Preparing for a UX job interview

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple"

Preparing for an interview, especially a UX job interview, is quite tricky. It’s not always the skills you have or bring to the table, but more the personality fit and your opinions etc.

I was lucky enough to spend some time with an ex-footballer who’s now a Match of the Day pundit earlier this week, we got talking about his job and how it came about, the interview process etc. I work in recruitment I couldn’t help it!!  Funnily enough he wasn’t too interested in hearing about the life of a User Experience Recruitment consultant from Grazeley. His loss.

What he told me was quite interesting, through his playing career and then into his punditry career he has always been, and will always be, direct. Just answer the question asked of him, be concise and to the point. The rest is a matter of opinion, and you can’t rehearse or mess up your opinion. I appreciate it’s different in other interviews and jobs, your opinion needs credibility which this particular individual does have so he gets away with it, but essentially people miss the point of actually answering the question asked of them. When gathering feedback from clients, we find that candidates will use the interview to talk about everything and anything, but not answer what is asked of them.

'Waffled'.. 'Undersold'.. 'Talked around the subject'.. 'Went on'.. 'Missed the point'..  These are the terms we hear.

Going back to the really interesting conversation I had this week, it sounds so simple….. but….. answering the question that’s asked of you seems to go a long way.

Here’s a good article that I came across which is a good read for those of you on your way to an interview.

SUKHI KANG

SPECIALIST USER EXPERIENCE RECRUITER

Preparing for your UX contract abroad

The process of getting ready for your UX contract abroad is much like preparing to go on holiday, however in this instance you’re looking to earn money in another country. Either mentally or on paper/digital, you’re going to need to start with a comprehensive checklist of things to get in order before you leave.

Day Rate

Make sure to do your research beforehand and settle on a day rate that works for you and the employer. Figure out how much of your day to day expenses will have to come out of your own pocket, and therefore what kind of wiggle room you need on your rate. Look up local contracting rates and check that your expectations are along the right lines. Consider conversion rates and how they may fluctuate slightly over the course of your contract – it is likely you will lock down a day rate in the country’s currency, however this could translate into different amounts each pay day if you are being paid into a UK bank account.

Accommodation

You should endeavour to network with other UX contractors to find the best options for accommodation. Looking online is a great first step, too! Some people like to secure short term hotel accommodation for their first few days abroad, and then settle upon somewhere more permanent once they’ve spent some more time there. You may also need to consider any rent or mortgage at home, too – are you able to be mobile at this point in time, can you sub-let, or are you coming to the end of a tenancy?

Payment

If this is your first time taking contract UX work abroad, you should reach out within your network or with an industry recruiter to learn about the ins and outs. Depending on the company, you may be able to receive pay into your existing bank account, but you may well need to take steps to make payment possible within your country of work. Ask these question at the earliest possible opportunity, similarly if you are working via a recruiter. You also need to consider whether you would like to work via your own limited company, or if you need to sign up with an umbrella firm to help you process payment. In this case, ask people you know for recommendations on reliable providers and search around for the best rates.

Expenses

You should check with your employer beforehand regarding expenses. Will you be able to expense travel, food and accommodation? Or, would you need to factor this into your day rate (see step one)? Find out what their expenses process is like – can you submit as you go along, or do you have to wait until you invoice? Make sure to find out about all of the help you are able to receive in this area, to make certain your earnings go further.

We hope these tips have been helpful.  Read more on the IC Resources news section for insights on contract and permanent employment within UX.

Chris Bryan 

CREATIVE CONTRACTS

UX in 2015 and the Social Bubble

The UX market is always evolving, this is why we all love it!

I came across this article and found it an interesting read. When I saw the headline of the article, I was immediately thinking.....Social Media, Wearables, Internet of things. I was actually pleasantly surprised when I did read the article.

I did however find it hard not to notice the projections that analysts have predicted for Instagram in 2020, it’s projected to hit 5.8 billion dollars. Social is obviously going from strength to strength and it’s almost just a matter of time before the next social phenomenon hits us!

You see some of the fantastic work that the User Experience designers are part of, everything does seem to have a to social presence and I’m seeing a lot of designers factoring this into their latest projects, how will businesses be able to stay in touch with social to make sure they maximise this phenomenon!?

