Nurture the basic skills
Working with people (colleagues, clients and of course users) means that being able to communicate effectively is an essential skill for the UX industry. Being able to present yourself in an articulate and friendly manner is key. But listening is also a crucial part of communication; a lot of learning comes from listening to others.
Being able to write and communicate in a professional and appropriate manner comes with practice. In order to get a head start, consider attending a course on copywriting or presenting. If not, practice in your spare time, writing and formatting emails and presenting your ideas to an audience.
Document your learnings
Whilst studying or undertaking placements consider creating a blog or posting online to share your experiences and learnings with others. Not only will it act as a good conversation point for interviews but will also help fill your UX portfolio giving you something to show potential employers.
Developing a voice and opinion on current trends and topics in the industry will also be a great conversation starter. Following companies and agencies on twitter will help you with this. Keeping a strong social media presence will also allow you to connect with potential employers and potentially spot opportunities for the future.
To sum up, here are five things you can do to smooth the transition into industry:
- Broaden your horizons and get networking
- Try something new
- Ask for feedback
- Nurture the basic skills
- Document your learnings