How can students network with UX professionals?
Networking is a valuable skill for any aspiring UX professional, as it can help you learn from others, find mentors, discover opportunities, and showcase your work. However, as a student, you might wonder how to connect with experienced UX practitioners and build meaningful relationships. In this article, we will share some tips and resources on how to network with UX professionals as a student.
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Wendy WhittakerDesign Lead & Principal UX Designer | User advocate | Collaborator
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Rohan MishraHelping Individuals and Businesses to Elevate with the Power of Design & AI | LinkedIn Top Voice | ex. Zomato, Urban…
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Manish Kumar YadavProduct Designer | Previously @Unacademy | No-code development X Framer
One of the easiest ways to meet UX professionals is to attend events related to UX, such as workshops, webinars, conferences, meetups, or hackathons. These events can help you gain new insights, skills, and perspectives on UX, as well as introduce you to people who share your passion and interest. You can find UX events online through platforms like Eventbrite, Meetup, or UXPA, or through your local UX communities and organizations. When attending UX events, be prepared to introduce yourself, ask questions, exchange contacts, and follow up with the people you meet.
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When I first started, I used to travel 100 kilometers each way on the weekends to attend events. This allowed me to not only learn, but also network with experienced design professionals. I made many connections, took advantage of many opportunities, and got my first internship with a famous designer. Initially, it may be challenging, but with persistence, you will garner attention, establish valuable connections, and potentially uncover promising opportunities.
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Research the attendees before attending any networking event, meetup, workshop, or conference. Get to know who they are and their expertise. Select who you would definitively want to speak with and prepare questions that align with their specialties. The more you can start a conversation organized, the further it will go, and the more you will unlock with each individual. While networking can seem intimidating, remember that every person you speak with was in your shoes at one point. Because of this, people are more open than you may think and genuinely willing to help curious students.
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Always prepare some questions. Do some research on the people, the topic of the event and why you are interested. Even if you are very junior, or introverted, the more you have prepared the easier it is to try to get a relevant conversation. Even if you are too shy or scared to do that, walk up to the speaker and say thank you. Half of them will ask you a question so you don't have to instigate.
Another way to network with UX professionals is to join online or offline UX communities, where you can interact with other UX enthusiasts, experts, and influencers. You can participate in discussions, share your opinions, ask for feedback, or offer help on various UX topics and challenges. You can also showcase your portfolio, projects, or articles, and get exposure and recognition for your work. Some examples of UX communities are UX Mastery, UX Collective, UX Stack Exchange, or UX Designers on Reddit. You can also join UX groups on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.
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Joining UX communities is a great way for students to network with UX professionals. This works most of the time. What you get 1. Experienced UX people who share industry insights. 2. You get to know what's going on in the Design industry 3. You get job/ internship opportunities 4. Share your work and get feedback from UX professionals and many more. The benefits are numerous. Try to join communities that are present in your country as you can meet people in person also it will help you understand how the UX industry works in your area. Cheers!
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Platforms like LinkedIn, Behance, and Dribbble are popular with UX professionals. Be outgoing and engage in discussions, share your work, and connect with professionals on the platforms to help open up networking opportunities (even when the connections aren't 1:1 exactly what you want to do for yourself).
If you want to learn from someone who has more experience and knowledge in UX, you can reach out to potential UX mentors and ask for their guidance and advice. You can find UX mentors through platforms like MentorCruise, ADPList, or UX Coffee Hours, or through your existing network of contacts. When reaching out to UX mentors, be respectful, polite, and specific about what you want to learn from them. You can also offer something in return, such as helping them with a project, writing a testimonial, or referring them to someone else.
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Some thoughts on connecting through mentorship from others. • Start identifying professionals whose work, career path, or expertise aligns with you. • Engage with their content and leave thoughtful comments or share their work with your insights. This initiates a soft introduction before you directly reach out. • When you're ready to reach out, write a personalized message. Mention specific aspects of their work that you admire and how it relates to your interests or goals. Be kind, clear, and concise. • Mentorship is not just a one-off interaction; you build a relationship over time. Stay engaged, update them on your progress, and be open to feedback. • Pay it forward, provide feedback where you are confident, and help others to find help.
A great way to network with UX professionals is to collaborate on UX projects with them, either as a team member, a partner, or a client. You can find UX projects through platforms like Behance, Dribbble, or Upwork, or through your own network of contacts. Working on UX projects with others can help you improve your skills, showcase your abilities, and build trust and rapport with your collaborators. You can also ask for feedback, recommendations, or referrals from your collaborators after completing the project.
Another way to network with UX professionals is to create and share UX content, such as blog posts, podcasts, videos, or newsletters. Creating UX content can help you demonstrate your expertise, express your ideas, and attract attention from other UX practitioners. You can also engage with your audience, invite guest contributors, or comment on other UX content creators' work. You can create and share UX content through platforms like Medium, YouTube, Spotify, or Substack, or through your own website or blog.
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