It’s frustrating when UX leaders with less hands-on experience are elevated into leadership positions while highly skilled individuals in lower positions need help to move up. This gap between practical expertise and hierarchical positioning is common across industries. Still, it can be particularly stark in UX, where user-centered design and deep technical knowledge are crucial.
The Resume and Experience Disconnect
- Emphasizing Soft Skills in Leadership: UX leadership often emphasizes soft skills, such as communication, collaboration, and strategic vision. While necessary, this can promote individuals with less practical experience in design or research.
- Overlooked Expertise: Those in lower positions may have vast experience in problem-solving, prototyping, or implementing complex user journeys. However, they can be overlooked if they haven’t held leadership titles or focused on “strategic” narratives in their resumes.
- Resumes Lack Context: UX resumes often need to communicate the impact of hands-on work in ways that resonate with executives or hiring managers. Without articulating how hands-on expertise leads to broader business outcomes, resumes may not reflect the potential of highly experienced designers.
The Role of Networking and Advocacy
- Lack of Sponsorship: People with tons of experience in lower roles may need a mentor or sponsor who advocates for their skills at higher levels. This advocacy is crucial in advancing to leadership roles.
- Network Disparity: Leaders with less hands-on experience often excel at networking and building relationships across different parts of the business. Experienced UX designers in lower positions might focus more on their craft and less on building those internal networks.
Systemic Issues in Hiring
- Bias Toward Management Titles: Hiring systems often favor those with “manager” or “director” in their title, regardless of the depth of their UX knowledge. This bias puts experienced designers in a tough spot where their practical contributions are undervalued.
- The Need for Visible Metrics: Those in higher roles often show impact in terms of business metrics (e.g., revenue growth, user acquisition), while lower-level experts might have data that is more granular or user-focused, which doesn’t get translated as impactful in the same way.
How to Bridge the Gap
- Focus on Outcomes, Not Just Processes: For those with deep expertise, it’s essential to frame the resume around outcomes and business impacts rather than simply listing UX processes. Highlight how your work led to measurable improvements in user satisfaction, retention, or efficiency.
- Seek Leadership Training: Even for experienced UX professionals, seeking training or mentorship in leadership and strategy can be beneficial. This can help position their expertise within the larger business context, making it easier to bridge into leadership roles.
- Get Involved in Cross-Functional Projects: Exposure to other departments like marketing, product management, and engineering can help lower-level UX experts showcase their ability to influence broader strategic decisions.
Championing Skilled Designers
- In leadership, UX leaders must advocate for team members with extensive hands-on experience. They should create opportunities for them to present their work at an executive level or be involved in decision-making processes.
- As a Colleague: If you’re in a senior role, pushing for visibility and more strategic opportunities for highly skilled peers can make a difference in their career advancement.
The challenge isn’t just about titles; it’s about demonstrating leadership through UX expertise and business impact.