{"id":511,"date":"2025-08-05T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.guupon.com\/?p=511"},"modified":"2025-08-07T14:19:55","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T14:19:55","slug":"ux-job-interview-helpers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.guupon.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/05\/ux-job-interview-helpers\/","title":{"rendered":"UX Job Interview Helpers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>              <title>UX Job Interview Helpers<\/title><\/p>\n<article>\n<header>\n<h1>UX Job Interview Helpers<\/h1>\n<address>Vitaly Friedman<\/address>\n<p>                  2025-08-05T13:00:00+00:00<br \/>\n                  2025-08-07T14:02:50+00:00<br \/>\n                <\/header>\n<p>When talking about <strong>job interviews for a UX position<\/strong>, we often discuss how to leave an incredible impression and how to negotiate the right salary. But it\u2019s only one part of the story. The other part is to be prepared, to ask questions, and to listen carefully.<\/p>\n<p>Below, I\u2019ve put together a few <strong>useful resources on UX job interviews<\/strong> &mdash; from job boards to Notion templates and practical guides. I hope you or your colleagues will find it helpful.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-design-interview-kit\">The Design Interview Kit<\/h2>\n<p>As you are preparing for that interview, get ready with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.figma.com\/community\/file\/1268352321000064567\/complete-guide-to-design-interviews-free\">Design Interview Kit<\/a> (Figma), a helpful <strong>practical guide<\/strong> that covers how to craft case studies, solve design challenges, write cover letters, present your portfolio, and negotiate your offer. Kindly shared by Oliver Engel.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"\n  \n    break-out article__image\n  \n  \n  \"><\/p>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.figma.com\/community\/file\/1268352321000064567\/complete-guide-to-design-interviews-free\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/indysigner\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_80\/w_400\/https:\/\/files.smashing.media\/articles\/ux-job-interview-helpers\/1-ux-interview-questions.jpg\" alt=\"An illustration of the Design Interview Kit\" \/><\/p>\n<p>    <\/a><figcaption class=\"op-vertical-bottom\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.figma.com\/community\/file\/1268352321000064567\/complete-guide-to-design-interviews-free\">The Interview Kit<\/a>, by Oliver Engel. (<a href=\"https:\/\/files.smashing.media\/articles\/ux-job-interview-helpers\/1-ux-interview-questions.jpg\">Large preview<\/a>)<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"the-product-designer-s-job-interview-playbook-pdf\">The Product Designer\u2019s (Job) Interview Playbook (PDF)<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1z_lJyguQhxvV1sZXt0oQUtdxpoQWoeol\/view\">The Product Designer\u2019s (Job) Interview Playbook (PDF)<\/a> is a <strong>practical little guide<\/strong> for designers through each interview phase, with helpful tips and strategies on things to keep in mind, talking points, questions to ask, red flags to watch out for and how to tell a compelling story about yourself and your work. Kindly put together by Meghan Logan.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"\n  \n  \n  \"><\/p>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1z_lJyguQhxvV1sZXt0oQUtdxpoQWoeol\/view\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"1061\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/indysigner\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_80\/w_400\/https:\/\/files.smashing.media\/articles\/ux-job-interview-helpers\/2-ux-interview-questions.jpg\" alt=\"An illustration of the Product Designer\u2019s Interview Playbook\" \/><\/p>\n<p>    <\/a><figcaption class=\"op-vertical-bottom\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1z_lJyguQhxvV1sZXt0oQUtdxpoQWoeol\/view\">The Product Designer\u2019s Interview Handbook<\/a>, by Meghan Logan. (<a href=\"https:\/\/files.smashing.media\/articles\/ux-job-interview-helpers\/2-ux-interview-questions.jpg\">Large preview<\/a>)<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>From my side, I can only wholeheartedly recommend to <strong>not only speak about your design process<\/strong>. Tell stories about the impact that your design work has produced. Frame your design work as an enabler of business goals and user needs. And include insights about the impact you\u2019ve produced &mdash; on business goals, processes, team culture, planning, estimates, and testing.<\/p>\n<p>Also, be very <strong>clear about the position<\/strong> that you are applying for. In many companies, titles do matter. There are vast differences in responsibilities and salaries between various levels for designers, so if you see yourself as a senior, review whether it actually reflects in the position.