From warmgun.com: You’re Hired! Strategies for Finding the Perfect Fit In the UX world, Kim Goodwin is a big deal. A regular on the UX conference circuit. Bestselling author of “Designing for the Digital Age.” Team builder and UX evangelizer at PatientsLikeMe. Kim knows design—and designers. She’s hired, fired, and coached loads of them for her own teams and for clients, too. Kim understands the challenges of a competitive job market. The candidate with the most impressive résumé isn’t always the smartest choice. It’s not always easy to tell the diamond-in-the-rough from the shiny-but-fake. But Kim’s figured out how to find the hidden gems. Kim shares insights that help folks on both sides of the interview table. Learn how to define and articulate the skills you’re hiring for, and how to build a framework for evaluating candidates. Understanding what makes a good hire will help job seekers present themselves to hiring managers in the most effective manner.

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@kimgoodwin
Warm Gun 2014
5 lessons for finding the
perfect fit

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avoid the
wrong choice
don’t miss the
right opportunity

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5 Lessons

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1
Hire with a long-term
growth plan
in mind.

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Small teams need generalists

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Big teams can use specialists
Corkscrew CC-By Alex May

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% grow % buy

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Senior
project lead
Mid-level
Junior

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2
Understand the market.

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Hiring managers expect this:
#ofpeople
level of expertise

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But it’s probably more like this:
#ofpeople
level of expertise

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#ofpeople
level of expertise
Skilled specialists,
generalists, and team leads

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#ofpeople
level of expertise
Spotty or
developing
skills

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Experience
does not equal
expertise

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Likely value of 5 years:
100% small
team or startup
100%
mid-to-large
design
consultancy
60%
consultancy
&
40%
in-house

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It takes craft
to assess craft

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Ask
Be honest
Trade

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HCI vs. design
Academic program
strengths & weaknesses
Also: education matters

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3
Make 2 lists
before you post the job.

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User Experience (UX) designers connect people with
products & services in meaningful, enduring ways.
•Formal education & experience in visual,
interactive, UX or industrial design
•Proven foundation in industry standard design
processes, methods, & tools
•Proven innovative vision supported by a
disciplined attention to detail
•Demonstrated written & verbal interaction skills
•Knowledge of HTML and CSS
•Experience working in an Agile environment
•Visual design experience, particularly in layout
and information design

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1
responsibilities
2
skills needed
3
job posting

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1
responsibilities
2
skills needed
3
job posting
set job
expectations
evaluate
candidates
excite
candidates

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skills needed
NOT
experience
with your:
- Product
- Design problem
- Design tools
- Development tools

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- User research
- Problem definition
- Service & system design
- Interaction design
- Information architecture
- Visual design
- Content strategy
- Usability testing
- Listening
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Negotiation
What skills?

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More granular =
easier to assess

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- Knows what to ask stakeholders & users
- Synthesizes multiple perspectives
- Clearly & concisely identifies core issues
- Brings others along in the thought process
- Negotiates agreement to proceed
Problem definition skills

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Knows
basic
concepts
Can do
with
coaching
Can do
very well
solo
Can
teach
others
Skill 1
Skill 2
Skill 3
Skill 4
Skill 5
Define what level you need

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Similar-to-me
effect

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4
Focus the
evaluation process on the
skills you need.

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Portfolios & CVs
are mostly
bozo filters,
not proof

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Beware the
aesthetic usability effect

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Beware
seductive pixels & sticky notes

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More:
- Goals
- Process
- Role
- Results
- Lessons

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Interviewing

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Tell me about a
time when...

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Show me

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Conversation,
not interrogation

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Look for
actions, not
just words

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5
Be real to
close the right
deal.

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Remember to say
I’m excited
about you

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Thanks! Where to find me:
My book:
Designing for the Digital Age
Random brain droppings:
@KimGoodwin on Twitter
Email:
KimGoodwin@me.com
KGoodwin@patientslikeme.com