshop, we’ll talk about ways you can communicate your research concisely and clearly, especially in a UX interview. You’ll work on and practice your response. We’ll discuss possible follow up questions, and ideas for responding. We’ll also talk about how you respond is just as important what you say.

1. “TELL ME ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH”
Rock Leung, PhD
CLUE workshop - May 9th,, 2020

3. INTRODUCTIONS
In the Chat area, write…
1. Your department
2. What year you’re in
e.g., Computer Science, 2nd year Masters
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4. WORKSHOP AGENDA
 Why are you asked?
 What to say?
 How to say it?
 Tailoring to job description
 Handling follow up questions
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5. LET’S SHIFT OUR MINDSET
Presentation → Conversation
You vs. Me → We
Perfection → Progress
Perform → Practice
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Adapted from “Speak with Confidence”
course, Lucas Mattiello (2019).

6. “TELL ME ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH”

7. WHY ARE PEOPLE ASKING?
 Small talk, curiosity
 Interest in research
 Assess potential for collaborating
 To assess fit for job opening (focus for this
workshop)
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8. WHAT TO SAY?
 Problem → action → results → impact
 If multiple projects, itemize
 Use familiar language
 Concrete examples or references can help
 Concise/strong better than long/detailed
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9. MY EXAMPLE
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10. ACTIVITY
CRAFT YOUR RESPONSE
Tips:
• Format: Problem, action, results, impact
• If multiple projects, itemize
• Use familiar language
• Concrete examples or references
• Concise and strong
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Imagine a work colleague asks about your research
Take 10 minutes by yourself to draft a 1-2 min response

11. ACTIVITY
SHARE WITH YOUR PARTNER
We’re going to break out in pairs (10 mins)
Take turns:
1. Speaker: Share your crafted response with partner
2. Partner: Give feedback
 One piece of info you remember
 One thing you liked about response
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12. HOW TO DELIVER?
 Show your interest
 Be proud and humble
 Be comfortable
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13. ACTIVITY
TELL US ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH
Brave volunteers?
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14. DID RESPONSE LAND?
Watch reactions
If not understood, try clarifying
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15. TAILORING TO A JOB POSTING
Two possible levels:
 Summary: Introduction to your work
 Deep dive: Showcase your process and methods
Pull out key phrases in job posting
Show that your experience is relevant
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16. EXAMPLE JOB POSTING
Associate UX Researcher
Electronic Arts
We are looking for an associate user
researcher who has a passion for evaluating
the gaming experience. You are motivated
and excited to be part of an accomplished
and advanced team shaping the future of EA
games. Apply your passion for research and
digital entertainment to the development of
fun and creative gaming experiences.
Conduct strategic research to help increase
the quality of EA’s products, and work with
talented design and production teams to
integrate usability and user research into the
development process.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Conduct user research studies for all of EAs products
• Leverage qualitative and quantitative methods (observation, interviews,
journals, video ethnography, surveys, lab studies, instrumentation, etc.) to
provide research support to product teams across EA
• Partner with a global team of people across disciplines (researchers,
designers, product planners, market researchers, producers, etc.) to
produce insights which deeply improve the trajectory of their product
work
• Work closely with other researchers, insights partners, and game teams
to understand franchise goals, and present insights (verbal & written
reports), recommendations and ongoing design consultation.
QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
• You have an advanced degree in experimental psychology
(experimental, social, cognitive, etc.), human computer interaction,
human factors, or a related field, or equivalent industry and/or education
experience
• Experience in research design and familiar with different research
methodologies (e.g. field studies, interviewing, contextual inquiry,
questionnaire development and survey research, usability studies,
competitive benchmarking, etc.)
• Statistical experience and data modeling desired
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presenting to
findings to groups of individuals
• Must have teamwork skills and be a team player; previous experience
working on a globally distributed team considered a merit

17. EXAMPLE JOB POSTING
Associate UX Researcher
Electronic Arts
We are looking for an associate user
researcher who has a passion for evaluating
the gaming experience. You are motivated
and excited to be part of an accomplished
and advanced team shaping the future of EA
games. Apply your passion for research and
digital entertainment to the development of
fun and creative gaming experiences.
Conduct strategic research to help increase
the quality of EA’s products, and work with
talented design and production teams to
integrate usability and user research into the
development process.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Conduct user research studies for all of EAs products
• Leverage qualitative and quantitative methods (observation, interviews,
journals, video ethnography, surveys, lab studies, instrumentation, etc.) to
provide research support to product teams across EA
• Partner with a global team of people across disciplines (researchers,
designers, product planners, market researchers, producers, etc.) to
produce insights which deeply improve the trajectory of their product
work
• Work closely with other researchers, insights partners, and game teams
to understand franchise goals, and present insights (verbal & written
reports), recommendations and ongoing design consultation.
QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
• You have an advanced degree in experimental psychology
(experimental, social, cognitive, etc.), human computer interaction,
human factors, or a related field, or equivalent industry and/or education
experience
• Experience in research design and familiar with different research
methodologies (e.g. field studies, interviewing, contextual inquiry,
questionnaire development and survey research, usability studies,
competitive benchmarking, etc.)
• Statistical experience and data modeling desired
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presenting to
findings to groups of individuals
• Must have teamwork skills and be a team player; previous experience
working on a globally distributed team considered a merit

18. FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
Possible types of follow-up questions:
 Going deeper: “How did you …?”, “Why did you…?”
 Reflection: “What would you have done
differently?”
 Constraint change: “What if you had more time?”
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19. TIPS ON FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
 Anticipate questions and prepare
 Not a defense, but a conversation
 Take your time
 Repeating part of question can help
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20. “TELL ME ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH”
REMEMBER
Your research IS interesting
Problem → action → results → impact
Tailor to audience/opportunity
Anticipate follow up questions
Follow me
Twitter: @rockleung
www.rockleung.com
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