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Whether you’re a new UX designer or a professional, you may have to pass multiple interviews to land your dream job. The interview process can be overwhelming for anyone, so we’ve compiled these UX interview tips to help newcomers and professionals alike.
UX Interview Tips
Even if you have the skills and experience to land that dream opportunity, preparing for an interview can be a daunting task. Here are some tips that can make you a great candidate for your upcoming UX design interview:
Take Notes
If you want to impress your interviewer and help yourself, take notes. This will demonstrate that you are engaged and interested in the company, and is a great opportunity to model how you would act in meetings. But be mindful of the things that you choose to note down. For instance, don’t just take notes when discussing salary and benefits. This is a red flag.
Know the Company and Position
This may sound obvious, but make sure that you know all the basic details about the company you are interviewing with. This information will help you understand the company’s culture and work ethics, and whether your values and ethics align.
To learn more about the company you’re applying to, visit the company’s website, as well as their LinkedIn and Glassdoor profiles. It can also be useful and informative to see if the company has appeared in the news recently.
And if possible, research the product managers and the interviewers. See where they went to school, and where they’ve worked before. You might have some mutual acquaintances.
Similarly, go through the job description more than once to understand the position you are applying for. With this exercise, you will get a clear idea about the qualities and skills a company is seeking. Then, when you’re interviewing, you can talk about how you’ve demonstrated these skills in the past, or how you would go about learning them if hired.
Review (and Be Prepared To Explain) Your Portfolio
Another reason to thoroughly review the job description is to see whether or not you need to update your UX portfolio. If the job description requires certain skills, make sure those are included in either your portfolio or resume.
Be ready to explain your resume to the interviewer, as the interviewer may ask you to walk them through your resume. You should be able to:
- Explain your recent projects and relevant skills.
- Demonstrate that you can add value to the company.
- Highlight your specific accomplishments and strengths.
Refresh Your Soft Skills
Whether you are applying for a senior or junior UX design position, you need to ensure that your soft skills are up to par.
As a manager, you should have strong interpersonal skills and communication skills, so that you can lead your team. Alternatively, a junior designer needs to be a good listener and an excellent team player. So, if your current resume doesn’t mention any of these soft skills, don’t delay and update. Practice these skills daily, so you can improve these skills before applying for a position.
And if you’re looking to brush up on your technical skills, consider a UX design bootcamp.
Have Examples of Good and Bad UX
User experience design is all about creating products that offer relevant and valuable experiences to the end-users. And since it is a process, it can go both ways. When talking about UX design, you should be able to present some real-life examples to evince your points. It helps to follow UX design magazines, blogs, and other publications. You can also mention good and bad UX examples from your last workplace.
Review Their Website/Product Ahead of Time
If a job requires that you work on a particular product or website, make sure you review it before your interview, and make notes of the aspects that you can improve.
You can also use LinkedIn to connect with designers that might already be working on the project. This way, you’ll have a better sense of what the company wants from you, and its expectations during the hiring process.
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Explain Your Thoughts, Ideas, and Design Process in Simple Terms
As a potential UX design candidate, you may be asked to explain your thoughts and ideas on specific products and processes, like how to create user personas.
For instance, if you want to make a design process less complicated, share your thoughts in a way that a non-specialist can understand. Also, regularly reading about UX design will help you share your ideas with ease and confidence.
Prepare Questions for the Interviewer
At the end of an interview, the interviewer may ask if you have any questions regarding the job or the company. So prepare a short list of queries beforehand to demonstrate your interest. Make sure that your questions are relevant to the job position and the company, and that your questions demonstrate your interest in the position.
Think About Your Desired Salary Range Ahead of Time
During a UX design interview, you may be asked about your salary expectations. The best way to answer confidently is to have an answer in mind beforehand. Do your research, and find out what designers working in the position are usually paid. Again, websites such as LinkedIn and Glassdoor can help you explore that.
If this is your first time working as a UX designer, see what others get paid and compare it to your experience. However senior you are, be prepared to explain why you deserve the salary you want. Talking about any UX bootcamps you’ve completed is a great way to evince that you’re worth the money you’re asking for.
Understanding The UX Interview Process
Still nervous about the UX interview process? We have answers to the most common questions, so that you know how to succeed.
How Long Do UX Interviews Usually Take?
The length of the interview depends on what stage you’re at in the interview process. For example, if this is your first interview with the company, it might be conducted by phone, and may last for 20 minutes only. In this interview, you may be just asked about your basic knowledge and details.
However, if it’s the final interview, it will likely last much longer. This is because final interviews usually contain multiple complex questions that require thoughtful and detailed discussions. Also, if the interview revolves around a particular project, you may be asked to perform specific hands-on challenges.
How Many Rounds of Interviews Should You Expect for a UX Design Job?
Typically, a UX design interview contains more than one or two rounds. The first round might be conducted on the phone with a hiring manager. Other rounds might be conducted onsite, where the interviewer may review your profile and allow you to meet other team members or your potential design team.
What Kind of Projects or Tests Should You Expect in a UX Interview?
You may be tested on your knowledge and experience in web app design, mobile app design, or lead generation landing pages. These are called usability tests. Similarly, you might also be given tasks to perform on projects such as email drip campaigns, blog publications, and e-commerce websites.
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