UX careers

UX Design is a good career choice for anyone who has experience in development, visual designing, online marketing or even content management.  Hands on experience in creating a software will make it easy for moving across to careers in user experience that involves the testing of the code that you’ve written.

Image courtesy: Robandlauren.com

Even fresh graduates in User Interface Design, will help aspiring employees to develop solid visual design skills that will always set you apart from other UX Designers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, visual design, communications, computer science, or related fields is the basic requirement. This multifaceted stream of UX  has elements from various streams  and a  degree in these will ensure a steady career path.

Formal education may include University programs for Information Architecture or Usability , interaction design or visual design among others.  There are a lot of informal courses and self-guided education, such as the WaSP InterAct Curriculum and  the IAI Mentor Program and the IxDA Mentorship Program.  Candidates can also join UX book clubs that conduct regular meetings all around the world.

The primary skill requirement include expertise with systems and coding languages like Java, HTML, CSS, Perl and XML/XSL. Hands on experience in Design programs like Flash, Photoshop, Dreamweaver I important. Candidates who have a creative skill coupled with  problem-solving capabilities and an eye for details will find this profession truly interesting and rewarding.

Skill sets

Soft Skills

UX career experts vouch that the five indispensable skills for UX mastery include the soft skills of sketching, storytelling,critiquing, presenting and facilitating, which have to be mastered  on your own and fine tuned throughout the career span.

Environmental Experience

UX is a broad spectrum career field, so even if you may not have precious experience in UX, if you  have the workplace skills and environmental experience to develop business, you can still make a fulfilling career in this field.

Scope of work

User-experience jobs converts the optimal functionality of  a product  into interactive solutions by incorporating various elements like market research and psychology, graphic design , content management and the design of the human-computer interface for best results.

Job Description

UX designers are responsible to create the right feel of a specific computer interface. UX designers typically work in teams in developing a software or a website

Opportunities

UX Design careers was the top in the list of 7 in-demand careers for design and planning, according to an article from Brazen Life. With an expected  job growth up to 30%, UX have become a popular career choice today. Design and planning are the cornerstones of any online business and employers are eager to hire experts for this segment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that job opportunities in the web development field will  grow by 13% through 2020.

A study by QuinStreet Inc. shows that the trend of implementing Big Data Analytics has become a top priority among U.S. businesses. Most of the organizations have either implemented data analysis feature in their organization or are making plans to set up the facility in the next two years.

Rob Bearden, CEO of Hortonworks opined that it is one of the most sought-after positions as there is a huge supply and demand imbalance for qualified data analysts in the industry with the talent pool is just 20 percent of the demand. An attractive salary package makes it a preferred career choice for freshers who are just out of school. Experienced data analysts with necessary skill sets will find this career choice a lucrative option.

The functions of a data analyst include basically three specialty fields of technologists, who make algorithm codes to trawl the massive data, statisticians and quantification experts; and artist-explorers, who find the fine prints that may escape an ordinary pair of eyes.

Becoming a data analyst
The real boss of any data analyst is the big data and the smartest way to please the boss will be to master the art of wading through the piles of data without losing one’s cool and to find pieces that are important and strategic for their business.

Job description
Data analyst jobs are not for everyone! The ideal candidate should have a natural aptitude in mathematics, statistics and data coupled with excellent analytical skills. A perfect communication skill is another must to have attribute for a data analyst as he or she will be needed to interact with the various departments and offer the best possible solutions to problems.

To put it in a nut shell, a data analyst’s job involves exploring data, unveiling the hidden story beneath and offering explanations behind the data. The scope of job can vary from one industry to the next. In general, data analysts are responsible for analyzing and summarizing data to pull out relevant information and strategic conclusions. Data analysts must ponder deep into the business questions and analyze the data and statistical techniques effectively.

As a career choice
Becoming a data analyst will be a rewarding career choice in data analytics and business intelligence for those who are capable of working in tandem with the executive or departmental management of a company and can impact the operations of the company.

