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

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.

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.

UX Crash Course

Hi all.....

I came across this article earlier today and found it a very useful read.  A good read for those looking to get into the UX space and equally good for those just topping up knowledge.

http://thehipperelement.com/post/75476711614/ux-crash-course-31-fundamentals

Hope you enjoy it!

Please feel free to contact me sukhi.kang@ic-creative.co.uk

The Interview…

As a contractor you probably spend more time interviewing for your next contract than you do onsite at your current one in the few weeks leading up to the end date!! Permanent candidates will be asked to move heaven and earth to attend interviews, and then be made to wait until things get signed off before we can even move forward. It is however the part of the process that can’t be missed!

I’ve had some great stories from clients and candidates about interviews, some have been done within 15 minutes and offers out, some have gone on for hours because the client wants the candidate to refer back the ‘user’ at least once!

As the designers and the interviewers you’re the guys that have the technical knowledge, but sometimes you can forget about the person/s that are in the interview room with you. Being a UX interview, I’ve spoken to a few of my clients and done some reading to see what I can muster up, here are a few points that can hopefully help..

• You’re interviewing for a User Experience role- so take yourself out of the interview for a second and think of the client as a user and you’re the product. Have an understanding of the needs of the client, and how you will get them to their goal.
• This leads on to the next point quite well, as controversial as this may sound, designers will get to the same end product/ deliverable as another (some by hook or crook and others by loving what they do and being darn good at it), but it’s the process and the methods that will make you stand out and fill clients with confidence
• When you’re asked to take your portfolio with you to go through it, it’s not just a matter of plugging it in and saying ‘I did that.. I did that.. I helped do this.. I drew that..’ take the client on a journey. It’s all about the user experience here, if the interviewer has been taken on a journey through your portfolio, they’ve understood how you approached the task, the problems you came up against, the methods you used, how you thought outside of the box when you came up against hurdles and how you got to the deliverables, the client is seeing the product in action. This is a good user experience for them, they’ll invest in the product..

For example..

Buying a car	Hiring a UX Designer
Do your research (internet)	Do your research (Linked, Xing)
Watch videos and screen (youtube, forums)	Go through online portfolio / PDF
Go to a showroom to have a look	Skype / telephone interview
Test drive	Face to Face interview and expanded portfolio review
Question the salesman	Ask the interviewer questions
Decision	Decision

Obviously this is quite watered down, but my point is you wouldn’t buy a car without going through the process, you’re putting your hard earned money into something and you want to be made to feel excited about what you’re doing. Be the Aston Martin in your interview, you’ve got to the interview stage because you’ve passed through the previous phases.

If you turn up, it’s your fourth interview of the week, you’ve got a Dominos on order, hoping the delivery man doesn’t turn up in the middle of Eastenders then it’s not worth you being there. If you are there, you’ve done the research and have a genuine interest, show the passion you have in your work, sell yourself as that top end vehicle and give them the best test drive they’ve had (bit cheesy, I just got really caught up in the writing).

Just a few pointers, I’m more than happy to go into more detail over phone or email if you have any questions or pains about interviews.  Please feel free to contact me at sukhi.kang@ic-creative.co.uk

 

New Year, New You: Find a New UX Job in 2014

What is it about the New Year which spurs people on to begin their job hunt afresh?

Certainly it has something to do with the idea of a “new year, new you” – a time when everyone around you is making resolutions to change one thing for the better. The past year has become a measurable increment of time which you can reflect back upon – languishing for weeks, or months in a less-than-ideal job is excusable, but when this period of stasis reaches a whole year you realise it’s time to do something about it!

Reasons for stagnating in a role which is comfortable – but not challenging – are myriad; proximity to home, a good enough pay packet, a friendly team wherein you have lots of friends. What people tend to realise come January is that you can always strive to achieve more. The New Year acts as a kick-start to move your life on and achieve something you can be proud of!

A lot of the time it’s not even the case that there’s anything amiss with the job or company you’re in. Over the last twelve months you will have changed; grown, learnt, and adapted – what suited you back when you started is not the best fit for the new, improved 2014 version of you.

