IXDA Chicago May 2015 : Recruiting VSA Dave Zerlin

1. VSA Partners
PRESENTED BY
A PRESENTATION FOR
IxDA
Recruiting for UX
20 May 2015

2. IXDA UX RECRUITING © 2015 VSA PARTNERS
Qualities we look for in UX candidates
After the first interview, we evaluate candidates on these fundamental qualities.
2
GENERAL
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PROBLEM ANALYSIS & SOLUTION
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ARCHITECTURE
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INTERFACE
CREATIVITY
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ATTENTION TO DETAIL
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COLLABORATION
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SELF-GUIDANCE / EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING

3. IXDA UX RECRUITING © 2015 VSA PARTNERS
Qualities we look for in UX candidates
After the first interview, we evaluate candidates on these fundamental qualities.
3
GENERAL
!
PROBLEM ANALYSIS & SOLUTION
!
ARCHITECTURE
!
INTERFACE
CREATIVITY
!
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
!
COLLABORATION
!
SELF-GUIDANCE / EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING
3.5
2
4
2.5
4
2
4
2.5

4. IXDA UX RECRUITING © 2015 VSA PARTNERS 4
GENERAL
- What kind of a user experience designer/architect?
- How much experience generally?
- Experience in environments like VSA
- Experience on similar work
- Cultural fit
- Can fluidly traverse the 30,000 feet between The
Clouds and The Weeds
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Qualities we look for in UX candidates
PROBLEM ANALYSIS & SOLUTION
- Strong POVs grounded in strategic goals and
user behavior
- User needs research/strategy experience & skills
- Business needs research/strategy experience &
skills

5. IXDA UX RECRUITING © 2015 VSA PARTNERS 5
ARCHITECTURE
Systems thinking at all levels, concept nesting, labeling
and signage, metadata schemas – maintaining an
unbroken chain of meaning for users.
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Qualities we look for in UX candidates
INTERFACE
Definition of what screens need to do, choice of
what should be on screens to make that happen,
prioritizing of screen elements, interactions that
facilitate accomplishment of user goals.

6. IXDA UX RECRUITING © 2015 VSA PARTNERS 6
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
- Willingness to go deep where required
- Ability to document details
- Ability to understand technical and organizational
implications of design choices
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Qualities we look for in UX candidates
CREATIVITY
- Willingness to challenge conventional wisdom
- Novel solutions or ways of seeing a problem

7. IXDA UX RECRUITING © 2015 VSA PARTNERS 7
COLLABORATION
- Earns team members’ respect
- Comfortable participating in group decision making
- Diplomatic but not conflict-adverse
- Doesn’t need to own everything
- “Our,” not “my…”
- Good at explaining decisions
- Doesn’t fall in love with their ideas
- Willingness to learn, lead and follow
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Qualities we look for in UX candidates
SELF-GUIDANCE / EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING
- Can prioritize tasks
- Can manage multiple work streams without
oversight
- Can delegate with empathy and authority
- Stays on top of current trends and terminology
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8. IXDA UX RECRUITING © 2015 VSA PARTNERS 8
Thank you.
David Zerlin
dzerlin@vsapartners.com
@zetadog
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