Misaligned Ambitions
Summary
As a hiring manager, I’ve reviewed hundreds of portfolios, interviewed dozens of designers, and mentored over 200 designers over the last two years. I’ve come to the conclusion that most designers are not taught how to be successful professionally: there is a noticeable gap in what is taught in school relative to market realities. Specifically, I’ve noticed many designers rely too heavily on their job to help them grow their craft, don’t understand how to successfully navigate large organizations, and underestimate the barrier to entry for UX design - especially from a non-design adjacent field.
If you are considering pivoting into UX or are a recent graduate looking to pursue a career in UX Design, this article will provide a few data points to help you make informed decisions.
Designers should not rely on their job to help them grow
‘Misaligned ambitions’ is a term coined by Barbara Schneider, who describes the misalignment of a student’s expectations to the reality of employer expectations. Many UX design graduates expect that they will learn and fill in the gaps in their knowledge with “on-the-job training”, but most companies won’t ever provide that for them. Additionally, many times students won’t be able to practice what they're taught in school in real-world environments. I expand on a few factors that prevent designers from learning on the job in the sections below.
Designers need to speak business
As designers, we yearn to work on projects that have a meaningful impact on the world around us. We aspire to contribute to initiatives that create positive change and improve the lives of others. Unfortunately, many organization’s primary focus is to improve their bottom line, seeking to expand their market share, increase efficiency, and outperform their rivals. This misalignment can create a disconnect between designers and stakeholders, with designers struggling to convey the value of their work beyond aesthetics. This issue is particularly prevalent among recent graduates who may lack the skills to articulate the business case for their designs, leaving stakeholders with a limited view of what designers can truly offer. Designers need to learn how to articulate their value through business KPIs, such as the acquisition of new customers, retention of existing customers, or increase in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR).
It is very difficult to break into UX design
Breaking into UX design is a daunting task, especially for those without prior design experience. It's a highly competitive field that requires a diverse set of skills, such as visual design, user research, interaction design, and prototyping. Consequently, the competition for UX design jobs is fierce, and it can be challenging to differentiate yourself. Organizations often struggle to assess a designer's potential and prioritize hiring those with relevant experience and exceptional visual design skills. This creates a barrier for beginners, especially those without formal design training. Additionally, the field is continually evolving, and staying current with the latest trends and technologies can be overwhelming for new entrants. Boot camps may offer promising job prospects, but this is not always the case, particularly during a downturned market and corporate layoffs. Those who persevere can expect to take anywhere from 3 to 6 months of focused hard work, rather than simply sending out applications.
Therefore, it's crucial to make their job as easy as possible by providing all the necessary information upfront. For example, if your portfolio is password protected and you don't provide the password, it's unlikely that the hiring manager will take the time to request it from you. With so many other candidates in the running, it's important to make sure you're doing everything you can to stand out from the crowd.
To stand out from the crowd, you need to go above and beyond what most applicants are willing to do. For instance, submitting a thoughtful cover letter that not only introduces yourself but also demonstrates that you understand what we do as a company. My observation is that only 10% of applicants submit cover letters, and only half of them are bespoke to the role they are applying for. Most of them are canned templates.
It's also essential to take a proactive approach in your job search by demonstrating your capabilities beyond what's stated on your resume. For example, send thank-you notes to the recruiters who arrange your conversations during interview loops. These gestures may seem small, but they can influence how hiring managers see you as a candidate, how well the hiring team thinks you communicate, and how likely you are to be remembered by recruiters who have to deal with thousands of applicants.
Data & Image Source: screenshot from Arista’s applicant tracking software.
In closing
Designers should not rely solely on their job to help them grow because most companies cannot train them due to the demand for designers, the limited resources, and the low design maturity of most design teams. Moreover, designers may need to take on multiple roles, speak business, navigate complex enterprise environments, and tailor their approach to big companies to succeed. Breaking into UX design is also challenging, especially for those without prior design experience. If you find yourself in this place, my recommendation is to seek alternative avenues for developing your skills by joining communities, seeking mentorship, and connecting with other professionals. During the application process, consider doing everything in your power to demonstrate your capabilities beyond what is documented on paper.