Are you a good fit for UX?
Tags: Babies, Health, Humor, Life, Coronavirus

Are you a good fit for UX?

Photo: Cavan Images/Getty Images

User experience (UX) is a growing field, sitting at the intersection of business strategy and product development. With interesting problems to solve, stimulating work environments, and generous pay, it’s not surprising that people are interested in pursuing it. If you’ve wondered if UX might be a good fit for you, ask yourself how well you align with the following skills and traits. The field is very competitive to get into, but if you focus on developing and mastering the following skills, you’ll set yourself up for success.

Skill #1: Communication

Everyone communicates every day, yet as common as it is, communicating clearly and effectively is not easy. UX professionals need to communicate continuously with their partners and stakeholders, transcend technical and industry jargon and use simple language, and break down complex ideas into manageable concepts. They need to effectively probe others to get them to slow down and explicitly explain their reasoning to ensure no one is making assumptions or unwarranted leaps in logic. UX professionals also need to collect and synthesize data in order to distill the core idea, which they then need to articulate in a clear and compelling way. Finally, they need to be effective persuaders and storytellers to get people to listen, care, and ultimately act.

Skill #2: Collaboration and relationship building

http://esc.vidrio.org/sqw/videos-Strasbourg-Bordeaux-v-en-gb-1oya-14.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/v-ideos-granada-v-real-betis-v-es-es-1iin-6.php

http://esc.vidrio.org/sqw/videos-Strasbourg-Bordeaux-v-en-gb-1rbv-14.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/uok/v-ideos-saint-etienne-v-nimes-olympique-v-fr-fr-1mws-8.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/Video-espanyol-v-almeria-v-es-es-1usj-14.php

https://cartaodosus.info/video.php?video=videos-Union-Saint-Gilloise-Westerlo-v-en-gb-epi-.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/video-espanyol-v-almeria-v-es-es-1eze-8.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/videos-granada-v-real-betis-v-es-es-1bqf2-13.php

http://esc.vidrio.org/sqw/videos-Strasbourg-Bordeaux-v-en-gb-1eez-16.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/uok/Video-saint-etienne-v-nimes-olympique-v-fr-fr-1cbn-11.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/uok/Video-saint-etienne-v-nimes-olympique-v-fr-fr-1rus-9.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/videos-granada-v-real-betis-v-es-es-1cif2-4.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/v-ideos-Accra-Great-Olympics-Sogakope-Wafa-v-en-gb-1tbt-.php

http://esc.vidrio.org/sqw/v-ideos-Sassuolo-Milan-v-en-gb-1kcx-16.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/videos-Accra-Great-Olympics-Sogakope-Wafa-v-en-gb-1qqi-16.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/v-ideos-granada-v-real-betis-v-es-es-1ray-5.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/uok/video-saint-etienne-v-nimes-olympique-v-fr-fr-1cnk-7.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/video-granada-v-real-betis-v-es-es-1aip2-13.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/uok/videos-saint-etienne-v-nimes-olympique-v-fr-fr-1asm-13.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/video-Accra-Great-Olympics-Sogakope-Wafa-v-en-gb-1xjo-13.php

https://kleinoot.nl/yry/v-ideos-saint-etienne-v-nimes-olympique-v-fr-fr-1uvj-12.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/uok/videos-Tottenham-Leicester-v-en-gb-1dxf-13.php

http://tanum.actiup.com/nue/video-Medeama-Liberty-Professionals-v-en-gb-fep-.php

https://cartaodosus.info/video.php?video=videos-Union-Saint-Gilloise-Westerlo-v-en-gb-sdi-.php

https://kleinoot.nl/yry/video-saint-etienne-v-nimes-olympique-v-fr-fr-1kbe-3.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/uok/videos-Tottenham-Leicester-v-en-gb-1nnn-8.php

https://kleinoot.nl/yry/videos-saint-etienne-v-nimes-olympique-v-fr-fr-1jzf-6.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/v-ideos-tottenkhem-v-lester-v-yt2-1btu-6.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/video-inter-v-spetsiia-v-yt2-1mnb-7.php

https://kleinoot.nl/yry/video-Tottenham-Leicester-v-en-gb-1tav-.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/uok/v-ideos-Tottenham-Leicester-v-en-gb-1dsn-13.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/v-ideos-tottenkhem-v-lester-v-yt2-1rlj-3.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/video-inter-v-spetsiia-v-yt2-1vdk-18.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/v-ideos-tottenkhem-v-lester-v-yt2-1aoi-13.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/uok/videos-Tottenham-Hotspur-Leicester-City-v-en-gb-1egu-13.php

