Jiahui "Miro" Wang

The job UX market is flooded with candidates, yet we hear of companies taking months to find the right one. There is frustration building on both sides of the interview table. Both are overwhelmed by the work required to find a good candidate/job opportunity match. I get it; choosing someone unsuitable for the role can be costly for a company. Team productivity may be slowed down, and re-starting the whole hiring machine after a failed probation period is painful for everyone involved. But at times, some teams hold out for the perfect candidate instead of taking the bet on someone with potential and then using their internal resources of existing seniors, leads, and managers to develop the talents properly. Proper onboarding, training, and support can de-risk hiring even junior UX professionals to a team. This reduces the need for “only senior” roles, cuts hiring costs, and increases the effective utilization of UX professionals across the board. Maybe it’s time to rethink the notion that we need that “one perfect Senior UX Designer” in our squads. What do you think? How can we de-risk hiring UX professionals and make it less stressful for everyone involved? #ux #uxdesign #uxjobs #uxcareer #productdesigner #uxdesigner #uxhiring #uxcoach

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I get asked pretty often what resources are out there that help people break into the UX field. Ryan's great and could offer some really good well informed insights. if you're curious about some interview prep, give this a look

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My 2 cents - Do not rely on a portfolio to evaluate a candidate. When most organisation protect their project data behind client networks, non-disclosure agreements, and secure environments, the portfolio is never a reflection of the candidates actual work. I have seen many instances of people with dummy & shiny portfolios having their share of high res visuals, process diagrams, metrics, et al, have failed miserably in empathising with the users, managing stakeholder expectations communicating design ideas, and delivering simple, usable, accessible products, in real life projects. I have led and delivered multiple large transformation UX projects, across diverse domains, for two of the top-tier global software consultancy firms over the last 18 years. I did not have to rely on a portfolio to communicate my capabilities. My organisation clients have vouched for my capabilties, appreciated my attention to detail and have often asserted to retain my services. Even today, I don't have a portfolio. A resume' perhaps. At best let the portfolio supplement your decision process. Talk to the candidate, evaluate their aptitude, and approach towards breaking down & tackling problems. Trust your instincts. Invest time & effort to bring the right candidate up to your standards.

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Hiring for design system roles differs from hiring for other design or engineering roles. Clarifying what makes the roles unique is essential for screening candidates. Here are some nuances that I've found to be helpful. When asking for a presentation, stop using the word "portfolio" and start using "case studies." They tell similar stories but change the expectations from traditional visual portfolios. Include clear bullet points about expected responsibilities; don't just copy and paste requirements from other similar, existing roles. Just because they have the word "designer" or "engineer" in the title doesn't mean the job is the same. If your org still insists on doing a design exercise, tailor it to reflect what you expect from a design system practitioner. The day-to-day is unique, so don't waste time on an exercise that provides no value for you and sets the candidate up for failure. If hiring a design system team manager, you're not hiring an independent contributor and vice versa. Managing and building design systems is a lot of work. One person can't do both roles well simultaneously, so pick one and focus the interview questions on the expected role. What did I miss?

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40 amazing *legitimately available as of today* Senior UX Research positions are open and on The List, including 3 open roles from Microsoft, 2 at ServiceNow, and many more from Reddit, Inc., Meta, Google and GitHub. Almost all of them are #remote and #senior positions, and either #UXResearch or #SeniorProductLeadership jobs (which tend to be a natural progression for some very senior UXRs.) And although it's research-adjacent and somewhat junior, there's a Full Time role as a User Research Operations Specialist at DonorsChoose that sounds amazing. For those of you who, inexplicably, are not on the monthly mailing list, a few stats of interest: 🚀 Of the 40 jobs listed, 33 are newly-added just since June 16th. 🚀 19 have been removed from employers' websites or job boards in the last 30 days ��� On average, listings come and go in *26 days*. These jobs are highly-sought, and although I think I'm doing a better job of spotting them and getting them posted more quickly, my rough guess is that most positions are open to applications for less than 30 days. So: <shamelessplug> Get on The Mailing List! </shamelessplug> https://lnkd.in/eJkpDx7J

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Ok design community, top pet peeves when reviewing portfolios and resumes. Go! I'll go first 1. Profile image (an image of your face) is the first thing I see on your portfolio site. I would prefer to see your awesome work and personal aesthetic. 2. Undesigned resumes. Indent those bullet points, put some thought into your typography. The Swiss design style is a good place to start if you're feeling stuck. #designers #portfolios #hiring #resumes #productdesign

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As I refine my hiring process I have question. What would you guys prefer? 1) In person/remote 30min white board session 2) Challenging design assignment done over a week 3) Mock podcast recording where we have a conversation about design.

