A Look at The UX Careers Handbook

A Look at The UX Careers HandbookA Look at The UX Careers HandbookWhile there have been many books written about computer-nutzer experience (UX) methods, the topic of UX careers hasnt seen as much discussion. Noted UX expert Cory Lebson of Lebsontech LLC is changing that with The UX Careers Handbook, which features concrete tips and techniques for improving UX careers, a review of different kinds of UX careers, a guide to navigating the UX career lifecycle, tips for hiring managers and more.A photograph of a colorful variety of cheesecake slices might not seem like an obvious pick for the cover of The UX Careers Handbook, but theres a good reason for that selection. It represents choice. According to author Cory Lebson - a regular contributor to top UX publications - there are many UX career pathways to pick from today.A key premise of the book is that UX represents an umbrella concept that encompasses a number of careers, Lebson told us. As such, critical skills related to UX meth ods are going to vary based on the specific UX profession that were talking about.While UX is often associated with interaction design, Lebson highlights an array of other UX disciplines, including user research and evaluation, information architecture, content strategy, technical communication, visual design, accessibility, customer experience and others.Advice for budding UX professionals?Lebson believes certain soft skills are essential for any UX professional, including truly caring about the needs of the people who use the products and services they create, curiosity and creative problem solving abilities. Adaptability is also imperative as technology continues to evolve. But when it comes to professional training, the diversity of UX careers means theres no universal skillset. For example, a user researcher needs to have skills related to rational scientific reasoning combined with the desire for exploration, while a visual designer needs artistic skills combined with creativi ty, Lebson notes.Aspiring UX professionals enter from many walks of life, from students in formal academic programs to tenured creative professionals looking to move into the UX world. In many cases this means gaining experience and knowledge through professional development.There are a number of programs out there where people who want to transition into UX can take intensive training courses after work for several weeks or longer, Lebson says. In those training programs, there are often group projects that can initially be used in a portfolio. Once someone has basic UX knowledge, they can also offer to do UX work pro bono for their favorite local charitable organization with the caveat that they can use all of it in their portfolio.Established professionals might also be able to make the case that some of their creative work is already applicable to UX. Sometimes its a matter of putting a spin on the experience, Lebson says. For example, copywriters might be able to make the case that their experience is UX-related, particularly if they articulate that they understood the needs of the end user and applied UX principles to make their content more usable. Even a social media manager could make the case about how they used their social media skills to enhance product usability. This could potentially provide a foot in the door, and then once the door is open they could branch out to other areas of UX, learning as they go and accumulating UX work samples for their portfolio.Lebson advises job seekers for any UX profession to focus on creating a killer resume and a portfolio that tells one or more stories. A portfolio shouldnt just be a collection of work samples, Lebson says. It should also tell the story of the project, the individuals specific role in that project and how the candidate applied UX skills in a way that ultimately helped improve experiences.Lebson adds that participation in organizations such as UXPA can be extremely valuable to a UX professional s career. He suggests getting on mailing lists and attending as many conferences and trainings as possible, whether they are national events or local UX meetups.Think of it like learning a foreign language with an online learning tool versus going to the country where that language is spoken and immersing yourself in the language and culture, Lebson says. Not only do you get to learn about cool UX topics, but youre also surrounded by UX peers. That networking and those conversations provide additional learning and broaden your UX perspective and knowledge.Tips for employers hiring UX professionalsThe UX Careers Handbook also includes advice for employers looking to hire UX professionals. Lebson notes that many companies make the mistake of seeking a single candidate that can do it all.Employers shouldnt be looking for a unicorn, though they often are, he says. Its more critical to determine what areas of expertise are most important to the position, and then look for UX professional s who match those areas of expertise.Hiring managers should also pay attention to the aforementioned nontechnical skills. An adaptable, team-oriented attitude is critical, as is the ability to communicate well and to tell a story, Lebson says.When asked what the future holds, Lebson says designers and other UX pros must strive to stay current and remain flexible. While technology will continue to change, and methods will continue to evolve, the same skills that are needed now will continue to be important in the short and long term knowing how to illustrate interactions and interactivity between parts of a system, but also the ability to explain those interactions in a clear and justifiable way, Lebson says.Ready to apply for a job in UX? Read our post on interview tips for UX professionals now

