1 of 21

HCDE Alumni Experience:

Early Career Alumni

Carrie Ding, Tristin Donyes, Jesse Du, �Rose Guttman, Flower Hua, Lynn Pham

2 of 21

Research Goal

Provide feedback and suggestions for the HCDE alumni board regarding early career alumni experience

​

3 of 21

Research Questions

  • What are early career HCDE alumni experiencing in the workforce after they graduate?
  • What are the critical challenges early career alumni face in their careers now and how are they handling it?
  • How are alumni engaging with the HCDE community after graduation?

4 of 21

Participant Demographics

  • Less than 5 years of industry experience
  • 9 participants
    • 6 Masters ‘15, ‘16, ‘17 x3, ‘18
    • 2 Undergraduates ‘18
    • 1 Certificate ‘17
  • Job positions
    • 2 UX Researchers
    • 2 UX Designers
    • 2 Product Designers
    • 1 Product Manager
    • 1 UX Freelancer
    • 1 Technical Program Manager*

​

5 of 21

Research Methods

  • Qualitative research
  • Semi-structured interviews
  • 60-minute remote sessions

6 of 21

Top Line Findings

  • Underprepared for industry
  • Dislike traditional mixers
  • Eager to help

7 of 21

Underprepared for Industry

“Becoming a full-time employee was extremely difficult… Pressure was off in internship, but in full-time positions people expect so much more… It took me years to overcome the imposter syndrome.”

—— Master ‘17

8 of 21

Underprepared for Industry

  • Disconnect between academic coursework and real-world industry expectations
  • Value of UX often not appreciated in companies

​

Implication

  • Students would appreciate additional courses/seminars that facilitate a smoother transition into industry

​

9 of 21

Dislike Traditional Mixers

“These events are great for networking, but would be better if they were less awkward… If there was a thing to do, like going to a venue or something, would make these events much easier to go to.”

—— Master ‘17

​

10 of 21

Dislike Traditional Mixers

  • “Business card exchange” mixers and networking events can be socially exhausting and awkward
  • Time and geographic constraints

​

Implication

  • Early career alumni would prefer events with more organized activities (workshops, talks, etc.)

11 of 21

Eager to Connect

“I feel like people in the UX field are quite empathetic; I have rarely been turned down when I reach out to someone.”

—— Master ‘18�

12 of 21

Eager to Connect

  • Early career alumni are willing to give back to the community and help young HCDE graduates enter in to industry
  • HCDE community is “empathetic” and “supportive”

​

Implication

  • Many early career alumni explicitly mentioned interest in mentorship programs to connect with current students

13 of 21

14 of 21

15 of 21

16 of 21

17 of 21

18 of 21

19 of 21

20 of 21

Recommendations

  • Mentorship program
  • Industry-specific portfolio reviews and mock interviews
  • Skill-specific or industry-specific workshops

21 of 21

Thank you!