UX design is a growing industry today as many companies are shifting to the digital space. Web and app development is rising, and UX experts are marketable. Research reveals that over 90% of users will not use a web product after a poor user experience. That is why all businesses invest a lot of money to onboard the right UX talent.

Hiring competent UX/UI designers sets a strong foundation for your product design. You are better positioned to launch a product that offers users an impeccable experience. Finding UI designers for hire can be time-consuming and challenging. Still, it is a crucial phase you should not overlook as you strive to align your business and product goals to meet users’ needs.

So, what do hiring managers look for in a designer? It is imperative to know the core roles of a UX expert in your company, plus the skills and qualifications required to create exceptional web products.

This article gives insights into what a UX designer should know and do to attract the employer’s attention. Learn the responsibilities and the required skills to help onboard the right designer for your next project.

Who Is a UX designer?

UX design is a field that entails creating web products that offer users a valuable and seamless experience. The entire design process is directed at ensuring the product is usable, simple in use, and appealing to customers. So, UX designers are responsible for ensuring users interact well with the product.

UX designers should identify what the customers want and their expectations. Since the designers develop solutions, the products must align with the brand’s goals while satisfying the user’s needs. Thus, the experts must be effective communicators with impressive research skills.

Let us explore the duties and responsibilities of a UX designer before delving into their professional skills.

UX Designer Duties and Responsibilities

When hiring designers, ensure you write a detailed job description to attract the right people for the job. Proficient designers should be able to execute the role effectively.

Below are some of the required UX designer responsibilities:

• Plan and carry out user research.

• Analyze and interpret qualitative and qualitative research data.

• Create and implement tailored experiences for web products.

• Develop top-notch design solutions through storyboards, user flow diagrams, and site maps.

• Offer guidance to the development team on implementing research feedback.

• Conduct wireframing and prototyping.

• Perform user testing and design improvements.

• Keep up with emerging design trends to gain a competitive edge.

Top Skills to Look for in a UX Designer

Now that you know the UX designer’s duties, it is crucial to understand the top skills they should possess to fulfill those duties well.

UX Research

An essential skill that recruiters look for is rigorous research. UX design deals with developing solutions that cater to the customers’ needs. The interaction with web products must be seamless and engaging. Thus, research expertise is mandatory for design professionals.

UX researchers must identify the target users before planning and conducting research exercises to understand what the users want. From card sorting and surveys to interviews, they should know the best methods to collect user data and identify pain points that will help during the design phase.

Wireframing and Prototyping

Skilled designers develop wireframes and prototypes for design projects. Wireframing entails creating simple layouts that display the product’s user journey while prototyping deals with the product’s design and functionality.

Whether using software or manual sketches, these skills are mandatory for candidates who want to get hired by a web development company.

Visual Communication

Applicants can’t make it to the UX field without being visual communicators. Hiring managers look for candidates who have graphic design skills to back up their technical qualifications. UX designers with an eye for design can create appealing interfaces and interactive mockups that impact consumers.

Visual communication is among the top skills that will land any candidate a designer role. Designs speak to users better than a thousand words due to the emotional and psychological impact they can produce on a deeper level. That’s an instrumental skill in the UX design job search.

Analytics

UX design is all about satisfying users. Analytical skills will help you understand if your product design will perform well in the market. Besides, the numbers will give you an accurate picture of how users will relate to your product.

Thus, you need to look for a candidate with a data analytics background if you want impressive designs supported by facts.

UX Writing

Candidates with writing skills are unmatched in the job market. Besides being creative, writing is the most sought-after talent by recruiters. Crafting interesting microcopy places designers in a better position to get hired since it offers exceptional experiences to customers by easily connecting them with your brand.

Collaboration

Design is not a one-person job; designers must collaborate with the entire development team to produce excellent products. The UX designers work with the product manager, developers, stakeholders, and the marketing team. Thus, having collaboration skills is mandatory to ensure a successful design process.

Effective teamwork helps designers to become effective communicators and boosts their confidence. Thus, a strong team spirit sets UX professionals apart from the crowd, helping the recruiters locate the right talent.

Communication Skills

Designers need to have impressive communication skills. Since design work entails presenting findings and informing stakeholders about the progress, efficient communication is necessary. This skill is among the top considerations during the recruitment process, with recruiters paying particular attention to candidates’ communication aptitude and problem-solving skills.

Coding

Most recruiters prefer candidates with coding skills to ensure a swift transition from the design to the development stage. Though UX experts don’t require advanced coding skills, proficiency in front-end languages is necessary. Thus, knowing several programming languages is an added advantage for applicants.

Conclusion

The recruitment process is usually hectic and cumbersome. Still, it can be effortless if you know the pointers of talent and professionalism in a candidate. Thus, write a detailed job description that aligns with your organization and product goals to get the right talent on board. You can easily test the presence of those skills and values during a job interview or practical testing.

UX Hiring: What to Look for in a User Experience Designer