3 Resume Writing Lessons from Shakespeare

3 Resume Writing Lessons from Shakespeare 3 Resume Writing Lessons from Shakespeare There are resume writing tips all over the web, but thats not the only source available. You can find resume writing tips in daily life, and also in some unexpected places- for instance, from reading William Shakespeare.This week, we have three lessons you can take from Shakespeares works and apply to your resume.BrevityTherefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,I will be brief. Hamlet (2.2).Rambling (which the character who says this typically does) is not an effective way to communicate. Being clear and direct is the best way to get your point across. This is especially true for resumes, because you have a limited amount of time in which to make a good impression on a recruiter or hiring manager.The limbs and outward flourishes in this case are unnecessary words, excess information, and jargon that distract from the most important parts of your resum e. A short resume is more effective than a long one. If your resume reads more like a detailed autobiography and less like a concise and targeted document that quickly makes the case for you as a candidate for a specific job, then its time to start editing.HonestyMy thoughts and my discourse as madmens are,At random from the truth vainly expressd. Sonnet 147.In other words Im thinking and talking like a crazy person, and speaking lies. In this sonnet, Shakespeare is so consumed by feelings for his mistress that he twists reality, and lies to himself, to justify what he wants.Lying on your resume is one of the worst things you can possibly do. But job seekers have done similar things to what Shakespeare does in this sonnet- they see a job and want it so much that they lie on their resume to look like a better candidate.According to Miriam Salpeter, a contributing writer for Monster.com, there are four main types of lies people use on their resumes lies about past employers, lies of o mission, half-truths, and embellishments.It goes without saying that lying on your resume is wrong, and in this case, Shakespeare provides a kampfstark example of how unhealthy it is to try to change the truth to suit what you want.TimingBetter three hours too soon than a minute too late. The Merry Wives of Windsor (2.2).Getting your application in soon after a job is posted can dramatically increase your chances of landing the job.Job seekers underestimate the importance of being at the front of the hiring line, according to Chris Forman, the CEO and co-founder of StartWire.A StartWire study of more than 6,000 hires showed that 27% of those hired applied within the first two days of a job being posted, and almost 50% of those hired applied within the first week.Spending days perfecting your resume might hurt your chances more than it helps. Especially considering the sheer volume of candidates for each job posting, it typically doesnt take long for the recruiter or hiring manager t o gather a list of top candidates to begin the interview process. If you dont make it onto that list, youre likely out of luck- chances are that, once the process has begun, they wont go back to look at additional applications that come in.Resume writing isnt always an easy task. So how can you get your resume ready to go quickly? One tip is to keep a career management document (or master resume) and update it regularly.The other is to paste the text of your resume and the text of the job description into Jobscans resume analysis tool. Youll get instant feedback on how well your resume is targeted for the job, plus suggestions on what you can do to improve it. Jobscan makes it easy to tailor your resume quickly, making it possible for you to get your application in early- thus improving your chances at landing the job.

What Kelso Knows about Work

What Kelso Knows about Work What Kelso Knows about Work Most of what he said was told to many of us by wise parents, mentors and friends- its worth bedrngnising that teens, as a group, tend not to listen to this kind of advicethat is unless its coming from Mila Kunis BF. So whatd he have to say? Read on1) Opportunity looksa lot like hard work. While its true that he didnt come up with this bit of wisdom, it sure sounded a lot mora convincing coming out of his wry grin than it does making the rounds on Facebook in e-card format. But underneath the cliche, this is as true as its ever been. With technology getting more accessible and simpler to use, it can be easy to think that really hard work has no place in this world. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Nose to the grindstone, one foot in front of the other, and head down can make even more impact in a workforce thats increasingly social, chaotic and automated.2)Never quit your first jobuntil you have your next job. Ashton (C hris) Kutcher outlined the jobs hed been working since he was 13 and explained how he would never leave a job until he had another job. Hes the ultimate passive candidate Seriously though, in todays economy, this is advice that makes sense for just about everyone but especially entry level job seekers, who can be pretty starry-eyed about their market worth in a shaky economy.3) I never had a job that I was too good for. This one didnt go quite as viral as the others but it was MY favorite. As you climb the career ladder its easy to forget the jobs that got you there- the bosses who seemed awful at the time but taught you so much the mandatory tasks that seemed draining but gave your day structure the scary paycheck-to-paycheck existence that showed you the value of money- these all have importance. With freelancing and contingent work becoming more common these days, most of us willhave to go back to our roots, doing menial tasks at startups, working late into the night on a side pr oject. Bottom line? If Ashton Kutcher can sweep up Cheerio dust, you can for SURE finish that spreadsheet.4) The world is made up of people no smarter than you. The truly inspiring part of Kutchers speech was something that no one ever told me I had to learn it for myself. Its easy to look at luminaries and think that they know more than you do. There are plenty of people in the business world who will say That wont work, we already tried it. But while its important to learn from the experiences of others, its also crucial to realize that your ideas and concepts are as valuable as anyone elses.5) Dont live a life, build a life. Creating your own destiny sounds like something a young, beautiful person would say, but that doesnt mean its not true. Instead of clocking in and out of a job that doesnt satisfy with people that dont appreciate your contributions, more and more job seekers are looking for alternative ways of working. Building a life is a far cry from just living life. When youre working 40-80 hour work weeks, it can get very easy to forget that.Watch the whole speech here.