UX: Class To Career was made as part of the University of Michigan Design Science master's practicum course. The goal of this project is to make the experience of finding a career in the UX field easier for early career job-seekers.
The presented quotes have been obtained and meticulously transcribed from interviews with contributors. Interviews were conducted with industry professionals at varying career points, many of which have had experience interviewing and evaluating candidates for UX-related positions at companies and organizations. Interviewees were asked questions regarding personal career experiences and overall advice for entry-level professionals and early-career job seekers. Their responses have been summarized and displayed here. Filter quotes by topic for insight on a specific topic or try searching for a custom keyword in the search bar.
If you are an aspiring or new UX professional, this site is for you. Many of the quotes came from people who have been in your shoes. Even if you do not fit that description, this site contains valuable information that can be applied to fields outside of UX. Through this tool, you may become a more knowledgeable and well-versed applicant to entry-level UX industry positions.
I'm Andrew, a digital product designer and recent graduate from the University of Michigan with a Master of Science in Design Science and Bachelor of Science in Information.
In my senior year at the University of Michigan School of Information, I enrolled in a mentorship program to assist a junior UMSI student with career planning, recruiting, course selection, projects, and more. My mentee was mostly interested in receiving advice regarding job recruiting and career development in UX. I found this relationship to be exciting, rewarding, and helpful for both of us. Sharing with them the information that I had gained and experiences I had throughout my time searching for internships and entry-level positions was not only helpful for them, but very fulfilling for me, as I knew that I was having a direct impact on his career development. It also made me more thoughtful in the strategies I was employing in my own career development and recruiting experiences. In developing a concept for my practicum project, I put this experience at the forefront of my ideation process, placing emphasis on my eagerness to help others interested in a career in UX or design-related fields.
Through this project, I hope to increase increase the odds of success for early-career UX job seekers by providing them with stories and advice from experienced industry professionals. Enhancing a potential applicant's knowledge and preparation will improve their range of opportunities and salaries, and enhance the match process for organizations, creating an environment of more knowledgeable and well-versed applicants globally.
