Hi experts,
I have been researching to do a possible career transition. I am currently at sr mgr level at a consulting firm. I was looking into ux design and looked very interesting to me. I have a data and analytics background. Does anyone have any tips on how to transition and land a gig? I am willing to leave my current position as i am very unhappy.

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I'm someone who transitioned into UX from a different career years ago, and managed to get my new career to kick off and have led teams in decent agencies for some years now. Just want to clarify a point - while you will get a rough overview of the skills a UX designer uses via a program like General Assembly, those programs do NOT have a good reputation. Maybe among recruiters, but not among hiring managers who are tired of sifting through bootcamp candidates who have slick portfolios, no experience and shallow design thinking.

I echo your Accenture colleague's recommendation - find practical experience within your firm. Start by selling digital experience work and managing a UX team. Check in regularly with the lead and observe their work. It might be worth taking the GA bootcamp to better understand their works and what you can learn from it, but on its own it won't be setting you up for success in a crowded field of applicants.

Starting/junior UX designer salaries in NYC are like $60k. I'm sure you make way more than that as an SM. If you're really committed to this pivot, either leverage your ability to get practical experience via Accenture, or go to a multi-year program at a school like Parsons.

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I'm a SM at Accenture from a UX path, and l lead design teams in interactive, happy to chat with you, if you want.

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Thank you. I just msg you.

Honestly, your best bet would be reach out through your network and see if you’re able to gain some knowledge of the day-to-day, and maybe see if you can try to help a on project. Not trying to discourage you, but if you were going into a UX role as essentially a junior, you’re looking at easily a 75% pay cut from SM. We def have UX in interactive, so it would probably be a lot easier to transition within Accenture if you aren’t willing/able to make such a drastic move.

smarthelpful

Do you have a portfolio, or can you self teach and create one? Google for UX Design or Product Design portfolios. Using data to inform your designs is valuable in the field—if you can self teach and demonstrate a grasp of data/product metrics you may be able to transition to decent level role.

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Like learning how to snowboard as an adult. It’s going to hurt at first not worth it once you find your flow. Going to have to put in the work upfront, but may pay off if you stick with it.

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How many tattoos do you have?

funny

I hear general assembly has a good program

I agree, there’s nothing wrong with going to a boot camp to get foundational knowledge but treat it as just that - a foundation that you need to build upon to truly stand out (take pro Bono freelance work, do side passion projects, look for internships, etc.

I hired a junior UX/UI designer recently and got hundreds of boot camp applicants and it felt like none of them stood out because most of them were colleagues so every portfolio had the same projects on it and it honestly was very hard for me to comb through and tell who actually did what work.

Ended up hiring someone who never went to boot camp but did a 6 month apprenticeship in UX and the real world experience really stood out.

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I know people who have made that jump by doing general assembly. I’m sure there are other less pricey courses as well that teach you the fundamentals but will say GA seems to have some credibility with recruiters

Ive recently transitioned into UX.

Try Brainstation or Juno. I find their curriculums are more structured and the projects of the alumni are of better quality than those at general assembly.

Juno and Brainstation both have a career services centre to help you with placement afterwards. Although, I would argue that the connections you make within the cohort are more valuable than the career services dept.

I echo Product Designer 1’s point about taking on freelance work and building a portfolio of client work rather than school projects.

I recently made the jump into UX, happy to chat with you.

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