How to Build a UX Design Portfolio that Get’s You Hired

I don’t know about you but writing a resume freaks me out a bit. The idea that the future of your life depends on a small piece of paper is more than just a little bit nerve-racking.

AND, as a UX designer, you have to worry about more than your resume. You’ve got to think about your portfolio, too!

In fact, a lot of times your portfolio is the single biggest factor in whether or not potential employers even give you the time of day.

That is the topic of this week’s Self-Made Web Designer podcast and we have a UX portfolio pro. The one and only Sarah Doody.

The Secret to an Amazing UX Portfolio

As UX designers we spend a lot of time trying to see how other people will see the designs we make. We do make revisions and strategize all based upon the users perspective.

BUT, the funny thing is many UX designers fail to build their resumes and portfolios from the perspective of the people doing the hiring.

In other words, we aren’t UXing our own careers!

Sarah gives us some great tips on how to develop our UX portfolios in such a way that potential employers will not be able to resist.

How do I know?

Because she did it for me! That’s right. I am a student of Sarah’s advice. And, it was because of her that I was able to begin my career as a UX designer.

I know you’re going to love the advice she has to give whether you’re just getting started OR you’re looking to level up in your career.

Today’s Guest

Sarah Doody

Sarah Doody is a User Experience Designer, Researcher, and Founder. Sarah works with a wide range of clients and gives product and UX talks around the world.

Sarah is also the founder of The UX Portfolio Formula, a program that helps UX professionals learn how to create a portfolio, conduct their job search, and prepare for interviews. Her clients have been hired at companies including Home Depot, American Express, Salesforce, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and more.

In 2011 Sarah created the original curriculum for and taught the first General Assembly’s 11-week UX immersive program in NYC.

You’ll Learn

• How to define the different roles a UX designer can play
• How to know what to specialize in as a UX designer
• How to choose your career path as a UX designer
• How to tell if a UX design career is right for you
• The skills you need to be a great UX designer
• How to use UX skills to truly understand what your clients are wanting
• How to use Psychology to increase your skills as a UX designer
• How to write good questions for user testing and interviews
• How to show stakeholders and colleagues the value of user experience
• How to use data points to justify design decisions
• How to manage and design your own career
• How to enhance your career by building a network of relationships
• UX writing
• How to write for the web
• The core things to focus on learning when becoming a UX designer

Resources

• Sarah Doody’s website
• UX Portfolio Formula
• How to Get Stakeholders to Buy Into User Research
• Copy Blogger
• UX Writing Communities
• Darrel Vesterfelt from Copyblogger on Pat Flynn’s redesign
• How to Deal with Stubborn Stakeholders

P.S. I am an affiliate for Sarah’s UX Portfolio Formula course. But that’s only because I highly recommend it and know that it will help you a ton in your UX career. Use the link above and it helps me keep running what I do on SMWD.

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