Today I am bringing a career alternative for UI/UX Professionals who wants to advance their career towards a more innovative and challenging area called UX Research. When companies need to have a thorough understanding of how to design products that will appeal to their targeted end-user, they rely on the skills of UX Researchers. This is an in-demand profession as these UX Researchers engage in research and analysis that can impact the entire design process of a product.
The work of a UX Researcher can make a company more successful, something that cannot be overstated in this highly-competitive, tech-driven world. UX Researchers come from many different backgrounds. Many have a degree in computer science, marketing, graphic design, or related fields. Many hiring managers are keen on hiring UX Researchers who have familiarity with quality assurance, Understanding of business process modeling, Experience with application development and design, Engagement in market research and who can collect and analyze data. Employers look for UX Researchers who have started a UX portfolio and can demonstrate they have these traits from projects they have worked on in the early stages of their professional career. Most UX Researchers have a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, computer science or related fields, with many having earned certification in UX Research or taking online courses to gain educational experience.
Though the precise educational requirements needed always depends on the company you are looking to join, it doesn’t hurt to earn a bachelor’s and look into additional online training courses and certification programs to better your chances of being hired. UX Researchers often gain initial experience for the role through coursework as well as in internships and even as a freelancer for design and tech positions. UX Research is a complex field, which luckily means there are several avenues to follow that will help you frame your experiences so that they fit genuine UX Researcher processes.
An example of this is if you have gained experience working as a frontend engineer, then you already understand software development and the importance of being user-focused when designing content. UX Researchers at the junior level have demonstrated their ability to optimize the user experience of a product or service through systematic research and analysis. They have obtained their research skills and have a better understanding of the best methods of obtaining user input. They are becoming more fluent in analyzing the applied research and data they follow and uncover useful information that helps in different aspects of the design process. Junior level UX Researchers likely have had at least a couple years in this position and have learned how best to balance their scientific and artistic sensibilities.
UX Research is an evolving field but there are still plenty of ways to ensure you move up the career ladder. Thriving in your assigned duties and taking on additional responsibilities is a great way to stand out to your managers. Being proactive and a problem-solver is another. For example, perhaps you are working on a mobile application design project and are at the evaluative stage. You discover that earlier assumptions and initial research aren’t quite panning out and that users interviewed about a testing version of the application are not impressed with the interface.
Don’t panic! By quickly sorting through the positive and negative reviews provided by the users about the interface and creating a quick sketch to pass on to the product designers for them to use to modify the existing test product can end up saving your company’s valuable time and money. Doing your work while also proving your worth will show your employers you are indispensable and worthy of moving up in the UX Research ranks. After several years in the field and demonstrating your immense skills and knowledge with UX Research, many UX Researchers can attain a senior level. UX Researchers who intend to reach senior status are likely to have also acquired sharpened soft skills, like being excellent collaborators and managing their time well. They will often take the extra step of helping their colleagues when needed. So while it is important to ensure you are mastering the art of UX Research and have given your company much-valuable insights into the needs and requirements of their customers, taking care to be considerate and generous with your interactions with colleagues is also beneficial to rising up the ranks.
UX Research is both complex and ever-evolving, meaning you are not only in a competitive field but also capable of setting trends that can impact the future of UX Research. Taking the initiative to invest in your skillsets and expand your knowledge will make you a UX Researcher to be reckoned with. For example, try attending seminars and conferences about UX Research and its subcategories, such as design in IT, marketing, data analytics, etc., to continuously enhance your technical skills and keep an eye on industry advancements. This is also an excellent opportunity to network and make acquaintances in like-fields who may help your career down the road. UX Researchers who have attained a senior position has no doubt earned respect from employers and co-workers for their achievements in the field. They have a portfolio brimming with successful projects and have developed a fluency for engaging in meaningful research.
Though they may be happy to carry on at a senior ranking until retirement, other UX Researchers see it as an opportunity to enter a new, though related, field. Some such career changes have included product manager, who follows the entire lifespan of a product from design and creation to marketing and release; and UX Directors, who are responsible for managing the various UX teams and overseeing projects in a managerial role. So this is one of the ways for UI/UX professionals to advance their career to become a successful UX researcher. If you want to get any personalized suggestions on this topic then feel free to drop a comment and I’ll definitely get back to you. Have a successful week ahead and cheers to you all from Your Career Goal..
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