Notes from a freestyle discussion around Getting a Better Job in User Experience

1. Get a Better Job
UX Camp London April 2010
Jason Mesut, Experience Director at The Team
Marcvus Mustafa, Head of User Experience at LBi

2. Why this session?
‣ Jason wanted a free form discussion on this subject
‣ Jason had seen a lot of cvs (1000s), a lot of portfolios (100s) and
interviewed a lot of candidates for UX roles in his career (100s)
‣ Jason roped in Marcus because he has seen even more cvs and portfolio
‣ Marcus also interviewed, recruited and line managed Jason at LBi
‣ Marcus and Jason also had lengthy discussions when Jason was thinking of
leaving LBi to go to The Team
‣ Marcus and Jason both want to improve the process and quality of
candidates for ourselves and the industry at large

3. Why did you come to the session today?
‣ Want a better job
‣ Want to see Jason and Marcus present
‣ Find candidates for a vacancy
‣ Find out what better means
‣ Thinking of changing a job at some point
‣ Following ‘him’ around
‣ Become more influential in my organisation
‣ Interested in our experience at looking through cvs

4. What is a better job?
‣ Opportunity for progression in an organisation
‣ Find it easier to do better delivery
‣ Feel like more than a number
‣ Better fit for your personality, your view of design process and
your ethics (clients, type of work)
‣ Changing your current job, or leaving your current job (could
even be a different job in same organisation)
‣ More money - but there is a huge risk of false economy in our
industry
‣ Get bonuses,incentives (not necessarily financial) appreciation
and kudos or
‣ Exposure to new ways of working

5. Factors for assessing candidates
‣ First impressions count a lot
‣ The need for different skills in an organisation and the
perception of a candidates of having those skills
‣ Their salary demands
‣ How efficient they are going to be
‣ Their intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
‣ Knowing they can do the job
‣ Team fit
‣ Company fit

6. Getting the job
‣ CVs are very similar - around 30% will get an interview, 10% an offer,
less accept
‣ Recruiters can charge 8-10k+ per candidate - this is often hidden, and
they can be a pain to work with
‣ Not enough trialling - probation’s not enough - but there are legal issues
for someone working for free or for short period on trial
‣ Depends on whether you are junior(aptitude) or senior (specific task or
role)
‣ Word of mouth referrals are more powerful
‣ Some companies set a task / design challenge - makes you want it more
‣ Depends on whether you are going for agency/in-house, UX company or
multi-disciplinary
‣ Portfolios need to demonstrate your level of involvement, show more
than the finished product and help support the stories of your experience