How I got my first UX job without any prior experience in tech or design
A lot has changed since I applied to UX jobs for the first time, but a lot of themes still apply today.
So how did I land my first UX job with zero design and tech experience?
I studied Political Science and Finance at Temple in Philly, which was totally wrong for me. Picked Finance to please my family, then switched to Political Science when the math became too much. Later found out my struggles were due to undiagnosed ADHD that I only discovered at 28.
In my fifth year, I started checking out tech meetups around the city. No bootcamps or major changes – just showing up to events from Meetup.com. While volunteering at Philly Tech Week, I met a woman who ran her own company. I helped at her events, and she eventually introduced me to my first post-college boss.
Like most new grads, I had no idea what I was good at. I'd dabbled in photography and design but nothing serious. I joined an education tech startup that called itself "Facebook for education." My job changed daily – talking to professors about challenges, traveling to universities for sales, and sometimes just getting coffee for coworkers. I didn't even know what "user experience" meant back then.
After about 9 months, things got toxic. The CEO wasn't getting funding, projects stalled, and I got the worst of everyone's stress. I was so miserable I'd cry daily after work. My boyfriend (now husband) put it in perspective: "You're making $38,000 as a contractor – you could work almost anywhere and be happier." I remember standing on the sidewalk, after I finished crying over lunch into my salad : "Immigrants don’t quit!" He reassured me that he would support me in the meantime, but my mental health matters more than this interim role.
After a few weeks of wallowing on the couch, watching Game of Thrones from the beginning, my boyfriend suggested UX. I shot him immediately. I had a dozen blockers lined up. It’s too intimidating. I’m not smart enough. Philly isn’t a big tech hub. I don’t even know if I’d really be good at it.
Instead, I became a photographer's assistant. There I met someone who'd been an assistant for three years but still wanted to be a photographer. I thought, "If you want to be a photographer, you don’t learn by assisting. You gotta go out there, find clients, learn your own photography style. If you want to be a photographer, be a photographer. "
And suddenly it hit me — I am dishing advice (in my head), that I myself was not willing to take. Here I am mentally telling another creative to be fearless, to pursue the craft, to face the difficult moments, but I myself was not willing to do the same with user experience design. I came home, and cried after that day, not because the job was tough, but because I felt I was capable of so much more, but I was my own biggest blocker.
I was my own biggest obstacle.
I thought more carefully about what I’ve done in my previous job:
Talked to users (professors and students)
Observed how people used the platforms
Made basic mockups using Sketch
Proposed design ideas on what each university would really like from our Saas platform
I finally had to think about my experience, really think. What can I possibly take with myself from my old role that would benefit me in my job search? If I had to answer that queistion today as a seasoned designed with 8+ years of experience, I’d point out the user interviews I’ve done, the user journeys of students that sign up with our platform, the user journeys of universities, the service design of onboarding and so much more process and strategy work.
At the time I focused on more surface level work including designs I’ve mocked up for the various dashboards, and university clients. The work was terrible, it was boxes and squares. It was very rudimentary.
I had very little understanding of grids, pixels, hierarchy, but as the old saying goes - The first version of anything you make is going to be the worst version. I wrote up a description of my logic as best I could, I applied to anything in my area with the words UX in it, I shut my laptop off, and repressed the whole experience.
A few weeks later, I got a call from a recruiter! For a job! In UX! 55 minute away one way. Damnit. The interview was brutal – four hours of questions about things I barely understood. I was positive that I’d never hear from them again, but they gave me a design challenge. I tried to completely it to the best of my ability, but my skills were so incredibly amateur and limited.
Between planning my wedding and dealing with a family death, I somehow got offered the job. I still think they might have just felt sorry for me. But that opportunity started what's now been an 8+ year career in UX. Sometimes you just need one person to take a chance on you.
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Key Lessons for Junior UX Designers in 2025
🔎 Volunteering: The Magic Networking Strategy
Volunteering is perhaps the most underrated strategy for breaking into UX design. Unlike traditional networking, which can feel transactional, volunteering creates natural opportunities to build meaningful relationships.
How to Find Volunteering Opportunities:
Design-focused nonprofits like Catchafire match designers with organizations needing help
Local UX meetup groups often need volunteers to help organize events, check attendees in, or assist with setup. Look them up on Meetup.com or through a little bit of Google and elbow grease.