https://kleinoot.nl/yry/v-ideos-Tottenham-Leicester-v-en-gb-1mog-1.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/Video-inter-v-spetsiia-v-yt2-1ufn-17.php

https://kleinoot.nl/yry/v-ideos-Tottenham-Leicester-v-en-gb-1tww-15.php

https://cartaodosus.info/video.php?video=Video-Union-Saint-Gilloise-Westerlo-v-en-gb-yga-.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/videos-inter-v-spetsiia-v-yt2-1tus-10.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/uok/videos-Tottenham-Hotspur-Leicester-City-v-en-gb-1kps-17.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/Video-tottenkhem-v-lester-v-yt2-1yal-5.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/video-tottenkhem-v-lester-v-yt2-1zoz-14.php

https://kleinoot.nl/yry/v-ideos-Tottenham-Hotspur-Leicester-City-v-en-gb-1fbz-.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/uok/video-Tottenham-Hotspur-Leicester-City-v-en-gb-1iih-8.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/v-ideos-inter-v-spetsiia-v-yt2-1vir-14.php

https://cartaodosus.info/video.php?video=v-ideos-sent-eten-v-nim-v-yt2-1igg-9.php

https://kleinoot.nl/yry/videos-Tottenham-Hotspur-Leicester-City-v-en-gb-1dpk-11.php

https://cartaodosus.info/video.php?video=v-ideos-sent-eten-v-nim-v-yt2-1wkv-8.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/video-fraiburg-v-gerta-v-yt2-1ggh-17.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/Video-slovacko-v-viktoria-plzen-v-cs-cs-1qjg-6.php

https://cartaodosus.info/video.php?video=v-ideos-sent-eten-v-nim-v-yt2-1xur-3.php

https://kleinoot.nl/yry/v-ideos-Tottenham-Hotspur-Leicester-City-v-en-gb-1wzc-1.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/Video-fraiburg-v-gerta-v-yt2-1kqy-16.php

http://tanum.actiup.com/nue/video-Medeama-Liberty-Professionals-v-en-gb-feb-.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/v-ideos-slovacko-v-viktoria-plzen-v-cs-cs-1xuy-10.php

https://cartaodosus.info/video.php?video=v-ideos-sent-eten-v-nim-v-yt2-1drb-11.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/video-fraiburg-v-gerta-v-yt2-1qkq-13.php

https://cartaodosus.info/video.php?video=videos-sent-eten-v-nim-v-yt2-1mdd-15.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/v-ideos-slovacko-v-viktoria-plzen-v-cs-cs-1kac-14.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/Video-fraiburg-v-gerta-v-yt2-1viq-17.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/Video-fraiburg-v-gerta-v-yt2-1trq-6.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/video-AZ-Alkmaar-Willem-2-Tilburg-v-en-gb-1fsq-6.php

http://esc.vidrio.org/sqw/videos-Sassuolo-Milan-v-en-gb-1div-18.php

http://esc.vidrio.org/sqw/v-ideos-Sassuolo-Milan-v-en-gb-1aip-5.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/v-ideos-AZ-Alkmaar-Willem-2-Tilburg-v-en-gb-1oot-4.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/video-Slovacko-Viktoria-Plzen-v-en-gb-kak-.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/videos-Slovacko-Viktoria-Plzen-v-en-gb-nmn-.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/pfs/v-ideos-FC-Botosani-FC-Voluntari-v-en-gb-kqq-.php

https://cartaodosus.info/video.php?video=videos-nant-v-anzher-v-yt2-1lrb-19.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/videos-AZ-Alkmaar-Willem-2-Tilburg-v-en-gb-1ayo-2.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/pfs/Video-FC-Botosani-FC-Voluntari-v-en-gb-vhe-.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/videos-Slovacko-Viktoria-Plzen-v-en-gb-zoe-.php

http://esc.vidrio.org/sqw/Video-benevento-v-genoa-v-it-it-1mse2-14.php

https://cartaodosus.info/video.php?video=video-nant-v-anzher-v-yt2-1ebi-17.php

http://esc.vidrio.org/sqw/videos-benevento-v-genoa-v-it-it-1wdu-10.php

https://cartaodosus.info/video.php?video=Video-nant-v-anzher-v-yt2-1odn-7.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/pfs/video-FC-Botosani-FC-Voluntari-v-en-gb-kgk-.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/videos-Techiman-Eleven-Wonders-Ashanti-Gold-v-en-gb-stq-.php

