Practice
You may have realised by now that most recruiters and hiring managers value experience at least as much as they do knowledge.
As a career transitioner, gaining experience is mostly tied to a job offer. And the chance to get hired is very low without any practical experience. Building a portfolio is the only way to break this vicious circle.
Beyond words: build your track record
Skills are essential but experience is key
Why are recruiters and hiring managers scrutinously reviewing your skills and abilities? Because hiring someone equates to betting on the fastest horse. It’s all about assessing the risk and actual abilities. And what could be potentially more risky as hiring a Junior? A portfolio is the only realistic way for your interviewer to assess your ability to perform on the job. Put in a simple way, your portfolio shall be a showcase of your ability to apply what you learned and more importantly, to critically assess when to apply which methodology.
Develop a real-life project in a trusted environment
Experience a real-life project with a mentor at your side
Most courses and certifications offer the possibility to put the theory into practice, which is essential to consolidate your skills. Too often though, these practical exercises do not relate to business issues and do not stand a chance in a recruiting process. In this module, we focus on filling these gaps with hands-on experience by joining a UX team and collaborating on a real-life project while relying on the whole support of your mentor. If you’d rather work on your own projects, your mentor will evaluate your work along the process, so that you can ultimately gain practical experience and avoid the pitfall of unrealistic problem-solving.
Do not judge the book by the cover
The portfolio that will get you hired is not the prettiest
UX 101 – understand the why! Your portfolio shall display your ability to think, act, present, and reflect on your work as a UX-ler. Unlike a traditional Design Portfolio, the UX Portfolio does not rely on deliverables but on the right narrative. Once you learned how to tell your story and write the next chapter of your career as a UX professional, let a team of trusted hiring professionals review it and provide you with valuable feedback. So that the next time you hand-over your portfolio, it will be with full confidence that this is the best demonstration of your skills.