Getting started as a UX researcher without any prior experience can seem daunting. However, with the right strategies and persistence, it is possible to break into this field.
What is UX research?
UX (user experience) research focuses on understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations to help create intuitive and user-friendly products. UX researchers utilize various methods like interviews, surveys, usability testing, and data analysis to uncover insights.
The core responsibilities of a UX researcher include:
- Planning and conducting user research activities like interviews, surveys, customer feedback analysis etc.
- Identifying and recruiting appropriate research participants
- Analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to glean user insights
- Communicating research findings and recommendations to stakeholders through reports and presentations.
- Providing ongoing optimization recommendations based on research.
UX researchers collaborate closely with various teams like product managers, designers and engineers to help shape outstanding product experiences.
Should I become a UX researcher?
Before embarking on this career path, reflect on whether you possess some key traits and skills UX researchers need:
- Curiosity: UX research is all about asking the right questions to uncover user motivations and needs. You need a curious mindset to dig deeper.
- Empathy: Connecting with different users and understanding diverse perspectives is crucial. You need strong emotional intelligence.
- Analytical skills: You need to derive meaningful insights from both qualitative and quantitative data.
- Communication skills: From interviewing users to presenting findings, you need to communicate effectively.
- Attention to detail: Designing research plans, gathering data, analyzing it – you need precision and eye for detail.
- Flexibility: You must adapt your research plans based on learnings and constraints. Comfort with ambiguity helps.
If this sounds like a good fit, UX research can be a rewarding career choice.
What educational background do you need?
While a specific degree is not mandatory, certain educational backgrounds can help prepare you for UX research roles. Some suitable options include:
- Human-computer interaction (HCI): HCI focuses on the design of technologies for human use. It encompasses key aspects like user research. Academic programs exist at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
- Cognitive psychology or human factors: These social sciences help you understand how humans think, feel, and behave. UX research draws heavily from them.
- Anthropology or ethnography: These subjects teach qualitative research methods to study human behaviors and cultures – extremely applicable to UX research.
- Data science, statistics or analytics: Gaining data literacy will help you leverage quantitative data for powerful insights.
- Computer science or programming: Technical knowledge allows you to better understand products and users.
However, professionals enter UX research from diverse educational backgrounds. Aligning your skills and continuing to build proficiency matter most.
How can you get UX research experience?
Lack of professional experience is the biggest obstacle when starting out. Try these strategies to start gaining that crucial UX research experience:
1. Volunteer for research projects
Look for volunteering opportunities on platforms like ReachOutLabs and TestingTime. Non-profit organizations also frequently need UX research help. Treat volunteering as real projects – recruit users, create discussion guides, gather and analyze data, and report insights.
2. Contribute to open source projects
Many open source software projects welcome UX research contributions. Running usability tests, surveying users or reviewing analytics for these projects is valuable experience. Mozilla, Wikimedia and Red Hat are good ones to look at. You can list your contributions on your resume.
3. Practice your skills
Build a portfolio of practice research projects to showcase your skills. Identify an app or website you use often. Develop an interview guide to probe user pain points. Recruit 5-6 friends to interview. Analyze findings and report recommendations. Rinse and repeat across a few such practice projects.
4. Take online courses
Take courses on platforms like Coursera, Udemy and Interaction Design Foundation. Apply the skills by conducting practice projects as above. Some courses also connect you with real companies for research opportunities.
5. Join research labs at local universities
Academic HCI and psychology labs often need researchers. Though mostly voluntary, it builds valuable experience. You also get access to expert mentors. Reach out to local university professors to get involved.
Building a body of experience through such strategies demonstrates aptitude and helps your resume stand out.
What skills should you build?
Supplement experience-building efforts by developing core UX research skills:
User interviews
Conducting effective user interviews is crucial. Brush up on techniques like crafting discussion guides, active listening, probing for deeper insights etc. Practice on friends and acquaintances.
Usability testing
Usability testing lets you observe real users interacting with products. Learn setting up and moderating tests, recording sessions, and analyzing outcomes. Again, practice on existing apps and websites.
Survey design
Surveys help reach a wider audience. Learn how to write unbiased survey questions, structure questionnaires logically, distribute surveys, and analyze results accurately.
Data analysis
Build skills in qualitative data analysis to identify user patterns and quantitative data analysis using tools like Excel or Google Analytics.
Storytelling and presentations
Effectively communicating insights through reports, presentations or emails is critical. Upskill visual, written and oral communication.
Investing in building this well-rounded skill-set helps make up for lack of work experience.
How can you create a stand-out resume?
With no prior professional UX research experience, a stellar resume becomes critical for getting that foot in the door. Some tips on creating one:
- Clearly state your motivation for UX research in your resume summary.
- Highlight volunteer experience and list key contributions.
- Include your online course completion certificates.
- Detail out practice research projects in the experience section.
- List specific UX research skills learnt.
- Quantify your contributions e.g. number of user interviews conducted.
- Add links to your online profiles like LinkedIn and Github to showcase work.
Emphasize the breadth of experience gained through diverse means. This can demonstrate your capability despite lack of traditional experience.
Which job roles should you target?
Aim for junior roles that value ability over lengthy experience. Here are some suitable starter job titles:
- UX Research Assistant
- Junior UX Researcher
- User Research Associate
- UX Analyst
- User Experience Analyst
- Quantitative UX Researcher
- UX Data Analyst
Early career roles tend to focus on specific aspects of research like user interviews, usability testing, data analysis etc. Rather than full-scope researcher roles. Target opportunities aligned to skills you have built up.
Which industries employ UX researchers?
UX researchers are employed across many industries. Some top ones include:
Industry | Examples |
---|---|
Technology | Google, Microsoft, Apple, Uber |
Consulting & Agencies | Deloitte Digital, IDEO, Nielsen Norman Group |
Finance | Wells Fargo, Paypal, Capital One |
Retail | Target, Walmart, Ikea, Etsy |
Healthcare | Cleveland Clinic, Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth Group |
High tech firms have many UX research jobs, but don’t limit yourself. Diverse industries now recognize the value of UX insights.
How can you network and find openings?
Beyond applying to online job posts, networking and community engagement can uncover hidden opportunities. Some strategies:
- Attend events hosted by professional associations like UXPA to connect with UXers.
- Join online UX research communities on platforms like UXResearch.co and Reddit.
- Follow influencers on Twitter and LinkedIn – turn on job alerts.
- Volunteer at UX-related conferences like UXPA and Design Thinking.
- Reach out directly to people in target companies through warm introductions.
- Consider informational interviews to build connections and learn about openings.
Tapping into local and virtual communities provides insider access you won’t find in job postings alone.
Should you consider internships?
Internships provide short-term, hands-on UX research experience while allowing you to build connections with employers. If you have the flexibility, they can be a valuable launch pad.
Some tips for scoring an internship:
- Target summer internship programs at large companies – programs exist even for non-students.
- Research universities near you running HCI labs – they hire interns.
- Consider unpaid virtual internships to gain experience remotely.
- Proactively reach out to companies about internship opportunities.
- Browse sites like LinkedIn, Internshala and Chegg.
Internships allow employers to take a low-risk chance on you. Proving yourself can lead to a full-time job offer.
Conclusion
Breaking into UX research with zero experience is challenging but very achievable. Be strategic in gaining hands-on experience through volunteering, open source projects, practice research activities and online courses. Build up your skill-set and craft a compelling resume. With perseverance and a passion for user research, you can land those critical first roles and get your foot in the door.