What does a UX interview look like?

A UX interview typically follows a structured format, blending questions about your skills, portfolio, and problem-solving approach, while often including practical exercises to assess your design thinking. The process can vary by company, but here's a general outline of what a UX interview might look like:

1. Introduction and Icebreakers

The interview often starts with introductions, where the interviewer or panel will briefly explain their roles and what they’re looking for in the candidate. This phase is also a chance for the interviewer to get to know you on a personal level, so expect questions about your background and career path.

Common Questions:

• "Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into UX design."
• "Why are you interested in this role/company?"
• "What excites you about UX design?"

2. Portfolio Review

A key part of the UX interview is walking through your portfolio. You’ll be expected to present 2-3 of your best case studies, discussing your design process, the problems you solved, and the outcomes. Interviewers want to see how you think, approach challenges, and create solutions for users.

Key Points to Cover:

• The problem or challenge: What was the project about, and what user problems were you solving?
• Your process: How did you approach research, wireframing, prototyping, and testing?
• Results and impact: What was the final outcome, and how did it benefit the user or business?

Common Questions:

• "Can you walk us through your favorite project?"
• "What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?"
• "How did user research influence your design decisions?"

3. Behavioral and Situational Questions

In addition to discussing your design work, interviewers will ask behavioral and situational questions to understand how you handle challenges, collaborate with others, and navigate feedback. These questions assess your soft skills like teamwork, communication, and adaptability.

Common Questions:

• "Tell me about a time you received difficult feedback. How did you handle it?"
• "How do you balance user needs with business goals?"
• "Describe a time when a project didn’t go as planned. What did you do?"

4. Design Challenge or Whiteboard Exercise

Many UX interviews include a design challenge or whiteboard exercise where you solve a problem in real-time. The goal isn’t to deliver a final design but to showcase your thought process, problem-solving skills, and ability to think critically. You'll be expected to break down the problem, brainstorm ideas, and explain why you made certain design choices.

Key Points to Focus On:

• Clarify the problem: Ask questions to ensure you understand the challenge.
• Break it down: Outline the steps you’ll take and why.
• Sketch or wireframe: Visualize your solution while explaining your decisions.
• Be open to feedback: Adjust your design based on the interviewer’s input.

Example Challenge:
"Redesign a login flow to reduce user friction. Walk us through how you would approach the problem."

5. Technical or Tool-Specific Questions

If the role requires specific technical skills (like working with design tools or front-end development), you may be asked about your proficiency with certain tools or how you collaborate with developers to bring your designs to life.

Common Questions:

• "What design tools are you most comfortable with (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD)?"
• "Have you worked with developers to ensure your designs are feasible?"
• "Do you have any front-end coding experience (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)?"

6. Collaboration and Teamwork

Since UX designers often work with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders, the interviewer will likely ask about your experience collaborating in cross-functional teams. They’ll want to know how you communicate your design ideas, handle feedback, and ensure smooth collaboration across teams.

Common Questions:

• "How do you present your designs to non-design stakeholders?"
• "Have you worked closely with developers or product managers? How do you handle feedback from them?"
• "How do you prioritize tasks when collaborating on a project?"

7. User Research and Testing

User research is critical to UX, so interviewers will assess your ability to gather insights and translate them into design decisions. Be prepared to discuss how you conduct research, analyze data, and apply findings to your designs.

Common Questions:

• "How do you conduct user research (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability tests)?"
• "Can you give an example of how user feedback influenced one of your designs?"
• "How do you measure the success of a design?"

8. Cultural Fit and Personal Motivation

To assess whether you align with the company’s values and culture, interviewers may ask questions that explore your work style, motivation, and how you fit within the team. This is also a good opportunity for you to ask about the company’s UX culture and design process.

Common Questions:

• "Why do you want to work here?"
• "What excites you about UX design?"
• "How do you stay updated on UX trends?"

9. Questions for the Interviewer

At the end of the interview, you’ll typically be given a chance to ask questions. This is your opportunity to show interest in the company and learn more about their design team, process, and challenges. Asking insightful questions also helps you determine if the company is a good fit for you.

Good Questions to Ask:

• "What are the biggest UX challenges the company is currently facing?"
• "How does the design team collaborate with other departments like product and development?"
• "What is the design process like here, and how are user insights incorporated?"

10. Closing and Next Steps

The interview typically ends with a discussion about the next steps in the hiring process. They might let you know when you’ll hear back, or provide details about further rounds of interviews if needed.

What to Expect in a UX Interview:

• Introductions: Learn about the role and share your background.
• Portfolio Review: Showcase your best UX projects and explain your design process.
• Behavioral Questions: Discuss how you handle challenges, feedback, and collaboration.
• Design Challenge: Solve a UX problem in real-time and explain your thought process.
• Tool/Technical Questions: Discuss your experience with design tools and technical aspects.
• Collaboration: Highlight your ability to work with cross-functional teams.
• User Research: Explain how you gather user insights and apply them to your designs.
• Cultural Fit: Show how your values align with the company’s and ask thoughtful questions.
• Next Steps: Clarify the hiring process moving forward.

By understanding the structure of a UX interview and preparing for each stage, you can approach your interview confidently and demonstrate your skills effectively.