Will we suffer from companies using social media mediums for the sake of being relevant and because it seems to be the ‘done thing’? If you’re not benefiting from the social mediums, is it necessarily worth having the channels in place? How and when do businesses know what social channels are going to be useful and which avenues leave them open to negative and possibly bad publicity?

Would be great to get your thoughts.

SUKHI KANG

SPECIALIST USER EXPERIENCE RECRUITER

Should you UX for free?

As we hope you know, your UX talents are amazing, valuable things! As in any profession, the marketplace can put a price on your skills (read here) and your level of experience and vision can indicate what you could be worth to a company.

So, when should you work for free?

When you’re just starting out:
Most UX-lings will know that it’s tough starting out, but with the right attitude and contacts you can get there! Getting together an awesome portfolio is an important first step, and a great way to do this before landing your first job is to offer your services free of charge.

When it’s a project you love:
If there’s a brand, company or start up you’d be honoured to have your name attached to; there’s no harm in offering assistance to make your dream come true. If there’s a job going – even better – but if you’re motivated by the work itself, then let them know you’d be happy to help out – you never know what may come of it!

When it’s a friend in need:
As you grow your network of UX colleagues you may come across those who are struggling to get their own projects off the ground. Why not help out, get involved in something cool, and help a friend realise their vision at the same time?

When you want to collaborate:
You’re a UX developer with an idea. Your friend’s a designer, who also knows a mean UX researcher looking for some short term work. What better than to put your skills together and create something worthwhile? Working together with only a mission and coffee spurring you on can result in something beautiful.

So there you have it; our top reasons why you might like to offer up your valuable skills for zilch! Have you ever worked for free, and if so, in what circumstance?

Please email us here to tell us.

Why taking a project abroad could be a good idea...

Sick of London? Sick of drizzle? Sick of commuting? Sick of spending your mornings pressed up against a stranger’s armpit?

Sounds like you need a break.

Whilst your mind might instantly wander to long holidays in far flung places, your pocket might be advising you otherwise. If you haven’t before – now might be a good time to think about taking a contract overseas, where you can enjoy the thrill of discovering a new destination whilst earning – instead of spending – money.

There are plenty of companies in Europe and further afield in need of UX talent. Whether you’re a UX or UI designer, researcher, tester, or a product manager - at any one point there are hundreds of firms crying out for your specific UX talent.

Half of the fun of contracting is meeting new people and teams, and what could be better than working your way across the world and experiencing different design cultures?

And, depending on where you choose to work, you could be making a very decent sum of money in a short space of time – enough to cover your travel, expenses and more!

If the idea of travelling is just as exciting to you as getting your hands dirty on an exciting, new project, get in touch with IC Creative to find out whether you could be a good match for any of their overseas UX contracts.

Please contact Sukhi Kang or Chris Bryan on  01189 881150.

Why designers must aim to be disruptive

In the world of business and design, the phrase on everyone’s lips at the moment is ‘disruptive innovation’.

Whilst many products and services buy into market and consumer trends (albeit with the desire to improve or refine current offerings), disruptive design aims to displace the ‘norm’ and come up with the next big, unexpected thing in that marketplace.

The smallest of innovations can prove to be the biggest improvements, and whether said innovations take hold over months, years or decades, they are market-changing ideas which alter the habits and values of traditional users in the long-run.

Humans are a resourceful bunch, and whilst every now and then some completely new technology will surface, many of the best innovations have been disruptions of technology or services already in place.

There is so much potential out there to disrupt and enhance products which are currently in use, so entrepreneurial and big-thinking designers must always be thinking about ways to improve the lives of users who - by habit and default - are using products and services which are getting the job done - but not necessarily in the way best suited to 2014.

 Let me know your thoughts, please email me

Do corporate firms need an in house UX team?

With the number of UX freelancers working in and around London, companies looking for some short term UX work (an overhaul of their website or a new mobile app, for instance) can find it easy to identify the right type of talent for them, for a matter of weeks or months.

