How to Prepare for a User Experience (UX) Job Interview

Our UX Career Guide Series:

• UX Overview
• UX Skills & Tools
• UX Training & Education
• UX Career Path & Salary
• UX Portfolio & Resume
• User Experience (UX) Interviewing <– You Are Here

Congrats—you’ve cultivated the right skill set, created a polished portfolio, and crafted a standout resume. Now you’re ready to interview for that dream UX design job. 

Think of yourself as a chef preparing a Michelin-star meal for your guests. Just as culinary wizards must anticipate the tastes of their diners to master their craft, landing and succeeding in a UX design role demands a hearty showcase of your user understanding and creative problem-solving mindset.

But even the most skilled chefs—and UX designers—face competition in the field, with many talented individuals eager to shop their skills. For instance, software development company Flagrant had 219 applicants interview for two (senior UX designer and product manager) positions. 

Don’t worry, though. At General Assembly, we’ve helped thousands of UX Design Bootcamp grads get hired in top roles, typically within 180 days—and we’re here to be your guiding hand. 

So let’s dip into the secret sauce of a winning UX design interview.

Setting the table: What to expect from your UX design interview

While every company has its own way of working, the multi-step UX design interview format may include:

• The initial phone screening
  Most employers begin with a phone interview lasting about 30 to 60 minutes. This initial conversation usually covers your background, motivation for applying, and a brief discussion about your portfolio.

• The technical challenge
  Next, you’ll be asked to complete a technical challenge, which can take different forms:
  
  • Live whiteboard challenges: During these live sessions, you’ll use tools like Miro, Jamboard, or Lucidchart to sketch out design solutions in real time. Expect to explain your thought process as you work through the problem, demonstrating your design rationale and creativity.
    
  • Take-home assignments: Some companies may provide a project to complete at home, which could take a few hours or days. Be prepared to present your solutions in the following interview.
    
  • Usability testing: In some interviews, you might be asked to describe a previous usability test you conducted and how the feedback shaped your design decisions. Additionally, some employers may require you to conduct a live usability test using tools like Figma and Lookback to evaluate your practical skills.
    

• Your portfolio presentation
  After completing the technical challenge, you may have an in-person or virtual interview where you present your portfolio. This typically involves discussing your past projects in detail, covering your approach, the challenges faced, and the outcomes achieved.
  
• In-person interviews
  Following the initial technical evaluations, you may have one or two in-person interviews with different team members or stakeholders. These sessions often last 30 to 60 minutes each and focus on assessing your collaboration and communication skills.
  
• Feedback and negotiation
  After your initial interviews, you might receive valuable feedback on your portfolio or interview performance, whether you land the job or not. Just like tasting a dish and adjusting the seasonings, use this feedback to refine your approach and presentation for future opportunities. Embrace constructive criticism to enhance your skills and better align your work with what potential employers are looking for. 

And if you’re offered the job, be prepared to discuss salary expectations—and approach this topic with research in hand, while also expressing your eagerness to grow and contribute to the team.  

Timing the UX design interview process

From start to finish, the entire interview process can span two to six weeks. It might feel like a waiting game, but keep in mind that this time is your chance to shine and showcase your skills. By understanding the format and preparing for each step, you can approach your UX design interviews with confidence and clarity. 

Sharpening the knife: UX skills you’ll need to know

In this field, technical skills and approach matter. Be prepared to explain the following:

• User research: To gather valuable insights from real users, UX designers use a variety of methods, each suited to different project needs:
  
  • Surveys collect quantitative data at scale to understand user preferences or validate design decisions across large groups.
    
  • Interviews provide deep qualitative insights into motivations and pain points to inform early design stages.
    
  • Usability studies focus on how real users interact with a product, helping identify specific design flaws or user experience challenges during testing.
    
• Wireframing: Knowing how to wield tools like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD serves as a blueprint for user interface creation. Be prepared to explain how wireframes outline the structure and layout of your designs. consider sharing specific examples of projects where wireframes played a major role in visualizing user journeys or simplifying complex interactions.
  
• Prototyping: Simulating user interactions comes next. Interviewers will expect you to walk through your approach to creating user flows, starting with low-fidelity wireframes to map basic interactions, and then progressing to high-fidelity prototypes that mimic real user experiences. Stand out by emphasizing the importance of usability testing and feedback, and share your iterative process to refine prototypes and improve outcomes.

Where to train for technical UX design whiteboard challenges

If you’re looking to practice answering technical UX design interview questions, try:

• https://www.dailyui.co/ 
• https://uxtools.co/challenges/ 
• https://dailyuxwriting.com/ 
• https://designercize.com/
• https://sharpen.design/
• https://www.uxchallenge.co/ 

Making conversation: Common UX interview questions 

UX interviews are as much about who you are as how you work. Employers want to know that you have the right communication and collaboration skills to thrive in a team environment. 

Be ready to answer UX interview questions like:

• Tell us a bit about yourself and why you’re interested. Recruiters look for genuine interest and dedication. Explain what draws you to this field, such as a desire to improve user experiences, a fascination with human-centered design, or a background in related fields (like psychology or graphic design) that influences your approach. Also, articulate why you are particularly drawn to this specific organization—be it their design philosophy, innovation, or impact in the industry.
  
