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I'm looking for new job and I'm struggling with interviews :(

over 3 years ago from , Designer

Hi all! I hope that I'm writing this post in the right place. As the title says, I'm currently looking for a new job as a UX designer and I'm struggling with the interviews, often at the first round :(. Researching on 'tips' or how-to's are not really helping. As you may have noticed, English is not my first language so sometimes I stuck on answering questions that I hadn't thought of in advance. So I'm just being curious how your interview experience was like or any tips would be greatly appreciated! My website is https://kristiankim.com.

Thanks guys!

11 comments

  • Tim Kjær LangeTim Kjær Lange, over 3 years ago

    Don't view the interview as a quiz where you're expected to have answers ready - explore the questions, think aloud, this will also give the interviewer a chance to understand your thinking process.

    2 points
    • Zsolt Kacso, over 3 years ago

      This is it. They want to find out if you can think on your feet when facing a problem. Think out loud and be genuine.

      0 points
    • Kris KimKris Kim, 3 years ago

      That's really great point, thank you! Yes, it's about how I approach to answer the unexpected questions. Often times, when I face these types of questions, I kind of hurry to answer anyway, without trying to analyze the questions..

      0 points
  • Ryan Hicks, over 3 years ago

    Treat interviewing just like dating. You're courting them and they are courting you. Come and go with confidence even if it's not the right position/company for you. It takes time and practice just like anything in life. You'll know the right fit when it happens because it won't be so hard.

    1 point
    • Kris KimKris Kim, 3 years ago

      I was told that I have been a boring person when I was dating a woman... and she has still married me. I hope that the same thing happens at finding a job too.

      1 point
      • Ryan Hicks, 3 years ago

        Hah that's one way to think about it. There's someone out there for everyone. It just takes time every now and then to get the right one.

        It's all a matter of courting. You're interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. I hope it works out in your favor.

        0 points
  • Kris KimKris Kim, 3 years ago

    Oh, thanks guys for your replies! I've checked the designernews for a few days after I'd created this post and I couldn't see my post so I thought it's got filtered off or something. These are really great replies and made my day. Thank you!

    0 points
  • Zac Benloulou, over 3 years ago

    Hey Kris. I would be happy to talk to you in person and run a mock interview. I am a strong interviewee and I am now on the other side doing the interviewing. I will shoot you a message on twitter.

    0 points
  • Darren Krape, over 3 years ago

    Can you share some of the sorts of questions you've struggled with?

    Giving general advice is a bit challenging. Each interviewer and company will be looking for different things, and the questions/needs will vary a lot depending on the role and level.

    With that said, I'll try to provide some advice.

    Generally speaking, each question I ask is intended to help me understand something about you, your abilities, and your experience. It can be helpful to think about the question from that perspective so you give an appropriate answer. I don't necessarily care about the design piece you're showing me, but I do want to know how you got to that design.

    The questions I ask typically fall into two groups:

    1. Assessing your general understanding of the UX process and your ability to implement this. Most likely my role will be different than things you've done in the past, so I need to know you understand the fundamentals and can apply them in a variety of scenarios.
    2. Specific questions about items in your portfolio. For example, why did you choose a hamburger menu instead of a tab bar. Here, I want to see your design thinking in practice. Is it user-centric? Do you use data to drive decisions? Do you understand pros and cons of different components? And so on.

    Hope this helps a little. Happy to answer more specific questions!

    0 points
    • Kris KimKris Kim, 3 years ago

      Thanks Darren! After reading your comment, I've sat down and thought about how/where I'm struggling with during the interview. You know, looking at my own problem that I need to solve as a UX designer.

      Firstly I think,

      • a diffidence from lack of strong experience.

      At my previous company that I've worked for more than 4 years, not all design process wasn't respected by CEO and I wasn't allowed to spend time on what he thinks are unnecessary - researching users, drawing user journey, and analyzing the outcome. I was mainly just involved in designing the solution stage to deliver the product as soon as possible so he can sell. All those design decisions are his to make; the app has the side menu instead of the top bar menu because he insisted and his supporting theory is because other big apps are doing the same thing. Interviewers would expect to know how I had approached to discover users, how I framed their problems and thus how I made those design decisions, but there are just no anecdotes and metrics to support my answer to those. They only live in my 'knowledge'.

      I know that interviewers don't expect someone to be 'master of all skills', but would there be any helpful method to construct a good answer? How will I be able to show that 'I'm a user-centric'?

      Secondly,

      • weak communication skills.

      Often times, I have a difficult time understanding the interviewer's questions, especially when it's unexpected ones. Last time when I was in the onsite interview, the interviewer asked about my strategy to design, how design decisions came about. I have explained to them my UX design process, which they already know... I want to improve at understanding questions, catching the point, and politely asking them for more time to think about them. Probably only practicing will do, but would there be anything else that I need to look at or keep in mind to aid this problem?

      Please excuse my long comment. I hope that I'm not taking too much of your time. I'm not expecting to be fully answered on everything, just writing down like this and your comment are already great help (especially when I'm prepping for 2nd round interview with the company that you are very familiar with..)

      And if there are others who are going through similar struggles, please know that you are not alone!

      0 points