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"a-guide-to-successful-ux-job-interviews-notion-template\">A Guide To Successful UX Job Interviews (+ Notion template)<\/h2>\n<p>Catt Small\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/cattsmall.com\/blog\/2023\/debug-design-hiring-journey-application\">Guide To Successful UX Job Interviews<\/a>, a wonderful practical series on <strong>how to build a referral pipeline<\/strong>, apply for an opening, prepare for screening and interviews, present your work, and manage salary expectations. You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/cattsmall.notion.site\/6826ccd5deca4e51a7b76ea60778236e?v=acc69633e8704285802464f72ac830c4\">download a Notion template<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"\n  \n  \n  \"><\/p>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/cattsmall.com\/blog\/2023\/debug-design-hiring-journey-application\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"1069\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/indysigner\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_80\/w_400\/https:\/\/files.smashing.media\/articles\/ux-job-interview-helpers\/3-ux-interview-questions.jpg\" alt=\"An illustration of the Notion template for a successful UX job interview.\" \/><\/p>\n<p>    <\/a><figcaption class=\"op-vertical-bottom\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/cattsmall.com\/blog\/2023\/debug-design-hiring-journey-application\">A Guide to Design Interview Journey<\/a>, by (wonderful!) Catt Small. (<a href=\"https:\/\/files.smashing.media\/articles\/ux-job-interview-helpers\/3-ux-interview-questions.jpg\">Large preview<\/a>)<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"30-useful-questions-to-ask-in-ux-job-interviews\">30 Useful Questions To Ask In UX Job Interviews<\/h2>\n<p>In her wonderful article, Nati Asher has suggested <a href=\"https:\/\/uxdesign.cc\/6-things-i-wish-product-design-candidates-would-ask-me-during-interviews-87d9f21d286e\">many useful questions<\/a> to ask in a job interview when you are applying as a UX candidate. I\u2019ve taken the liberty of revising some of them and added a few more questions that might be worth considering <strong>for your next job interview<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"\n  \n    break-out article__image\n  \n  \n  \"><\/p>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/halfool.medium.com\/\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/indysigner\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_80\/w_400\/https:\/\/files.smashing.media\/articles\/ux-job-interview-helpers\/4-ux-interview-questions.jpg\" alt=\"An illustration of two people, represented as chess pieces.\" \/><\/p>\n<p>    <\/a><figcaption class=\"op-vertical-bottom\">\n      Best interviews include questions from both sides. A wonderful illustration by <a href=\"https:\/\/halfool.medium.com\/\">Jos\u00e9 Torre<\/a>. (<a href=\"https:\/\/files.smashing.media\/articles\/ux-job-interview-helpers\/4-ux-interview-questions.jpg\">Large preview<\/a>)<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ol>\n<li>What are the <strong>biggest challenges<\/strong> the team faces at the moment?<\/li>\n<li>What are the team\u2019s main <strong>strengths and weaknesses<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<li>What are the <strong>traits and skills<\/strong> that will make me successful in this position?<\/li>\n<li>Where is the company going in the next 5 years?<\/li>\n<li>What are the achievements I should aim for over the <strong>first 90 days<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<li>What would make you think \u201cI\u2019m so happy we hired X!\u201d?<\/li>\n<li>Do you have any <strong>doubts or concerns<\/strong> regarding my fit for this position?<\/li>\n<li>Does the team have any budget for education, research, etc.?<\/li>\n<li>What is the process of <strong>onboarding<\/strong> in the team?<\/li>\n<li>Who is in the team, and how long have they been in that team?<\/li>\n<li>Who are the main <strong>stakeholders<\/strong> I will work with on a day-to-day basis?<\/li>\n<li>Which options do you have for user research and accessing users or data?<\/li>\n<li>Are there <strong>analytics<\/strong>, recordings, or other data sources to review?<\/li>\n<li>How do you <strong>measure the impact of design work<\/strong> in your company?<\/li>\n<li>To what extent does management understand the ROI of good UX?<\/li>\n<li>How does UX contribute <strong>strategically<\/strong> to the company\u2019s success?<\/li>\n<li>Who has the <strong>final say on design<\/strong>, and who decides what gets shipped?<\/li>\n<li>What part of the design process does the team spend most time on?<\/li>\n<li>How many projects do designers work on <strong>simultaneously<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<li>How has the organization overcome challenges with remote work?<\/li>\n<li>Do we have a <strong>design system<\/strong>, and in what state is it currently?<\/li>\n<li>Why does a company want to hire a UX designer?<\/li>\n<li>How would you describe the ideal candidate for this position?<\/li>\n<li>What does a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/vitalyfriedman_ux-design-career-activity-7077180633575223296-gYIi\">career path<\/a> look like for this role?<\/li>\n<li>How will my performance be evaluated in this role?<\/li>\n<li>How long do projects take to launch? Can you give me some examples?<\/li>\n<li>What are the <strong>most immediate projects<\/strong> that need to be addressed?<\/li>\n<li>How do you see the design team growing in the future?<\/li>\n<li>What traits make someone successful in this team?<\/li>\n<li>What\u2019s the <strong>most challenging part<\/strong> of leading the design team?<\/li>\n<li>How does the company ensure it\u2019s upholding its values?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Before a job interview, <strong>have your questions ready<\/strong>. Not only will they convey a message that you care about the process and the culture, but also that you understand what is required to be successful. And this fine detail might go a long way.