4 Interview Questions to Find a Healthy UX Work Environment

UX design careers are booming. But not all UX jobs are created equal. Spotting the companies that prioritize healthy work environments for their UX teams during interviews will help you make the right choice for your career. In this article, we’ll cover 4 topics UX designers should cover during interviews:

• Leadership
• Maturity
• Team Size and Structure
• Career Growth

Current State of UX

The rapid advancement of the internet, technology, and social media has increased consumers’ expectations when it comes to interacting with digital products. In response to these trends, companies are doing everything they can to make sure their mobile and web platforms provide exceptional user experiences.

This is where UX designers come in.

Here are a few metrics that demonstrate the high demand for UX designers over the past 2 years:

• 289% increase in interest in UX roles in 2020 according to Hired.com
• 405,000 new UX designers emerging from Google’s UXD Certificate
• Top 5 in-demand skills as of 2020
• Best 50 jobs to have in 2021
• 87% of managers surveyed reported hiring more UX designers was their organization’s top priority
• 73% of managers surveyed vowed to hire more UX designers over the next 5 years
• 67% of managers surveyed reported hiring 5 or more UX designers during the previous year

Now is a great time to launch a UX career. Since the job market is ripe with potential, UX designers seeking employment are afforded the opportunity to be choosy. But how do you decide which UX jobs are the best?

Landing a Healthy UX Design Job

Finding a company that offers a healthy work environment for its UX team isn’t always easy but knowing the right questions to ask in an interview can help lead to a lengthy and happy career in UX design. To ensure a potential job is the right fit, designers need to address certain topics throughout the interview process including:

• Leadership
• Maturity
• Team Size and Structure
• Career Growth

Leadership

How a CEO or leading stakeholders addresses the UX practice and communicates with the team is a telltale sign of the overall team structure and how much design is valued. Even if the practice manager exhibits excitement about the job and respective department, the CEO’s unenthusiastic stance is an indicator that working within the company can create barriers to the UX team’s productivity and growth.

Example interview question: How would your stakeholders/CEO describe the importance of the UX practice?

Maturity

It is important to inquire about a company’s growth plan and their learning initiatives during an interview. A company can be the best in the world at what they do, but if they have no strategic plan for growth, their future is uncertain. Asking how the company plans to mature the UX practice will give you a glimpse into the future of your career.

Example interview question: Where do you see your UX practice growth in the next five years?

Team Size

Team size can impact one’s decision about joining an organization. There are pros and cons to both small and large teams.

On a smaller team you may find:

• Collaboration is more prevalent
• Opportunities exist for skill sharing
• Growth can be a struggle due to limited funding

On a larger team you may find:

• Increased number of growth options
• Access to more resources
• You may have less agency as an employee

Whether you find yourself on a small or large team, can be hugely beneficial. Being able to learn, get valuable industry insights, and have consistent peer reviews is priceless when establishing yourself in the field. Asking about mentorship shows your interest in growing as a professional.

Example interview questions: How many members are currently in your UX practice? If I wanted to review my designs with other members on the UX team, is there a system in place for internal design reviews?

Career Growth

As a designer, staying up to date with new practices and possessing the ability to explore different areas based on clients opens the door for growth. Monetary support from your company for continual learning is undoubtedly a benefit that should be exercised. Innovative companies are not afraid to invest in their employees because they recognize the value of their service and see their contributions to the bottom line.

In addition to company sponsored platforms, having access to credible sources is vital to independent learning. Some resources to grow your skills include:

• Online Courses
• YouTube Tutorials
• Books
• Blogs

Investing time in yourself will make you stand out in a crowded field.

Example interview question: Does your company provide education resources, or assistance to its employees for further education, certificates, or workshops?

Future of UX Design

The demand for UX designers is on the rise with no sign of slowing down. So, while there are amble employment options, not all UX design jobs will send you down a successful career path. Selecting a company that provides a positive working environment for the UX department is critical to your professional and personal wellbeing.

Armed with the aforementioned questions, you can delineate which organizations value, support, and nurture their UX departments during your interviews so you can reach your full potential. The future of UX design is bright, especially with you in it!

To learn more about UX design, check out Apexon’s UX Strategy and Design Services or our open positions today.