Tech conferences like UXPA and Interaction offer volunteer positions in exchange for free attendance
Creative community events like design weeks, hackathons, and industry showcases
Professional organizations such as AIGA have local chapters needing volunteer support
Why Volunteering Works:
Volunteering puts you in direct contact with experienced professionals in low-pressure situations. You're not asking for a job; you're collaboratively working alongside potential mentors and employers. This creates organic opportunities for them to see your work ethic, problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal skills.
I helped at events, and the woman running them eventually introduced me to my first post-college boss. These connections often lead to referrals—the most powerful way to bypass traditional application processes.
🧠Informational Interviews: Building Meaningful Connections
Informational interviews are structured conversations with industry professionals focused on gathering insights rather than job hunting. They create valuable connections while expanding your understanding of the industry.
Making Informational Interviews Effective:
Request brief meetings (15-20 minutes) to respect their time
Prepare specific questions about their career path, company culture, or industry trends
Follow up with a thank-you note referencing specific insights they shared
Maintain the relationship by occasionally sharing relevant articles or updates
Track your conversations in a spreadsheet noting key takeaways and follow-up dates
Junior designers should aim to conduct 1-2 informational interviews each month. These conversations compound over time, creating a network that can provide job leads, portfolio feedback, and insider knowledge about company hiring practices.
💪 Do the Work That Matters
The path to creative careers requires demonstration of skills through tangible work. Portfolio projects aren't just checkboxes—they're evidence of your problem-solving abilities and design thinking.
Focus on Meaningful Projects:
Solve real problems you've personally experienced or observed
Create case studies that demonstrate full process, not just final visuals
Redesign existing products with clear usability issues
Document your failures and iterations as well as successes
Include metrics and outcomes whenever possible
"Don't do stuff to do stuff. Do it because it will help you." This advice reminds us that mindless activity doesn't advance careers. Each project should either build a specific skill, explore a new industry, or demonstrate a particular methodology. Quality consistently outperforms quantity in UX portfolios.
💡 Embrace Fear and Take Action
"Scared? Do it scared. Cry later." This powerful advice acknowledges that fear is universal—even for experienced designers. The difference is in how you respond to it.
Strategies for Moving Through Fear:
Break intimidating tasks into smaller steps (apply to one job today instead of thinking about finding a career)
Set time limits for decision-making to avoid analysis paralysis
Create accountability by telling others about your goals
Recognize that rejection is information, not failure
Document your journey to see progress over time
The UX industry values resilience and continuous learning. Every successful designer has stories of rejection, failure, and intimidation. What separates them is persistence through these challenges.
🔋 🧑Your Unique Position May Be Your Advantage
The UX job market isn't a single competitive landscape. It's thousands of micro-markets with varying levels of opportunity. Many junior designers find success by identifying less contested pathways. A banking app redesign may attract fewer applicants than a social media platform, creating opportunity for those willing to explore different sectors.
Finding Your Unique Advantage:
Look beyond major tech hubs where competition is fiercest
Consider industries experiencing digital transformation (healthcare, finance, government)
Explore companies at different growth stages (startups often value versatility over specialization)
Leverage unique combinations of skills that set you apart
Apply to positions even when you don't meet all requirements
🧑 Don't Compare Your Beginning to Others' Middle
"Don't compare yourself to people who have a support network." This crucial perspective acknowledges the invisible advantages some designers have—financial support, industry connections, or previous related experience.
Maintaining Perspective:
Remember that career paths are rarely linear and everyone's timeline differs
Focus on your progress compared to your past self, not others
Recognize the "iceberg illusion" where others' struggles remain hidden
Build your own support network through peer groups and mentorship programs
Celebrate small wins to maintain motivation through the journey
Success stories on social media typically showcase the highlights without revealing the underlying support systems or multiple rejections. Your journey will have its own timeline and challenges—comparing only diverts energy from your progress.
In Conclusion
The path to landing your first UX design job is rarely straightforward, but these lessons provide a roadmap. Volunteer strategically to build authentic relationships. Conduct informational interviews to gain industry insights. Create meaningful work that demonstrates your abilities. Push through fear with deliberate action. Find unique opportunities where your specific combination of skills creates advantage. And maintain perspective by focusing on your individual journey rather than comparisons.
Remember that every established UX designer was once exactly where you are now. The difference is simply persistence, strategic action, and the willingness to begin before feeling ready.