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"don-t-forget-about-the-star-method\">Don\u2019t Forget About The STAR Method<\/h2>\n<p>Interviewers closer to business will expect you to present examples of your work using the <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalcareers.service.gov.uk\/careers-advice\/interview-advice\/the-star-method\">STAR method<\/a> (Situation &mdash; Task &mdash; Action &mdash; Result), and might be utterly confused if you delve into all the fine details of your ideation process or the choice of UX methods you\u2019ve used.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Situation<\/strong>: Set the scene and give necessary details.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Task<\/strong>: Explain your responsibilities in that situation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Action<\/strong>: Explain what steps you took to address it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Result<\/strong>: Share the outcomes your actions achieved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As Meghan suggests, the interview is all about <strong>how your skills add value to the problem<\/strong> the company is currently solving. So ask about the current problems and tasks. Interview the person who interviews you, too &mdash; but also explain who you are, your focus areas, your passion points, and how you and your expertise would fit in a product and in the organization.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"wrapping-up\">Wrapping Up<\/h2>\n<p>A final note on my end: <strong>never take a rejection personally<\/strong>. Very often, the reasons you are given for rejection are only a small part of a much larger picture &mdash; and have almost nothing to do with you. It might be that a job description wasn\u2019t quite accurate, or the company is undergoing restructuring, or the finances are too tight after all.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t despair and keep going<\/strong>. Write down your expectations. Job titles matter: be deliberate about them and your level of seniority. Prepare good references. Have your questions ready for that job interview. As Catt Small says, \u201conce you have a foot in the door, you\u2019ve got to kick it wide open\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>You are a bright shining star &mdash; don\u2019t you ever forget that.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"job-boards\">Job Boards<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@uxsurvivalguide\/a-ux-designers-guide-to-finding-the-best-job-boards-f7c7886a0fd6\">Remote + In-person<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ixda.org\/jobs\/\">IXDA<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/stillhiring.today\/\">Who Is Still Hiring?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uxpa.org\/job-bank\/\">UXPA Job Bank<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/otta.com\/\">Otta<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/boooom.co\/\">Boooom<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.watbd.org\/jobs\">Black Creatives Job Board<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/lnkd.in\/eGjmr6ZQ\">UX Research Jobs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/lnkd.in\/ehF8hwXt\">UX Content Jobs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/lnkd.in\/e82vQ9yM\">UX Content Collective Jobs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/lnkd.in\/eq_2FY_C\">UX Writing Jobs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"useful-resources\">Useful Resources<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/vitalyfriedman_ux-jobs-activity-7342081450093015040-lNGp\">How To Be Prepared For UX Job Interviews<\/a>,\u201d by yours truly<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/vitalyfriedman_ux-jobs-activity-7322193621477179392-BYLX\">UX Job Search Strategies and Templates<\/a>,\u201d by yours truly<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/startup.jobs\/interview-questions\">How To Ace Your Next Job Interview<\/a>,\u201d by Startup.jobs<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/productdesigninterview.com\/ux-design-job-interview-process\">Cracking The UX Job Interview<\/a>,\u201d by Artiom Dashinsky<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerchristensen.com\/notes\/the-product-design-interview-process\">The Product Design Interview Process<\/a>,\u201d by Tanner Christensen<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/salesforce-ux\/10-questions-you-should-ask-in-a-ux-interview-df8450623088\">10 Questions To Ask in a UX Interview<\/a>,\u201d by Ryan Scott<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/uxplanet.org\/six-questions-to-ask-after-a-ux-designer-job-interview-e046219738d7\">Six questions to ask after a UX designer job interview<\/a>,\u201d by Nick Babich<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"meet-smart-interface-design-patterns\">Meet \u201cSmart Interface Design Patterns\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>You can find more details on <strong>design patterns and UX<\/strong> in <a href=\"https:\/\/smart-interface-design-patterns.com\/\"><strong>Smart Interface Design Patterns<\/strong><\/a>, our <strong>15h-video course<\/strong> with 100s of practical examples from real-life projects &mdash; with a live UX training later this year. Everything from mega-dropdowns to complex enterprise tables &mdash; with 5 new segments added every year. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jhZ3el3n-u0\">Jump to a free preview<\/a>. Use code <a href=\"https:\/\/smart-interface-design-patterns.com\"><strong>BIRDIE<\/strong><\/a> to <strong>save 15%<\/strong> off.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"margin-bottom: 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smart-interface-design-patterns.com\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-radius: 11px\" width=\"950\" height=\"492\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/indysigner\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_80\/w_400\/https:\/\/archive.smashing.media\/assets\/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629\/7cc4e1de-6921-474e-a3fb-db4789fc13dd\/b4024b60-e627-177d-8bff-28441f810462.jpeg\" alt=\"Smart Interface Design Patterns\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"op-vertical-bottom\">Meet <a href=\"https:\/\/smart-interface-design-patterns.com\/\">Smart Interface Design Patterns<\/a>, our video course on interface design &amp; UX.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"book-cta__inverted\">\n<div class=\"book-cta\" data-handler=\"ContentTabs\" data-mq=\"(max-width: 480px)\">\n<nav class=\"content-tabs content-tabs--books\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"content-tab\"><a href=\"#\"><button class=\"btn btn--small btn--white btn--white--bordered\"><br \/>\nVideo + UX Training<\/button><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"content-tab\"><a href=\"#\"><button class=\"btn btn--small btn--white btn--white--bordered\">Video only<\/button><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"book-cta__col book-cta__hardcover content-tab--content\">\n<h3 class=\"book-cta__title\"><span>Video + UX Training<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"book-cta__price\"><span><span class=\"\"><span class=\"currency-sign\">$<\/span>&nbsp;<span>495<span class=\"sup\">.00<\/span><\/span><\/span> <span class=\"book-cta__price--old\"><span class=\"currency-sign\">$<\/span>&nbsp;<span>699<span class=\"sup\">.00<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/smart-interface-design-patterns.thinkific.com\/enroll\/3081832?price_id=3951439\" class=\"btn btn--full btn--medium btn--text-shadow\"><br \/>\nGet Video + UX Training<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"book-cta__desc\">25 video lessons (15h) + <a href=\"https:\/\/smashingconf.com\/online-workshops\/workshops\/vitaly-friedman-impact-design\/\">Live UX Training<\/a>.<br \/>100 days money-back-guarantee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"book-cta__col book-cta__ebook content-tab--content\">\n<h3 class=\"book-cta__title\"><span>Video only<\/span><\/h3>\n<div data-audience=\"anonymous free supporter\" data-remove=\"true\"><span class=\"book-cta__price\" data-handler=\"PriceTag\"><span><span class=\"\"><span class=\"currency-sign\">$<\/span>&nbsp;<span>300<span class=\"sup\">.00<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"book-cta__price--old\"><span class=\"currency-sign\">$<\/span>&nbsp;<span>395<span class=\"sup\">.00<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/smart-interface-design-patterns.thinkific.com\/enroll\/3081832?price_id=3950630\" class=\"btn btn--full btn--medium btn--text-shadow\"><br \/>\nGet the video course<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"book-cta__desc\" data-audience=\"anonymous free supporter\" data-remove=\"true\">40 video lessons (15h). Updated yearly.<br \/>Also available as a <a href=\"https:\/\/smart-interface-design-patterns.thinkific.com\/enroll\/3082557?price_id=3951421\">UX Bundle with 2 video courses.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"signature\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smashingmagazine.com\/images\/logo\/logo--red.png\" alt=\"Smashing Editorial\" width=\"35\" height=\"46\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><br \/>\n  <span>(yk)<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"text-justify mb-2\" >UX Job Interview Helpers UX Job Interview Helpers Vitaly Friedman 2025-08-05T13:00:00+00:00 2025-08-07T14:02:50+00:00 When talking about job interviews for a UX position, we often discuss how to leave an incredible impression and how to negotiate the right salary. But it\u2019s only one part of the story. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-accessibility"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.guupon.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/511","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.guupon.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.guupon.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.guupon.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.guupon.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=511"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.guupon.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/511\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":512,"href":"http:\/\/www.guupon.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/511\/revisions\/512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.guupon.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=511"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.guupon.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=511"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.guupon.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=511"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}