However, with more and more corporate companies beginning to understand the value of dedicated UX staff, here we discuss whether bigger firms actually need to take on permanent staff, or whether they can get by on hiring talents as and when.

Yes

• UX’ers on hand at all times to ensure your product/service is as user-friendly as  possible
• Provide ongoing support and improvements
• Designers will truly understand the company, design history, and stakeholder preferences
• Saves money – paying for freelancers can rack up!

 No

• Fresh talent/ideas with every new designer
• Hire in designers/researchers from different disciplines when needed
• Hire in designers/researchers with experience from direct competitors

What are your thoughts? If you’re working in a corporate environment as a permanent UX’er, what are the perks of your job? If you’re a hiring manager thinking about employing some UX talent, feel free to get in touch to discuss your options with us.

Look forward to hearing your views. Please email me.

Time for a UX CV Makeover?

If you’ve been searching for a new job for a while and are finding it harder than anticipated to get traction with potential employers and recruiters, it might be worth taking an in-depth look at your CV to ensure this vital document is doing the best it can for you.

Design

Our main advice when designing a UX CV would be – don’t go over the top. Your CV should really reflect the current design trends of the day, so clean and easy to navigate. Whilst you may have fantastic motion graphics skills for example, basing the design of your CV around them can result in a cluttered, confusing user experience. You want to stay away from anything which requires a high loading time or interaction to ‘reveal’ key information.  ‘Concept’ CVs could be perfect for some companies, but we would suggest including a link to a separate plainer document, in case that suits the reader better.

 

Make it obvious

Sometimes, a recruiter or employer – when faced with a selection of CVs – will only have time to dedicate twenty or thirty seconds to your profile. You must aim to make your top skills and experience as obvious as possible. A good trick for this is utilising a summary of keywords or short sentences summarising all of the methodologies and tools you’ve used. If your skills and experience are lost within a large body of text, there’s a chance this important information could be missed.

Erase ambiguity

Go through your CV as a potential employer would. Is there any ambiguity about your skills, qualifications, experience or even what you’re looking for next? If something doesn’t quite add up or is hard to decipher, this is where problems may have arisen. Why not get a friend who knows the business to read over your CV in detail and highlight any areas they feel don’t match up with your profile.

Link everything

If your CV has piqued a hiring manager’s interest, the next logical step for them is to check you out, online. But wait – what if they can’t find you at the click of a button? Include a section with your portfolio, a password for the portfolio if necessary, your LinkedIn, Google Plus and Twitter.  The aim is to keep them on your profile for as long as possible, by making it easy for them to surf between social media and web sites.

Let me know your thoughts. Please email me 

Apple’s next move

One of the hot topics of the week has been the iPhone and iWatch. I've been an Apple man myself for some time; I swear by my iPhone and use the iPad religiously.

At times like this, I get all excited about the launch and sit there with my cuppa and biscuits waiting for it all unravel, although a lot of it goes over my head until I actually get into the forums!

Something I found quite useful with regards to the Apple iWatch:

http://www.stuff.tv/apple/10-things-you-need-know-about-iwatch/news   

I do find that as soon as the launches are done, all you seem to hear are the negatives..'it doesn't do this.. it doesn't have that..it's too big.. it's too small'.. but within the first 2 months of the release everyone who's anyone seems to have one!!

What is the general consensus among people out there at the moment with the latest releases?

I saw the adverts that were released by some of the competitors ... and the things that were said about the new Apple release being similar to what others have already done.  Is that not a classic Apple move, are people really surprised? Let others have a go, then release something that has a better experience for the user.

 

Most people will agree that Apple products have a great UX.  As an example, my dad is Lord of the Technophobes, but with the simplicity of use that the Apple products have, he's the absolute man in his little group of friends because he's got a few apps that they've never seen!

With the bigger screen, it's not going to fit in the palm of the hand like iPhone's have typically been known for - being able to hold the phone in one hand and swipe with your finger whilst on the go. It does seem to be the time for 'Phablets'.  According to Yahoo's Flurry Unit, Phablets have nearly quadrupled their share of app activity and doubled active users in the last 12 months.