Basic education needed
The basic qualification for a data analyst is an undergraduate degree in a field such as accounting, business, statistics, and mathematics or computer science. Senior positions may require the candidates to have a master’s or doctoral degree in one of these subjects.

A data analyst is someone who examines the data using data analysis tools to extract useful results from the raw data to enable their employers or clients to make strategic operational decisions by analyzing information.

Technology professionals experienced in Analytics can make a successful career in data analysis by harnessing the power of Big Data. The demand for data analysts have doubled in the recent past, throwing open countless job openings for professionals.

Job opportunities
Data analysts can work part-time, full-time or on contractual basis in various business lines like government organizations, finance, education, consumer goods and technology among others.

Cosmetology includes several specialties, such as hair styling, cosmetics, skin care as well as manicures/pedicures. The best part is most of the jobs in the cosmetology sector are expected to have a good growth. Let us look at the specialties in details and know the several opportunities in each of them.

Career opportunities for a cosmetologist

1. Skin care expert: Nowadays, skin care has become important for men as well as women. Every individual is ready to invest in healthy skin, and thus improve their facial appearance. You can become a licensed skin care cosmetologist and work with an organization. You can even work independently and keep all the profits with yourself.
2. Hair stylists: Hair is considered to make or break the overall appearance. . Therefore, there is a good demand of employed and independent hair stylists across the world. Hairstylists rake in a good amount of money with their talent and experience. More the experience and popularity, more the profits made by the hair stylists. In this way, if you are creative enough and want to pursue a career in cosmetology, then hair stylist career is ideal for you.
3. Makeup artist: This is such a career in the field of cosmetology which never cease to gain popularity. Nowadays, makeup artists are doing specialization in order to have a good name in the field of cosmetology. For instance, many of the makeup artists specialize in bridal makeup which keeps them fully booked with clients and customers in the wedding season.
4. Beauty writer: If you are very creative and have flair of writing then beauty writer is one of the best jobs for you. Beauty writer and editor can get employed along with beauty magazines as well as work as independent professionals. Content is something which is always required by the organizations and teams in the beauty niche. Therefore, you will always have assignments with you.
5. Manicurist/pedicurist: These are some of the crucial niches in the beauty sector. All women are nowadays addicted to getting manicure and pedicure treatments. Therefore, if you are willing to invest your time in this niche, then you can get yourself employed as a manicurist or a pedicurist.
6. Beauty business consultant: If you are having a thinking of establishing yourself as an independent professional, then you can opt to become a beauty business consultant. You can even start your own firm and work with other consultancies thus saving your time and making more money than a regular job. You can even guide others to establish their own beauty related business. A bit of creativity will then help you fetch more money in this field.

There are innumerable career opportunities which can be pursued in the field of the cosmetology and one can achieve a lot of laurels and monetary gains by performing the best in their respective niches.

Image courtesy: gotobeautyschool.com

Acquire and update your “technical” skills
SEM is a highly dynamic profession; search advertising platforms such as Google Adwords or the one offered by Bing continue to enhance the capabilities they offer very regularly. It is essential to be absolutely up-to-date with the new features, functionality and their advantages; else it is very easy to be left far behind rather quickly. Read the Google Adwords blog regularly where they communicate updates frequently in a detailed manner along with explanatory videos; likewise, refer to the Bing advertising blog if you want to keep yourself updated on paid advertising on the Bing/Yahoo network. The willingness and the ability to stay on top of the developments is an absolute pre-requisite, for what you knew yesterday may be redundant as soon as tomorrow!

Become a certified SEM professional
Google Adwords offers a certification program which requires you to pass some online exams. Not only is the certificate you receive upon successfully clearing the exam a good badge of honour to put on your profile, the process of preparing for the Adwords certification exam is a great learning experience. It serves as reinforcement of a lot of things you already know while also unearthing new knowledge that may have passed you by.