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I've interviewed and have prepared designers for their Interview. At Meta and many other companies they have a App critique interview. Nail Your App Critique Interview: Tips for Product Designers Are you preparing for an App Critique Interview as part of your Product Designer interview process? This interview is an opportunity to showcase your design skills, critique thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Here are some valuable tips to help you ace your App Critique Interview: Familiarize yourself with the app: Download the app, explore its features, and identify areas for improvement. Prepare your critique framework: Develop a structured approach to critiquing the app's design, such as: * What works well and why * What areas need improvement and why * Suggestions for addressing those areas Focus on the user experience: Emphasize how your suggested improvements will benefit the user and enhance their overall experience. Be specific and actionable: Avoid general statements and provide concrete, actionable feedback that the design team can implement. Discuss trade-offs and constraints: Show that you understand the design decisions behind the app and can balance competing priorities. Practice articulating your thoughts: Clearly and concisely communicate your critique and suggested improvements. During the interview: Take notes on the app's design and identify areas for improvement. Ask clarifying questions to ensure you understand the design context. Provide your critique and suggested improvements, using your prepared framework. Discuss the design decisions and trade-offs that led to your suggestions. Remember: Show enthusiasm and interest in the app and its design. Be respectful and constructive in your feedback. Use "I" statements to express your thoughts and opinions. Highlight your design thinking and problem-solving skills. After the interview: Send a thank-you note to the interviewer, reiterating your interest in the role. Follow up with the recruiter or hiring manager to inquire about the status of your application. By following these tips, you'll be well-prepared to showcase your skills and increase your chances of success in your App Critique Interview. Share your own experiences and tips in the comments below! Here is some more helpful information - https://lnkd.in/grW7vEwB #appcritique #productdesign #interviewtips #designinterview #critiqueinterview #designthinking #problemsolving

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As many of my UX Designer folks know, it’s a TOUGH market out there right now. Applying for 200 jobs just to get 90 auto-rejections and 110 ghosts. Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll get a response rate of 0.5%, and THEN after getting your hopes up and going through an emotional rollercoaster for a couple weeks from a very promising interview, you get a 3am email on a the weekend that says something to the effect of “while your skills are impressive, we’ve decided to move forward with other candidates whose skills and experience more closely align with our current needs.” Well, shit. As the UX Design Institute says: “If you’ve been keeping an eye on UX job openings, you’ve probably noticed that there’s been quite a drop. From 2022 to 2023, job site Indeed reported a 73% decrease in UX research job postings. UX designer job openings were down 71%. Yikes!” This is very demoralizing, but all is not lost. “According to CompTIA’s State of the Tech Workforce Report, the projected growth rate for tech jobs over the next ten years is almost double the national growth rate for all other jobs. UX and UI jobs are predicted to grow at a rate of 4.7%.” Yeah, it’s not as easy to get interviews, or having a hiring manager even GLANCE at the portfolio you’ve been working on updating for months now. But, we are still relevant, if we understand, adapt, and understand the UX landscape. It feels dismal right now for those of us that have been doing this a long time and now find ourselves competing against the thousands of fresh “boot camp” designers that all hopped on the UX bandwagon during the crazy pandemic-era hiring frenzy. What’s left? There’s a few opportunities still out there for senior level designers, apparently. We just need to beef up our focus and try to remain on the cutting edge of the “new” UX normal. That’s embracing and adapting to AI (which is projected to create 92 million new digital jobs by 2030), maybe switching to more non-traditional industries than tech (the financial, medical tech, and government/civil service industries are investing heavily in UX right now), and maybe, just maybe, saying “F-it” and utilizing our skills to design that app that we’ve been thinking about for years but never had the time to work on (shameless plug: check out my side project, DroppBy.com - “a convenient and reliable marketplace that connects users with service professionals in a variety of industries - barbers, massage therapists, chefs, personal trainers, etc. - to deliver their services in-home”). Idk, I know it’s hard. Things are ridiculously expensive and we’re running out of our savings while making the job hunt a full time unpaid job. I am going to try to take my own advice. I am going to keep my head up. And to everyone else out there in the same position as so many of us, good things will come. It has to. Cheers, friends.

