User experience (UX) is a hot topic for software developers and designers at the moment, with more jobs than ever focusing on user experience. For 87% of the organizations, hiring a UX designer is their top priority.
There are a lot of roles that fall under the umbrella of UX. Ultimately, UX is about making sure software, website, or any other tool is easy to understand and use.
If you’re looking to break into the world of UX design, then you’ve probably already begun researching how to land your first UX design job.
Interviewing for a new role can be nerve-wracking, but with the right preparation and mindset, it doesn’t have to be scary.
With so many interview questions out there, we understand that sifting through them all can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
But fear not—we’ve done the hard work for you and identified nine key areas you should focus on to ace your next UX designer interview.
Whether you are just starting your search or are in the final stages of interview prep, we have compiled this insider knowledge and insider tips on how to stand out as an ideal candidate—and get hired fast.
So let’s get right into it:
9 Steps to becoming an ideal UX Designer interview candidate
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Understand the job before the interview
User experience is a broad term. It’s important to make sure you understand the specifics of the job you are applying for.
In most cases, UX designers work on a project’s user interface in order to make it easier to use.
They typically work with a team of designers and developers to help shape the visual elements of a product.
In a smaller UX Studio, a UX designer is usually a jack-of-all-trades—working on:
- Visual designs
- Writing copy
- Helping with user research
- Creating personas
- Journey maps
- User flows to understand and visualize an experience
- And more
They also do usability testing on prototypes, conduct customer discovery interviews, and create empathy maps.
In larger companies, a UX designer is required for a specific role; the employer expects the candidate to be an expert at that particular role.
For instance, if a large company is hiring a UX copywriter, the ideal candidate must be an expert at UX copywriting.
So essentially, understand what type of company you’re applying at, and what does that particular job require from you.
If you’re a UX research expert or even a jack-of-all-trades UX designer, and you’re applying for a job that only requires expert UX copywriters, you can’t expect to standout as an ideal candidate because you’ll compete with those candidates during the interview process who are expert UX copywriters.
Considering these facts is also important because it helps you tailor your CV or resume according to the job you’re applying for.
Since recruiters are often bombarded with a lot of job applications, they don’t spend much time sifting through each of them.
80% of the short time they take looking at your CV, they concentrate on the particulars such as:
- Name
- Current title/company
- Previous title/company
- Previous position start and end dates
- Current position start and end dates
- Education
So be sure to tailor these particulars according to the UX role you’re applying for; otherwise, your CV is going to go inside the bin beside the recruiter’s table.
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Be prepared to answer ‘get-to-know-you’ and other questions
If we explain the interview in terms other than ‘interview,’ what would it be? A formal setting where employers/interviewers ask questions to know whether you’re a right fit for their company or not, right?
So as with any interview, expect the interviewer to ask you a few get-to-know-you questions as they try to get a better understanding of who you are as a person.
Since UX is a vast field in itself, questions come from anywhere depending on the job description and specifications.
However, UXcel’s list of questions are sure to prepare you with solid answers to many UX questions you expect.
As a UX designer, they’ll ask you to talk a little bit about what inspired you to pursue this career path.
Also, be prepared to walk the interviewer through your creative process, and how you go about designing a solution to common user problems.
In addition to the get-to-know-you questions, expect to be asked a variety of standard questions that are common in many different types of interviews.
For example:
- What is your previous work experience (preferred by 91% of employers)?
- What is your educational background?
- What are your career goals?
- What are your short-term and long-term objectives for this position?
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Show that you understand core UX concepts
UX design is a broad and interdisciplinary field, so it’s crucial to demonstrate that you have a general understanding of core concepts and processes.
You need to have a working knowledge of research, prototyping, and testing techniques, as well as a basic understanding of design and development methodologies.
Before your interview, try to brush up on key terms and definitions and make sure that you’re familiar with the various stages of the design process.
Also, try to get a better idea by reading a book from an established UX designer or looking at examples of real-life design projects.
You’ve merely 7 seconds to make a good first impression. Make that by exhibiting your knowledge of core UX concepts in front of the interviewers.
2. Be prepared to defend your creative choices
During the interview process, expect to be asked how you respond to feedback from other team members.