Although there is a buzz around Phablets at the minute, it is a specific type of person who will want one. For the business user, the tech enthusiast and the holiday reader the Phablet is great, but getting one of those in your pocket on a day to day basis for those non business types, social users etc won't really be as appealing..?

What do other industry professionals think about the reaction of the competition? Is Apple slipping? Are competitors trying whatever they can to weather / offset the storm that the Apple brand stirs up at release? Will the bigger screens affect the experience? Will my technophobe father be all at sea with the new wave of products ha!

What comes next..

As always, would love to hear from you - please email me.

Educational opportunities for newcomers to UX

Some of us know what we want to be when we grow up from a very young age. For others, it can take several years and career changes before we decide on the path we want to follow. If you’ve made your mind up during your time at school then it’s easier to plot your educational trajectory and get that role you want through completing the correct undergraduate, BA, MA or PhD course.
But what can you do if you change your mind, mid-career? Whilst a lot of UX is design-based; there are the theories, the methods, the techniques and the best practises which are best picked up through attending a course or undergoing formal education.

The options these days are myriad; from going back to college or university full time, to taking a part-time e-learning course, to signing up for short courses, to attending training days.

For those of you who have founded your industry knowledge with a course of UX education – what worked for you? What didn’t? What provided the results you’d hoped for? What advice would you give to others looking to break into UX through education?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts, as always! please email me

What to Wear in a Creative Interview

This is a question we often hear from design candidates we put forward for interview with our clients.

As much as we will try and advise based on previous experience/knowledge of the company, sometimes those going it alone could do with some information on the topic – so I wanted to touch upon this issue as it may be helpful for other industry professionals going into interviews.

As a rule of thumb, base your decision on the industry.

Is it a financial company? Highly corporate? If so you may need to wear a suit.

Similarly, if you will be meeting with clients on site as a large part of your job, it may be right for you to dress smartly in your interview.

For a creative agency, go smart casual! Express your creativity, but respect the fact you are looking to impress the person you’re meeting. A blazer over a more casual outfit can always be taken off at reception if necessary.

If you’re working in a design team as part of a wider IT company, you may need to be on the smarter side, too.

Hiring managers do sometimes have preferences, so if you can get hold of that information – do.

Try and speak with friends you may have within the company, or contact the HR department to ask in advance. Failing that, look online for press releases including photos of the team. “Meet the Team” sections of websites can often be really helpful in gauging what the accepted style is.

If in doubt, go smart. You can always backtrack from this if you end up working there, but you can’t make a second first impression.

Let me know your thoughts, please email me

Life on a Job Board

There will be some of you out there who will never look for a job. That’s because you’ll either be so happy in your role that you’ll never want to leave your current company, or you will be fortunate enough to make useful industry connections and move from job to job in an organic way.

Then, there are those people who make tentative steps into job hunting as and when feels right for them. This might involve updating your CV and LinkedIn, connecting with recruiters, joining job boards and applying for advertised jobs.

For some people though, job hunting is a constant and ongoing process. There are those people who live their lives on the job boards, updating their details regularly (sometimes even daily) and very active about keeping their channels of contact open.

For contractors, who only commit themselves to companies for weeks or months at a time, having job board visibility can be a fantastic way to keep informed of upcoming projects. For designers in permanent roles, there is nothing wrong with keeping yourself abreast of the job opportunities which could be out there for you or your industry acquaintances.

As a recruiter I do sometimes wonder what it must be like to be in this position.

When I’m actively resourcing for a new role, one of the first places I will look is the job boards.

This is where I find people who are flagging themselves up as open to hearing about roles. I think, “Well, this role matches their location and expertise, why don’t I give them a call?” But then I think – if I’m looking to speak with this person about a new job – how many other recruiters are doing the same thing? How many calls to job board regulars get in an average week?

It must be hard to keep tabs on the names of recruiters who have called you, let alone which jobs they have sent you information about!

It would be great to hear from job board regulars about their experiences.

How can recruiters like me make it easier for you to find your next move?

Look forward to hearing from you. please email me.

Scribble – Is This the Future of Design for Everyone?

Remember MS Paint?