So, invest some time in reassessing your current needs. Would you like to climb up the career ladder? Would you like to manage a team? Would you like more experience designing for a specific platform? Would you like to try contracting? Do you think you should be earning more money to support your lifestyle? Would you like to relocate, have you always dreamt of working in Paris, Berlin, Hong Kong….?

From our clients’ point of view, January is the perfect time to go on a recruitment drive. With everyone nicely rested from the Christmas break – now’s the ideal time for hiring managers to invest some effort and reshuffle their schedules to incorporate interviews and meetings with potential new team members. New projects are on the horizon – and more pairs of hands will be needed. On top of this, new budgets are being released and hiring roadmaps are being drawn up for the coming months.

If you want to take the initial steps towards a new career move, feel free to pick up the phone and call Sukhi or Sam at IC Creative on +44 (0)1189 881150. Alternatively, have a look through our current jobs which we advertise here.  With a searchable function; you can easily find the type of role you’re looking for or register your interest with a few simple clicks.

Hope to hear from lots of new UX’ers in 2014!

The UX Portfolio – What makes the client tick..

I imagine it must be hard for an experienced designer to hear from a recruiter that you need to jazz up your portfolio, when you’re the ones who’ve actually done the work! I find it a little hard to say sometimes, but it is the client that tells us what they look for, we’re the ones that have these conversations and know what the client is looking for, so do our best to offer as much guidance as we can.

I did come across an article that was a really good read for me that comes direct from a client, it gives you an insight to what clients look for in a UX portfolio when they’re interviewing. We offer advice here on how to make your portfolio appealing to clients - different clients in different verticals like different things which doesn’t exactly help you as a candidate, but hopefully this article can provide a good starting point.

http://www.userfocus.co.uk/articles/wow-me-with-your-ux-portfolio.html

If you feel you need some guidance on putting together an updated portfolio, we’re more than happy to help. It would be great to hear from you as a candidate and find out what you find the biggest hurdles when putting together work examples. Equally, clients that can pass on any nuggets of information that you feel could help candidates would be much appreciated.

Please feel free to discuss further with Sukhi Kang

UX Recruitment - The candidate perspective

..Do to others as you would have them do to you..

I’m pretty sure we’ve all experienced it, you get calls at the most inconvenient time. You get a barrage of emails and messages when they are just not relevant!

In this week’s discussion, I’m really keen to try and tap into the market and see how UX candidates prefer to communicate best. Working in the UX space is different to other areas, you’re not always able to drop everything to answer the phone (sometimes you are, but you just don’t want to!). You may be in workshops all morning, so the last thing you want to do on your lunch break is speak to 15 different people asking you the same question whilst you tuck into your KFC.

As a UX professional, freelance or permanent, it would be brilliant to hear from you guys and let us know what the preference is for communication. I hate being bombarded when it’s not necessary, but when my car insurance or phone contract is up for renewal I like to use the internet and use online assistance, that’s my personal preference.

What works best for you the candidate when you want to know about the market activity? And equally, what annoys you most!!

Please contact Sukhi to discuss further.

Joining the UX movement – now is the time....

UX has gone from strength to strength;  IC Creative is definitely seeing more and more people starting to understand the significance and importance of a good UX.  It’s not always been the way, and the older heads that waved the UX flag to what seemed no avail, have seen how perceptions have changed and the importance of UX is being better received and consequently clients are reaping the rewards. I read an article that outlines why now is the time to become a UX designer, there are a lot of people who are going this way and I think it would be very useful. 

Why now is the right time to become a UX designer.

To discuss this or anything UX, please email Sukhi Kang.

The Perception of UX

Ever since the inception of IC Creative in 2008, we have shared teas and the odd cold beverage with UX managers and a number of designers who’ve told us what some people perceive UX to be, sometimes you can only take UX so far within a business as you’re fighting with powers that be to secure funding etc simply because people have completely the wrong perception.

I personally found this quite a good read, something that some of you may enjoy on your commutes to and from work. I imagine there will be some people out there who have this mindset about UX, I know how much it can get under the skin of those who are in the industry. It maybe something to keep on your desktop and pass onto those who ‘just don’t get it!!’.

 

Four myths about UX and how to bust them

To discuss this or anything UX, please email Sukhi Kang