Easy Steps To Land A Job As a UX Designer with Zero Experience

These days, UI/UX design is a pretty popular career choice. This profession doesn’t only allow young and driven professionals to earn a decent salary and work remotely, but it also gives a chance to be analytical and creative at the same time.

Moreover, this set of skills can provide you with job security. According to the latest survey carried out by Adobe, 72% of American IT companies plan to double the number of user experience specialists during the next five years. So, you should not worry about the demand for UX designers in today’s world.

Another great thing about being a UX designer is that you can have a lot of opportunities to branch out. You can not only design websites and mobile applications, but you can also help to design video and virtual reality games.

Needless to say, it’s not a simple corporate job. UI/ UX designers have a purpose; they shape the world around others and influence business outcomes.

All you have to know is that you have the opportunity to break into the UX world without much experience. Here is what you need to do in order to become a successful UX designer:

Relevant Education

There is no need to obtain a bachelor’s degree in UX Design to get a high-paying job. You will find a lot of online courses and books on user experience design.

Taking the courses online and reading materials will benefit your career as a UX designer. Here is what you need to read before signing up for the course:

Smashing UX Design by Jesmond Allen and James Chudley

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug

The Design of Everyday Thing by Don Norman

You will have a chance to learn concepts, tools and the difference between UX VS UI Design. Once you read these books, find an online course that will help you to become a professional. Check online platforms such as Udemy, CareerFoundry, edX, and YouTube to find the best option for yourself.

If you truly want to become a part of the UX design community, make sure to follow the best UX specialists: Erike Hall, Jared Spool, Ela Chen, Zach Inglis.

These active mentors will be happy to engage in the conversation and help young talents to succeed. Also, they can help you to stay up-to-date with user experience design.

Another great way to learn UX design is to listen to podcasts. Shows such as Beyond User, New Layer, The Boagworld UX Show, and Inside Intercom will help you to dive into the UX world.

Awesome Portfolio

To make your application look great, you need to attach an awesome portfolio. It’s the only way you can make sure you get the desired job.

Here is one tricky part. No one will give you a well-paid job without experience. And it’s impossible to gain experience without at least an entry-level job. Have you heard about it before? A lot of young people have seen this paradox during a long job hunt. So, what can you do about this vicious circle if you dream of working as a UX designer?

There are a lot of options out there. You can either create your own website, help your friends on improving UX of their products or sign up for a daily design challenge.

Let’s not forget that all kinds of companies need UX work. So, find charity organizations and offer them your services for free. First of all, you can help charity this way. Secondly, it’s a brilliant chance to expand your portfolio and keep your competitive edge. Potential employers will see your determination, talent, and set of skills. So, spending your time on a free project is in your own interest!

Other than that, consider attending a hackathon where you can expand your professional network, work on projects, and even get the prize for the best design.

You should definitely work hard on creating your website where you can show all examples of your work.

Master the Tools

You should never stop learning, especially if you want to become a UX designer. This field is relatively new, so it’s still developing and growing.

To stay on the top and translate your ideas into interactive and visual prototypes, master different UX tools. If you are just a beginner, it’s recommended to start with Mockplus. This tool offers over 3.00 icons and 200 components, and it can allow you to create, publish, and share projects with others.

The Bottom Line

If you are a self-driven person who likes learning, a career in UX design is the right option for you. To become a professional without years of experience, you should focus on self-studying. There are a lot of available materials and courses on the Internet.

Other than that, consider finding a mentor who will be able to answer your questions and give you effective tips.