UX Design Career Transition Support

Struggling to land your first UX role? Whether you’re fresh out of college or transitioning from another field, it can feel daunting to position yourself as a valuable candidate, especially when you don’t have direct UX experience. I faced the same challenge when I transitioned into UX 3–4 years ago. I kept wondering: How do I position myself effectively? How do I land a job with such limited UX experience? Then, I had a mindset shift that changed everything. Instead of focusing on the whole UX role, I broke it down into individual skills needed to succeed: research, problem-solving, collaboration, and more. And suddenly, I saw that I already had relevant experience. For example, conducting user interviews is a key UX skill. At first, I thought I had no experience. But then I realized: • As a business consultant, I planned and conducted stakeholder interviews to uncover company challenges. • As an academic tutor, I asked students thoughtful questions to understand their pain points. • Even as a restaurant server, I “interviewed” customers to learn their needs and recommend the best experience. These experiences weren’t formal UX interviews, but they followed the same principles - active listening, probing for insights, and understanding user needs. By recognizing this, I repositioned my skills and made myself a stronger candidate. If you’re struggling to break into UX, try this approach: 👉 Identify key UX skills. 👉 Find where you’ve applied them in past roles. 👉 Frame your experience in a way that aligns with UX. Chances are, you already have more UX-relevant experience than you think. You just need to uncover it! Once you do so, you'll be a big step closer to this first UX role you're looking for 👀

Recently, I had a UX student struggling to find her footing as a UXer. Despite having a solid career before entering a UX bootcamp (yes, that's where she started her UX education), being a super quick UX learner, proactive in-person connector, and having a portfolio full of interesting projects – she couldn't land a job. She faced the same daunting rejection cycle many did: - Her resume vanished into the abyss. - Her experience failed to meet elusive standards. - Being a non-native English speaker only added to her doubts. She felt like her new career was slipping out of her grasp. That's when our conversation led to a pivotal shift. And this is when she "took a chance" on LinkedIn. Instead of just sending out resumes and waiting, she decided to actively engage on the platform. She started by sharing her journey, the challenges she faced, and the small victories she celebrated. She reached out to people for advice, commented on industry posts, and participated in discussions. Her wit, authenticity, and persistence began to pay off. People noticed her original insights and determination. Connections grew into meaningful conversations. She even started a newsletter for aspiring UXers. Finally, she was getting invites for interviews... Within 6 months, she landed her first UX role! Yep, it took 6 months of daily consistency to get there. But the real win wasn't even the job itself – it was the network she built, the confidence she gained, and the recognition that her unique voice had value. I'm not saying that LinkedIn is for everyone, or that it's a sure way to land a UX role. But it's definitely a way to become more visible and create your own opportunities. So if you're feeling stuck, maybe the key to breaking the cycle is to change the game you're playing? 😉 #ux #uxcareer #linkedinforuxers

Here’s how I’d break into UI/UX design if I could start over: 1️⃣ Learn the basics of UI/UX design principles. There are great online courses, like Google's UX Design Certificate, that provide a general overview of design and insights into what it’s like to work as a designer. You can also read in-depth articles and watch videos on the Nielsen Norman Group’s website. They offer live courses where you can receive direct guidance on learning design. 2️⃣ Put your design knowledge to work with practice challenges. Start practicing design challenges to apply what you’ve learned. Sites like UX Challenge (https://lnkd.in/g2fFqmPn) and Briefbox (https://www.briefbox.me/) can help you level up your skills and start thinking like a UI/UX designer. 3️⃣ Volunteer your design skills. I recommend offering your UI/UX skills to nonprofits or local businesses. This is a great way to build real work for your portfolio while making a positive impact. Check out Catchafire to find nonprofits looking for help. You can also look at the websites of local businesses you love—there might be opportunities to help improve their sites. 4️⃣ Join adplist.org. This site provides access to a global community of designers who can advise you on improving your resume, portfolio, and interview skills. 5️⃣ Get involved with design communities. Online communities like Design Buddies are filled with designers looking to grow in their careers. You can share knowledge, practice interview skills, and provide feedback on each other’s portfolios. 6️⃣ Stay up to date on design and tech trends. Read articles on Medium, TechCrunch, The Verge, and other industry sources to keep current on what’s happening in design and tech. This field moves quickly, so staying updated is essential. YouTube also offers thousands of free tutorials, tips, and advice to help you grow as a designer. Breaking into UI/UX design can feel intimidating, but I hope this guide helps you get started on your career journey. Good luck, you’ve got this! #uxdesign #uidesign #uiuxdesign #productdesign #tech #design

What if I lost everything? What if I had to start over in UX with no experience, no connections, no portfolio? If I were back to square one, here’s exactly what I’d do: 👉 1. Hunt Down Growing Markets Don’t waste time applying everywhere. Focus on industries where demand is high—Healthtech, Fintech, Proptech. These markets need specialized UX professionals and aren’t slowing down. 👉 2. Master ONE Niche Generalists get overlooked. Specialists stand out. I’d choose a niche, like Fintech onboarding flows, and: ⤷ Learn user behaviors ⤷ Study industry regulations ⤷ Understand specific pain points Specialization is the shortcut to standing out. 👉 3. Immerse Myself 110% I’d dive headfirst into the niche: ⤷ Take paid, unpaid, or freelance work ⤷ Attend webinars and industry events ⤷ Network with recruiters in that field The goal? Become unignorable in your niche. 👉 4. Reverse Engineer My Profile I’d study job postings and create a roadmap: ⤷ What skills do they want? ⤷ What experience do they need? Then I’d align my: ⤷ Portfolio ⤷ Resume ⤷ LinkedIn …to match their exact needs. The right story always wins. 👉 5. Build a Brand That SELLS My personal brand wouldn’t just say: “I’m a UX Designer.” It would say: “I’m THE UX Designer for [niche].” ⤷ LinkedIn headline? Crystal clear. ⤷ Portfolio? Focused and specific. ⤷ Messaging? Laser-targeted to the niche. Clarity wins. Make your specialization obvious. You don’t need more applications. You need to become the obvious, perfect fit for the right role. If I had to start over, I’d make the market chase ME. Are you positioning yourself like this yet? #UXDesign #UXCareers #DesignInspiration #UserExperience #ProductDesign #UXTips #DesignCareers #UXResearch #PortfolioTips #DesignStrategy

I went from a biology degree to a career in UX Research. With no clear roadmap for breaking into tech, I built my own path—and now I help others do the same. As a Career Coach, I work with clients from fields like public health, human factors and academia, equipping them with the skills they need to transition into a career in UX Research. After a decade in the field, here are the 10 skills that have proven invaluable in my career: ✨ Empathy – Building a genuine understanding and connection with users. ✨ Communication – Translating research insights into clear & actionable guidance. ✨ Critical Thinking – Evaluating data to drive informed, evidence-based decisions. ✨ Stakeholder Management – Aligning goals with cross-functional teams. ✨ Adaptability – Staying flexible with the fast pace of tech and product changes. ✨ Curiosity – Asking "why" to uncover deeper insights into user motivations. ✨ Collaboration – Partnering effectively with designers, PMs, and engineers. ✨ Project Management – Balancing timelines, resources, and research scope. ✨ Business Acumen – Connecting research to company objectives and ROI. ✨ Storytelling – Making research findings memorable and impactful. What skills have withstood the test of time for you? 👇 #CareerChange #UXResearch #TechCareers #CareerDevelopment #UXR #UserExperience #Biology #Tech #SkillsForSuccess