• Describe some work you’re proud of. By discussing projects you’re proud of, you demonstrate self-awareness and an understanding of what constitutes good design. The projects you choose to highlight can also indicate your values and priorities as a designer. This helps the recruiter assess whether your approach aligns with the company’s priorities and design philosophy.
  
• Can you tell us about a time you solved a user problem? Here, interviewers are looking for your empathy, problem-solving skills, and resilience. How did you identify the problem? What research did you conduct, and how did your design address the user’s pain points?
  
• How do you work with cross-functional teams? UX designers collaborate closely with product managers, developers, and marketers. Talk about how you’ve handled communication between teams to ensure a seamless design process.
  
• How do you handle feedback? UX design is iterative. You’ll likely face critique from stakeholders, engineers, and even users. Talk about a time when you received tough feedback and how you responded to improve your design.

Presenting with flair: Your UX design portfolio

During a portfolio presentation, delve deeper than the final product and share your process. 

Focus on:

• Storytelling: Walk interviewers through each project as a narrative. What was the problem, and how did your design solve it?
  
• Empathy: Demonstrate how you consider the user’s experience at every stage of your process. Discuss any obstacles you encountered along the way and how understanding user pain points helped you resolve them.
  
• Design thinking: Be ready to discuss how you empathize with users through research and observation to understand their needs.
  
• Iterative process: Explain how you tested your prototype, gathered insights, made refinements based on user feedback, and learned from mistakes.
  
• Highlight collaboration: Design thinking often involves collaboration and integrating diverse perspectives. Explain how you incorporated feedback from different stakeholders, including users, developers, or product managers.
  
• Data-driven results: If possible, share how your designs impacted conversion rates, drop-offs, or user satisfaction.

Whipping something up: Demonstrating your UX design abilities

Usability testing showcases your problem-solving skills in action. In this step, be prepared to discuss your past usability tests and also potentially complete one in real-time. 

Here’s how to gear up for this vital aspect of your interview:

• Demonstrate your process: Be ready to explain how you define goals, select participants, and choose the right methods. Highlight your approach to gathering qualitative feedback and identifying user pain points.
  
• Brush up on tools and techniques: Some interviews may require you to conduct a usability test on the spot. Refamiliarize yourself with tools like Figma, Lookback, or UserTesting. Practice running tests, guiding participants, and asking insightful follow-up questions to gain deeper insights.
  
• Articulate feedback integration: Interviewers will be interested in how you analyze the data collected during usability tests. Be prepared to discuss how you incorporate feedback into your design iterations, highlighting your iterative process and adaptability.
  
• Provide real-world examples: Share specific instances where usability testing led to significant improvements in your designs. Use metrics, such as increased user satisfaction scores or decreased task completion times, to underscore the impact of your testing.

Salting to taste: Addressing different industries

Industries hiring UX talent have different needs, so tailor your interview preparation accordingly. 

For instance:

• Government: Government UX roles focus on accessibility and making services easy to navigate for all citizens. Prepare to discuss how you design with inclusivity and accessibility standards in mind.
  
• Manufacturing: In the manufacturing sector, UX designers work on streamlining workflows and interfaces for internal tools or machinery. Be ready to talk about how you optimize complex processes to enhance user experience.
  
• Retail: In retail, UX designers focus on enhancing the customer shopping experience, whether online or in-store. Be prepared to discuss your approach to creating intuitive user journeys that drive sales and customer satisfaction. You might need to highlight your understanding of user behavior analytics, A/B testing, or mobile-first design.
  
• Banking: Finance UX roles prioritize security and trust while ensuring usability due to the sensitive nature of financial data. Emphasize your ability to create user-friendly interfaces that incorporate robust security measures and adhere to regulatory requirements, such as Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols and accessibility standards. Prepare examples of how you’ve simplified complex financial processes, like loan applications, while maintaining compliance and user satisfaction.
  
• Business/IT: In the business and big tech, UX designers often work on enterprise applications and internal tools aimed at enhancing productivity and collaboration. Prepare to discuss designing user interfaces that support complex workflows and data visualization, highlighting skills in user research and usability testing.

Season your base knowledge with new insights

A UX chef’s work is never done: you’ll always have new tools, techniques, and audiences to understand. To stay ahead, it’s essential to connect with others in the industry. Networking opportunities abound at UX conferences, meetups, and online forums, where you can exchange ideas and learn from seasoned professionals. 

Moreover, keeping up with industry insights is crucial for continuous growth. Follow influential UX blogs, podcasts, and social media accounts to stay informed about trends and best practices. Resources like Nielsen Norman Group, Smashing Magazine, and UX Design Weekly offer valuable information and inspiration to refine your skills and expand your knowledge.

Ready to serve up your UX skills on a silver platter?

As you prepare to showcase your UX skills, think of yourself as a Top Chef contestant ready to present a unique culinary creation. Each interview is an opportunity to plate your experiences, creativity, and problem-solving abilities for potential employers. In General Assembly’s award-winning  UX Design Bootcamp, you’ll gather the essential ingredients for success and craft your “signature dish” through hands-on projects and collaborative learning.

Your journey will be supported by feedback from instructors and peers, helping you refine your presentation skills and ensure you serve up a portfolio that highlights your technical expertise while telling your unique story. With the right preparation and mindset, you’ll be ready to impress in any UX design interview and land the UX design job you desire.
Sign up for our next info session to see how easy it is to gobble up UX design skills with us and savor the good life in your first UX design role.