What if your boss tells you that your design is terrible?
How do you defend your creative choices then?
What happens when you want to make a design decision that goes against the grain of the company?
Your first instinct might be to make changes, but you need to stand your ground.
If you are given feedback that you don’t agree with, you need to be prepared to defend your design choices.
You may have to have a few ‘boss battles’ but being able to defend your design decisions makes you a better designer.
When you are given feedback that you don’t agree with, ask yourself what the person is trying to tell you.
Maybe the design is overwhelming or too simplistic. Or, maybe it’s difficult to find information.
If you are not given specific feedback, ask the person what they don’t like. Once you have the feedback, you can try different solutions to see which one works best.
3. Know your tools
Depending on the company type, it is expected by the employer and interviewers that you know how to use the most common design tools and have a basic understanding of how to code.
Interviewers want to get a better sense of your technical skills, especially if you’re applying for a job that requires a good amount of design and prototyping work.
During your interview, demonstrate your proficiency in design and prototyping tools by offering examples of when and how you have used them in the past, and what your specific user experience design workflows are like.
Some of the most common tools include:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Sketch
- Figma
- Adobe InDesign
- Axure
At many companies you are also expected to know how to use some basic tools like:
- Microsoft Office
- Google Docs
- Google Sheets
- Jira
- Visio
Sometimes, if you are applying for a job at a larger company, you may be expected to know how to code. This is rare, but it does happen.
4.Be familiar with different types of user interfaces
There are a few different types of user interfaces. The most common interfaces you will interact with are web and mobile interfaces.
Other interfaces include but are not limited to smart home, virtual reality, and augmented reality applications.
Knowing the difference between these types of interfaces will help you communicate better with designers in-house. This will also help you understand the best way to approach designing for each interface.
When designing for the web, know how to use the wireframe process to sketch out interfaces (including their functionality) before diving into visual design.
Think about how your design will affect the user experience on both desktop and mobile browsers.
Keep in mind that a user’s experience will vary depending on the device they use.
When designing for mobile applications, remember that people are usually on the go, so they are less likely to spend time learning how to use your app.
So make sure your app is simple to use and provides the user with information or an experience as quickly and easily as possible.
5. Be able to identify user needs and behaviors
To be a successful UX designer, you need to know how to identify and empathize with your users’ needs and behaviors.
This is especially important when you’re conducting user research and testing your design concepts with real users.
Demonstrate your proficiency in user research and user empathy in front of the interviewers by sharing examples of when you’ve used these techniques in the past.
Also, walk your interviewer through your process for conducting UX research and testing your design ideas.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Asking questions shows that you are engaged, interested, and eager to learn more about the job and company you are applying for.
It also gives you the opportunity to clarify misunderstandings about the job and company.
This is important especially if you are applying for a UX designer position at a startup.
Startups are fast-paced and often very complex. So, it is important to be able to adapt quickly to new situations and technologies and design for multiple environments.
If you are applying for a job at a large company, it is also important to ask questions about the company’s goals and objectives.
Ask about the company’s culture and how designers fit into the company’s structure.
7. Confidence is key
Last but not least: confidence is key to landing your dream job.
When it comes to interviewing for any job, you need to demonstrate that you’re the right person for the position.
It is possible by practicing your interviewing skills, having a strong knowledge of your background and skills, and staying focused on your strengths and areas for growth.
When it comes down to it, you need to exude confidence, regardless of your current skill level.
Be honest and address any weaknesses you have without making them sound like weaknesses.
Employers want to know that you are capable of learning, growing, and that you are willing to work hard to succeed in the role.
Wrapping up
At the end of the day, UX design is a collaborative process, and your interview is your first chance to collaborate with your potential employer.
So, make sure that you come to the table with a positive and collaborative mindset.
During your interview, you need to sell yourself as an ideal candidate.
If you do this correctly, you’ll walk away from the interview with a better understanding of your potential future with the company.
So, now that we’ve gone over these nine important steps, feel more confident about the process and work towards landing your dream UX design job.
Also Read: 10 Best Resources for Learning Bleeding-Edge Web, UI, and UX Design