Fall in love with numbers, sharpen your analytical (and MS Excel) skills
To become really good at PPC, it is critical that you develop a very strong affinity – may be even a passion- for numbers. Your ability to look through copious amounts of campaign data, interpret them and come up with logical inferences will be one of the most valuable skills that you can demonstrate. Results of PPC campaigns are dependent on various variables, with different levels of sensitivity on each other. Being able to predict the effect of change of any variable on campaigns will give you much-needed control of your campaigns, which will get you kudos from your clients or bosses.

Develop a flair for marketing
Often PPC specialists get caught up or limit themselves to the technicalities of the channels they use such as keyword research, bid management, conversion rate measurement etc. However, it is very important to not lose sight of the fact that ultimately PPC is a form of marketing and a thorough understanding of the typical facets of any marketing campaign such as objectives, market segmentation and targeting, messaging etc. is equally, if not more, important. While a PPC specialist may have marketing copywriters to help with writing copy for the ads or landing pages, it is imperative for the PPC person to be able to articulate well the requirements for the copy so that the messaging is in line with the marketing strategy and brand positioning.

Stay alert and be decisive
Unlike traditional media and marketing, SEM results can be seen almost in real time. A PPC marketer has to monitor the results like a hawk and take quick decisions to make changes to improve campaign performance. No, this is not just trial-and-error (though you can develop a knack of doing that well too), it is about being absolutely on top of campaigns and discerning trends early (refer back to the point on being analytical).

The dynamic nature of SEM makes it exciting and challenging at the same time. As a result, SEM offers a fulfilling career opportunity that forces you to be fresh and keep your brain fertile. Do you have the skills and attributes mentioned above to have a serious go in this profession? Are you committed to develop these? If yes, a highly promising and rewarding career awaits you!

The CareerXChange.in Editorial Team

If you are unable to impress an employer with your resume, then your chance of getting the desired role becomes dimmer. A video CV is a unique way that allows you to display your abilities and capabilities differently. It allows prospective employers to see and hear the applicants. A pre-recorded video resume is in demand, specifically in today’s digital world, where screen presence is important. This modern method of skill presentation is gradually gaining popularity, typically among the MNC’s.

Here are top benefits of using an audio-visual resume:

• It makes you visible - A video is a powerful medium to convey your message to the recipient. It definitely works! It is an excellent way to highlight your qualities even as attracting employer’s attention to your repertoire. A video resume is the ideal way that differentiates you from the others. The employers will give you first priority over hundreds of other contenders with a paper resume format.
• Simple to prepare – A video resume is easy to prepare and do not take much time. Just get a digital camera, find a proper place, and shoot your live portfolio. This is the ideal way to present yourself and show your confidence. This type of job application is specifically suitable for job seekers who wish to apply in media firms. For instance, if you have applied for the post of a Communications Manager, a video resume is the best way to display your communication skills.
• Helps in giving results quickly – Most employers prefer video resumes to traditional paper CV, since it is a quick tool, which speeds up the hiring process. Employers can judge the applicant’s skills, body language, and presentation and communication skills, all at a time through a video resume.

Video job applications are becoming popular these days. Therefore, if you plan to use this method to convey your curriculum vita e, then make sure to record a movie that has a proper video resolution and the voice quality. Show your confidence in your presentation and grab the best shot to your dream job.

If you still feel that a paper resume is the ideal way to impress the employer, choose the best job resume template. Ultimately, it is your choice of words and way of presentation that would make the final impact.

Most of us are familiar with this quote but has anyone of us successfully found a job that we love to do and can do forever. Ideally, can we say there is a job that you and I can term as a dream job? Yes indeed. Your dream job might not exist but you can definitely create one.

Let us find out in this article on ways to create your dream job.

Most of us are not sure what our dream job would be like. Trapped in a cubicle, our vision becomes blurry, and our expectations turn impractical. The first thing to do is to write down your thoughts. What are you best skills? What do you enjoy to do the most? Will there be takers for your services? In addition, would you earn enough to stay afloat?

These are some practical questions, which you need to find answers, before making that move to quit your secure job.