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Great article explaining design systems and how best to use them.

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Prior to 2011: - There was practically zero misinformation in UX. - Specializations were basically non-existent. - The barrier of entry and bar of UX were both high. In 2024, misinformation rules, specializations are everywhere (to the extent uninformed people think something is wrong with you if you're not a specialist), and the barrier of entry is low. Be determined to walk in the accurate image of UX AND restore it to its former glory.

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Very interesting article on the process of showcasing the results of research to stakeholders. https://lnkd.in/eyzx_4Sg #design #designthinking #designbuild #designstrategy #product #producctdesign #productmanagement #productstrategy #designprinciples #innovation #designers #digitaltransformation #ux #uxdesign #uiux #uidesign #designinnovation #application #software #softwaredesign #usability #userresearch #research #usercentereddesign #productleadership #uxwriting #designsystems #empathy #interfacedesign #usabilitytesting #userexperience #productdesign #accessibility #ui

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I've received countless terrible cold outreach messages from aspiring designers. I hope this is helpful for anyone who reads it: * Apply for the job before reaching out, then mention the role. * Ask a specific question your curious about instead of requesting time to "pick your brain" or "learn more about the team"—these are too vague. * Be concise, you get 2-4 sentences before you're tuned out. * Don't sound like a bot. Avoid formal language; write naturally and sincerely. * Provide value before you ask for it. Send a reference or idea that may be relevant to our product/brand. Keep it simple; i.e. don't go nuts re-designing our website, no one wants you to do free work. Brevity is a sign of intelligence, if you put in the work to edit your message down to the essentials, I'll put in the work to read it.

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Dear anyone who posts about a UX or Product job: In addition to posting the job description, PLEASE include these 2 details in your post: 1) Whether or not the role is remote (and details) 2) What countries / regions people should live Often this information is either not in the job description and/or not clear because of bad UX on the actual job description page. By including these details, you'll reduce the number of comments and DMs that ask "is this remote" or "can I apply if I live in (country)". Share this to help spread this message so we can make hiring posts on LinkedIn more useful! PS: Bonus if you add an accurate salary range 😉 #uxdesign #uxresearch #productdesign #ux

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A few insights into the current UX professional landscape based on interviews, contacts, and recruiters: - Tech teams are overwhelmed by workload. - Companies lack sufficient designers for projects. - Budget limitations hinder hiring more designers. - Job postings often lack detailed descriptions. - Many postings are closed. - Experiencing a rise in job postings ghosting applicants. - Recruiters prove valuable in job searches. - Hiring managers exhibit reluctance in finalizing hires. #UX #UserExperience #Recruiters #TechIndustry #JobSearch

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My LinkedIn profile describes me as a successful design leader, but that's not even half of the story. Behind the scenes is a rollercoaster of job rejections, lack of self confidence , financial setbacks, navigating industry switch, balancing college and freelance assignments and countless lessons on professional and interpersonal skills with each year. Learning to be a good manager was totally another feat. The most challenging of it all was seeking an entry into the product design field while studying graphic design from National Institute of Design, two totally different things but here I was, pushing the boundaries! All of these shaped me into who I am today. From self-support to enduring over 15+ interviews in preparation for Product Design opportunity, All I was doing was striving for more. Now I realise nobody has all the answers, even if it may seem that way. So just believe in yourself and put in your best efforts. Pushing ahead is the only key to this game. My advice to anyone starting their career journey is to stay in the present and give your best efforts to achieve what you really believe you can :) #productdesign

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📝 Interview Tip for Assessing Designers 📝 🛠️ Interviewers can assess a designer's experience effectively by focusing on how candidates articulate their design process through real-world examples. 🎨 Encourage designers to share specific instances from their previous projects, detailing how they applied their process in practical situations. This can provide deeper insights into their experience and approach. #DesignInterview #UXDesign #HiringTips #DesignProcess #Interviewing

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