https://kleinoot.nl/yry/video-FC-Botosani-FC-Voluntari-v-en-gb-gbs-.php

https://kleinoot.nl/yry/Video-FC-Botosani-FC-Voluntari-v-en-gb-ssk-.php

http://esc.vidrio.org/sqw/Video-benevento-v-genoa-v-it-it-1xyl2-11.php

http://tanum.actiup.com/nue/Video-Medeama-Liberty-Professionals-v-en-gb-mtf-.php

https://cartaodosus.info/video.php?video=v-ideos-nant-v-anzher-v-yt2-1skx-5.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/Video-Techiman-Eleven-Wonders-Ashanti-Gold-v-en-gb-pwj-.php

http://tanum.actiup.com/nue/v-ideos-Benfica-B-FC-Vizela-v-en-gb-ozq-.php

http://esc.vidrio.org/sqw/videos-benevento-v-genoa-v-it-it-1spo2-15.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/v-ideos-Techiman-Eleven-Wonders-Ashanti-Gold-v-en-gb-wkk-.php

https://kleinoot.nl/yry/v-ideos-FC-Botosani-FC-Voluntari-v-en-gb-dui-.php

https://cartaodosus.info/video.php?video=Video-nant-v-anzher-v-yt2-1cij-6.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/Video-Elmina-Sharks-Inter-Allies-v-en-gb-cbj-.php

http://tanum.actiup.com/nue/v-ideos-Benfica-B-FC-Vizela-v-en-gb-yoj-.php

http://esc.vidrio.org/sqw/videos-benevento-v-genoa-v-it-it-1toa-11.php

http://tanum.actiup.com/nue/v-ideos-Benfica-B-FC-Vizela-v-en-gb-ooz-.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/video-espanol-v-almeriia-v-yt2-1gwi-11.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/video-Elmina-Sharks-Inter-Allies-v-en-gb-nhb-.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/pfs/videos-AS-FAR-FUS-Rabat-v-en-gb-grj-.php

https://test2.activesilicon.com/rta/videos-espanol-v-almeriia-v-yt2-1kuj-12.php

http://multi.provecracing.com/pfs/v-ideos-AS-FAR-FUS-Rabat-v-en-gb-xus-.php

http://mix.gruposio.es/gci/videos-Elmina-Sharks-Inter-Allies-v-en-gb-nmx-.php

Skill #3: Project management

UX professionals also need excellent organizational and project management skills. They often support multiple products and teams and need to be able to balance various projects and changing priorities. Keeping track of deadlines, outstanding tasks, next steps, and dependencies is crucial. They regularly have to reach out to partners for technical considerations, priority clarification, and design feedback. Proactively following up on outstanding items, clearly communicating progress, and enlisting help to remove blockers are key in leading successful UX projects that are delivered within scope and on time.

Skill #4: Problem-solving and analytical acumen

UX professionals need to be great problem solvers. They need to master active listening and interviewing skills in order to fully understand a problem and determine how design can address it. In addition to understanding the problem at hand, UX professionals need to be good systems thinkers, adeptly considering the problem at hand as well as how it fits into the larger picture. UX professionals also need to be creative, being able to think outside the box and conceptualize problems and solutions in new ways. Finally, they need to consider and weigh available information and confidently make recommendations and design decisions.

In addition to these skills, the following traits are important for effective UX professionals.

Trait #1: Being open to feedback and dissent

When hiring UX professionals, one of my top priorities is making sure they welcome thoughtful discussion and well-reasoned critiques. UX professionals need to be open-minded and receptive to feedback. They can’t have big egos that prevent them from hearing and accepting unexpected feedback because UX is all about collecting feedback and using it to iteratively improve to achieve the ultimate goal: to build the best product for our users.

Trait #2: Embracing ambiguity and being adaptive

UX professionals need to be comfortable with complexity and feel confident uncovering the core problem and developing a plan of action. They need to embrace complexity and ambiguity, relying on their interviewing and communication skills to help them make sense of things. Additionally, they need to be able to gracefully balance inevitable changes in priorities, projects, and timelines.

Trait #3: Emotional intelligence and curiosity

Finally, UX professionals need to listen to and advocate for the user. They need to think about the human side of things and push back when technical challenges, complexity, and opaque language threaten intuitive products. They need to work with various stakeholders to respectfully balance user needs with technical considerations, resource limitations, and business goals. Additionally, UX professionals need to be curious and challenge themselves to continuously learn and explore new ideas, techniques, and tools, while staying abreast of ever-changing industry trends.

UX is an exciting and rewarding field offering challenging and interesting work. If you identify with these skills and think UX might be a good fit, great! Consider how you can highlight and position your skill set to set yourself apart. Feature your strengths and work on developing any areas you feel weaker in. These skills are never complete, as we can always push ourselves to move to the next level.