Exercise clarity of thoughts

Write down what you love to do. Do not delve deep into business plan or pricing/sales goals. Honestly, going much into numbers is a spoiler but ignoring them completely may prove impractical. Therefore, if you are sitting in your office today and thinking that you are wasting your time in doing futile work, it is about time you exercise clarity of thoughts and analyze what you want to do.  Also, plan how you intend to design your workdays.

Be persistent

Even Steve Jobs had to experience failure before his big hit Apple. You are no different. There may be times when people will think you are crazy and may reject you out rightly. However, do not get disappointed. Be persistent in your efforts and keep going. Listen to your inner self; don’t let others take your decision.

Seek help

It takes a lot of courage to quit your corporate job and go behind your dreams. You may come across several people who would think you are brave to do this. You should be proud of your decision and must make sure you don’t falter at any step. For this, read books on your chosen field, take courses to brush up your skills, attend seminars, events and conferences, and lastly talk to your friends. Many people out there are ready to give you career guidance and career tips. Go diligently and patiently.

Lastly

If you are unhappy with your job and simply passing from one paycheck to other, do something about it. You may not be able to leave your job immediately due to financial constraints. So, start saving money and leave when you think you have enough backing. With a little clarity, persistence, patience, and help, you can create your dream job. Career opportunities are galore, chose to be in the field that

Most of us are so busy to get out of the house and reach our workplace that we lose a track on how the time is passing. However, successful people know that the first hour of the day is very important and hence, they go about it with a to-do list in their hand. Here is a heads up on the first items of successful people’s to-do list.

Stop from checking your emails rather play, read, or talk with your kids

A tip from Tumblr founder David Karp is to stop checking your email first thing in the day. He thinks that checking emails at home will not make you feel good or productive. Instead, try to spend quality time with your little kids. Put away your iPhone and laptop and spend a relaxed time with your family, have a leisure breakfast or read a book for your kids.

Be grateful of what you have

According to Tony Robbins, the self help guru who advocates mindful first-hour rituals, you should set aside an “Hour of Power,” “Fifteen Minutes to Fulfillment,” or “30 Minutes to Thrive.” In short, practice light exercise, motivational incantations, and a few minutes of thinking focused on things, you are grateful for – your family, job, or anything. Go out for a jog on some days, or just walk your treadmill for a few minutes.
Try to visualize what you want in life as if you have it with you.

Get one big thing done before surrendering to emails and meetings

Brian Tracy advocates doing one big task first hour in the morning, i.e. get rid of the shoulder-sagging stuff first. A good tip to stick to this success mantra is to choose your weighty thing a day prior and see it the first thing in the morning when you reach your workplace. Morning is the most productive time of the day and dealing with the most important task would be the best way to spend your time.

Think and ask yourself is this what you want

Successful people set aside some time to think how their life is moving. This is the best way to take control of our lives. Therefore, spend at least 10 minutes in the morning and think what you want to do. Ask yourself, whether you are satisfied with your life and work. If you are feeling unfulfilled, it is time to change.

Many successful people suggest taking up a creative hobby like photography, painting, or practicing an instrument that you love. Meditate, pray or read a religious text. This all will help you start your day in a much better manner than running haphazardly here and there.

Following this schedule will help you get a focused mind that would stay much more productive from the start until the end of the day.

Adapted from an article, What Successful People Do with the First Hour of Their Work Day and What The Most Successful People Do before Breakfast, published on Digital Journal.com.

Source: Fast Company
CBS News

Six key soft skills of an IT pro:

1. Good people skills: IT is a mix of technology and people. Professionals work on technology to come up with innovative products that has the potential to boost a company’s business. When you are dealing with people, disagreements are common. A good IT pro is the one who can bring a diverse group to a consensus. A person with good people skills can manage a group well and bring them on the same page so that shared goal can be accomplished.

2. Good communication skills: How well you are able to put forth a great idea such that it is appreciated and implemented. Your ability to read, write, and speak play a great role in this. There are immense examples where a project went to dump as the ideas was not properly communicated.