Remember the colour picker tool where you could click on any pixel from an image and recreate that colour somewhere else on your page? How useful that was for when you really didn’t have the patience to spend an hour picking the perfect shade from the RGB colour palette.

Well, things have really come along since then. For a projected £90 you will soon be able to purchase the Scribble Pen - currently in development with California developers Mark Barker and Robert Hoffman. Available in either the ink or stylus versions, by simply pressing the colour sensor against a desired surface of colour the pen will then draw in that exact shade. Impressively, the pen will be able to recreate an estimated 16 million variations of colour.

Imagine what that will mean for designers everywhere!

When deciding upon colour palettes for apps and websites, graphic designers could select inspiration from surfaces around them. In collaborative design, rather than trying to explain, “a little bluer, no, a bit greener,” it will become second nature to be able to express oneself visually.

I, for one, am looking forward to this pen making its debut on the UK market!

As always, I enjoy reading your thoughts. Please email me

UXPA Careers Event - Attendee Review

On the 19^th June, Thomson Reuters in Canary Wharf played host to this year’s UXPA Careers Event.
Raj Arjan (UXPA) was the curator for the evening, with Jiri Siftar (Design Lead at Thomson Reuters) giving a rousing welcome speech.

This speed dating-style get together saw a number of UX job seekers meet with over 15 potential employers and industry recruiters (including IC Creative).

Representatives from UX teams around London and the UK sat in pairs at their designated tables, which were of course laden with leaflets, booklets and most importantly SWEETS.

Rotating every 5 minutes, the budding UX Designers and Researchers had a chance to talk about themselves and their qualifications. In turn, employers were able to discuss any upcoming vacancies of interest.

With a huge pool of newly graduated UX’ers as well as industry experts looking for a career change, this was a worthwhile event which we would recommend to job seekers next year.

As always, we are interested to hear from you, please do email us.

The World Cup of User Experience

Football is often viewed as the great social unifier.

If you’re in an awkward situation, just bring out the football talk. During the World Cup in particular, almost everyone has an opinion.

So, it may come as a surprise to you that the writer of this blog despises the beautiful game!

In an attempt to endear myself more towards this event where grown men run up and down a field in silly uniforms, I decided to do a little research into the applications out there and see which ones are dominating the market in terms of great UX, usability and graphics.

1.)    Best All-rounder  - World Cup Brazil 2014 
2.)    Best Betting-related app – Oddschecker
3.)    Best for Managing your Sweepstake – Shuffl.com
4.)    Best Football Manager - Football Manager Handheld 2014 SEGA
5.)    Best for Fantasy Football – Fantasy iTeam

Let me know which ones you’re obsessed with!

Which UI’s do you really like?  Which ones do you think could use some improvements?

Please let me know what you think by emailing me.

What Is The Best UX Portfolio Format?

This week I wanted to ask the hiring managers out there – which portfolio format do you prefer to see?

The formats we regularly see are:

• Personal website
• Dropbox (or other) link to PDF
• Portfolio sites such as Cargocollective or Behance
• Dribbble – snapshots of work
• Folder of individual files
• Links to live works throughout CV

I know which ones appeal the most to us – but I wanted to get your take on this too.

Please do email me.

What Type of Conference Personality Do You Have?

There are numerous UX-related conferences and meet-ups coming in 2014 - which type of conference personality do you have?

Of course, this doesn’t just apply to User Experience events!

The Ambler – Drifts from stall to discussion, soaking up the atmosphere and taking in as much as possible.

The Instigator – Often seen in the middle of a group discussion, with others hanging off their every word. Up to date on industry topics and has an opinion on everything (not in a bad way!)

The Promoter – Hands out business cards, badges, leaflets to do with their product or start-up. Great at selling themselves and their product!

The Social Media Butterfly – Recognises faces and names from LinkedIn, Twitter and G+ and turns those online acquaintances into real life contacts.

The Dutch Courage –Makes use of the free wine to overcome the hurdle of introducing themselves to strangers! 

Have I missed any? Which category do you fall into?

 

Please do email me and let me know.

Does the interview process begin before you’re even there?

Whilst spending an afternoon to’ing and fro’ing between two parties to book in a first stage interview, I had a little think about the implications of this part of the process, and whether a bumpy ride at this stage can foreshadow how the process plays out later on.

