Navigating Your First 90 Days in a UX Design Role

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You Landed a UX Job. Now What?

Securing a UX design job is significant, but it's just the starting point of your career journey.

The real challenge lies in effectively onboarding to your new role.

In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through a strategic approach to set a strong foundation for success in the first 90 days of a UX job.

Let’s dive in 🚀

First 30 Days: Laying the Groundwork

1. Align with Your Manager’s Expectations

Your first task is to understand what success looks like in your new role.

Schedule a meeting with your direct manager to discuss their expectations and your job responsibilities.

Clear communication at this stage will help align your efforts with the company's goals and set the stage for your growth.

This alignment is crucial for a smooth transition from the UX job search phase to actual job performance.

2. Craft a 30-60-90-Day Plan

Proactively create a plan outlining your goals and how you intend to achieve them.

This plan should include learning objectives, project milestones, and personal development goals.

A well-thought-out plan demonstrates initiative and foresight, both highly valued in the UX career.

3. Establish Healthy Boundaries and Routines

Establishing work-life balance is crucial.

Balancing professional responsibilities with personal time is essential for sustainable success in your UX career.

Developing a routine that includes time for both work and relaxation, this will help you maintain high productivity without burnout.

4. Dive into the Company’s UX Methodologies

Spend time understanding the company’s UX design process.

Familiarize yourself with their tools, techniques, and design philosophy.

This knowledge will be instrumental in contributing effectively to your team.

♠️

This framework is part of UX Management Playbook—made for first-time managers building healthier and happier design teams.

UX Management Playbook — UX Playbook

A playbook for first-time UX managers. Building a better UX design team with product design career ladder and Notion templates. Learn more.

https://uxplaybook.org/management

First 60 Days: Gaining Momentum

5. Initiate Projects and Optimize Processes

Now that you're more familiar with the company's environment, start taking on more responsibilities.

Look for opportunities to initiate new projects or optimize existing processes.

This shows your ability to add value and think critically about UX design.

6. Identify Key UX Metrics and Success Criteria

Understanding what metrics the company values can guide your design decisions.

Work on identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) for

UX and align your projects with these metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work.

7. Build Relationships with Teammates and Stakeholders:

Collaboration is key in UX design.

Invest time in building relationships with your colleagues and stakeholders.

Understanding their perspectives and getting their buy-in is crucial for the success of your UX projects.

First 90 Days: Establishing Your Impact

8. Deliver High-Quality UX Outputs

By the end of three months, aim to have completed or significantly contributed to key UX projects.

Focus on delivering high-quality work in UX design, research, or writing.

The quality of your work is a direct reflection of your skills and dedication.

9. Seek and Implement Feedback

Regularly seek feedback from your team and manager.

Constructive criticism is vital for growth.

Use the feedback to refine your skills and approach to projects.

10. Cultivate Professional Relationships

Continue to strengthen your network within the company.

Forming key partnerships and cultivating professional relationships will support your long-term career growth in UX.

Your UX Journey Continues…

Remember, landing a UX job is just the beginning.

Every day as a UX designer, researcher, or writer shapes your career trajectory.

Embrace these initial 90 days as a crucial period of learning and growth.

Your actions during this time will lay the groundwork for your future success in the ever-evolving field of UX design.

Keep these strategies in mind as you embark on this exciting journey and carve your unique path in the world of UX.

Happy onboarding! 🙌🏻

👉

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