3. Ergonomic sense: Most IT pros find it difficult to look at their invention from a nontechnical aspect or users’ end. A good IT professional is the one who can evaluate their work and design user interfaces that are simple and easy for the users.

4. Sixth sense: Can you gauge the worth of your project by the way people are working and the speed at which tasks are taking place? Most IT pros develop a sixth sense after years of experience and can foresee where the project is going. This is one talent, which is very difficult to be taught, but can be developed by an IT pro over the years. If you can sharpen your sixth sense pertaining to your projects, your worth is equivalent to gold in the IT industry.

5. Political smartness: IT companies always are on a lookout for individuals who can establish strong bonding with different divisions within a company. Such a strong interlinking helps smooth project cooperation and success.

6. Good pedagogue: Do you possess the skills of a good teacher. In this industry, an individual who can teach new applications to users are valued a lot. People who can mentor, and share knowledge, are an asset for the company.

Excerpt of an article published in TechRepublic.

If you have any of these problems, don’t get dismayed. Today, you don’t have to compromise on your studies, since technology has made possible to ‘earn while you learn’ with distance learning education. Nowadays, you can opt for any degree or diploma course and study at your convenience and according to your schedule.

Online Education: -

Distance learning education gives you a chance to study and at the same time also continue with your job. A number of online learning institute operates on the web to offer students with the distance learning option. It is best to read the reviews about the college/institute and if you think it is good, apply for admission. However, some institute may have their own entrance test and once you clear the exam, you need to pay the fees and start your education at home.

Online learning institutes offer study materials to make the learning fun and easy. You can study the given material and prepare for exams as per your ease.

How to clear doubts if the learning is online and not face to face?

Some institutes also offer the service known as ‘virtual classrooms’ where you can clear your study related queries by text chatting or live chatting with fellow students from across the globe. They also provide online lectures to help students with needed assistance. Check for the institutes online and enroll with only those who offer you this advantage.

Does it have equal opportunity like the regular courses?

By opting for online education, you will be pampered with the same opportunities as for the regular students. Many people speculate that distance learning education degree cannot give them a high salary and job in their dream company. However, this is a myth, if you complete your studies from a reputed institute, there is no looking back.

Career opportunities are many if you possess the necessary skills and determination. Career tips are ample, but it will only help you if you are truly committed to become an expert in the chosen field.

Fulfill your career opportunities and dreams without compromising on your work and family responsibilities with distance learning education.

Hence individuals looking out for jobs must consider job hunting tips. Here are some top tips that employment seekers must try.

Know yourself:-

Start with making sincere analysis of your real strengths. Then analyze which of your skills are transferable. In simple words, you must be clearly aware of what you can offer to the recruiting firm and how will you carry it out.

Decide what you want:-

If you are not clear and specific about what you are looking for, then there is no point in looking out for jobs. Believe it or not, there are people who have spent years in a company working without even knowing what would be an ideal career choice for them.
Take time to enlist all your key skills, experience as well as qualifications along with the salary and additional benefits you are looking for. List down all the companies you are willing to wish for on the other side of the list. Do not forget to list the actual opportunities available at the moment.

Career counseling:-

Though this job hunting tips is very popular among college graduates, it can help the ones already employed and are looking for a new job. Every college have career services department that assist fresh graduates as well as alumni to get relevant employment listings. They also offer resume writing and interview preparation assistance along with career guidance. You can seek help from any professional career adviser to figure out your needs exactly and guidance on how to maximize your qualifications and resources.

Review and update your resume:-

The sole purpose of your resume is to promote you to prospect employers. Hence, it must be capable of highlighting your achievements, qualifications as well as compatibility with the job that you are applying for. Include up-to-date summary of your accomplishments, along with a short description of how it was achieved. It is best to compose a resume under the guidance of a professional.

Approach companies:-

You can directly contact the company where you want to work. In most cases, employers prefer job seekers who apply this way. You can also look for their respective websites and register with them.

Prepare for interview:

This is the last although not the least important job hunting tip. Preparing for the interview can keep you focused and calm on the interview day.