The conversation in question went a little like this:

“9am on the 15^th!”

“9am on the 16^th!”

“How about 10am on the 16^th?”

“No, I have a meeting then. OK scrap that, next week? When are they free?”

“They’re free Monday and Tuesday.”

“How about Monday at 5pm?”

“Oh they can’t make Monday now…”

…And so on. It was a bit like a game of schedule tennis.

This got me asking - does the interview process begin before you’re even there? Is what you do at this stage important?

Interview etiquette would dictate that the interviewee, the jobseeker,  should do what they can to accommodate a meeting of minds. That is to say, they are the ones on the back foot when it comes to ‘moving things around’ or cancelling prior engagements. If a company wants to see you on Friday afternoon but that would interfere with your timely commute back home for the weekend, as inconvenient as it is, you go and meet them and take a later train.

It is, after all, within your interests to get in front of them as soon as possible – protracting the process allows the momentum to trickle away and allows other candidates to get into the frame. It is also beneficial for your candidature to be accommodating and flexible.  Understand your interviewer is a busy person and accept there may only half an hour a week when they can take time to interview.

After all, they are only pushed for time because they are down a pair of hands in their team - and that is where you come in! If you can accept this fact and do what you can to make the magic happen sooner rather than later, then it really will be to your benefit.

Similarly, gracefully accepting last minute cancellations will win you brownie points - you will be perceived as flexible and understanding, whereas making a stand against the fact you’ve had to book half a day off work for nothing other than a route-to-work trial run – will potentially stick in your would-be employers throat.

I’m not saying that things should be this one-sided, but they often are. That is not to say that within the UX industry things are as black and white as I’ve made out. Our clients are often flexible when it comes to providing meeting times and understanding candidates issues with scheduling and ‘flying under the radar’, however I have noticed through working within the wider recruitment industry that it’s often a case of “now or never”.

My advice would be – even though that meeting may be less than convenient now – think of the longer term benefit involved in taking that step towards a new career!

 

Let me know what you think.

How do you negotiate NDA’s?

On a few occasions recently, I have guided candidates through an interview process only for the issue of an NDA to – well, become an issue.

The Non-Disclosure Agreement – signed by many designers across industries and disciplines – states that work contributing to a design solution cannot be shared or shown until the product becomes public. In some cases due to the sensitive nature of the work, it can never be shown at all.

On some interview occasions, it has been implied that it is mandatory for a candidate to breach an NDA and show work – else to the detriment of their application.

I wonder how you would approach this issue if it happened to you?

Would you rather flick through hard copies of protected work to satiate your potential future-employer, or stick to your guns and keep your work top secret to respect your current employer?

I don’t have a personal opinion on this, as it’s often a very delicate issue to negotiate. I’m not sure if there is a one size fits all right or wrong.

If anyone has been in this situation, or has advice – do let me know. I’m never sure how to advise people in these situations so if anyone can help that would be much appreciated.

 

As always, I would love to hear from you - please email me.

The Myth of the UX Unicorn

The fashionable and rather endearing term for a do-it-all designer  - ‘UX Unicorn’ – always makes me chuckle.

But… is it just me, or is a Unicorn just a horse with a horn stuck to its head?

Surely a better comparison to draw would be to mythological Sphinx, with the body of a lion, wings of a bird and head of a man? Also I think there are some scales on there, somewhere. Anyway. My point is that a true UX all-rounder is an amalgamation of many things in equal measure. They are not just a UI Designer with some Axure experience. They are not a UX Designer who knows a bit of HTML/CSS.  They are not just a horse with a horn.

I know what you will say - the point of the analogy is that the Unicorn, like a multi-disciplinary designer, is hard to find.  It’s elusive nature means it camps out in the woods and only appears to those who know what they’re looking for.

But, from my experience, these Unicorns (or Sphinxes) are rearing their heads more and more frequently as designers are up-skilling and taking on more responsibility on projects. I have personally noted an increase in this type of profile over the last year or so.

Would you identify with the Unicorn, or the Sphinx? Which UX creature are you?

 

Please contact me and let me know!