Maheen Sohail’s Post

Lots of jobs here

The gap between the design industry and education is getting crazy... After chatting with many people last week, it's become clear to me that this gap is causing junior/intermediate designers' future to look very bleak. Designers aren't trained in the right areas for junior/intermediate roles, there aren't any opportunities for experiential learning, the hiring system is flawed, and we keep doing the same things instead of trying to fix the problem. And all of this are made 10x worse by the layoffs 😢. But I believe there is something we can do about it if we try hard enough! So moving forward, closing this gap will be the main goal for UX Avengers. Like any problem we solve, we will start by gaining a deep understanding of the problem space. We will take a closer look at existing practices, including education, activities designers do to gain more experience, hiring process, etc. That being said, we need people in the industry who are willing to provide real insights. If you are an experienced designer who has experience on the hiring side, and are passionate about solving this problem, please comment or send me a message! I will also start bugging people 🙂. #Vancouver #UXDesign #ProductDesign #UXAvengers #SeniorUXDesigners #UXManagers #UXDesignLeads

The Founding Product Designer has a key characteristic in their experience that allows them to be a highly successful and impactful founding Designer. Their BREADTH of experience is often a key differentiator that I deliver to founders when I'm hiring their Founding Product Designer. Ensuring those founders have a Designer with a broad enough toolkit allows them to focus on the business and next stages, whilst this designer can balance a multitude of tasks to ensure Design is not a blocker to progress. #design #productdesign #foundingproductdesigner #designhiring #productdesignhiring #DesignedTalent

🤔💡Okay. So why do I like working with the #westwingteam? I started working here as a senior software engineer. It quickly turned out that my seniority was only in my imagination. I came to Westwing with a lot of code written already, but also with poor knowledge of good practices. Was it challenging? Yes. Did I go through the probationary period? Also, yes. Did I receive a poor performance review? NO. My team appreciated my motivation for self-improvement. Ownership and drive, as well as the ability for constructive communication, are essential values at Westwing in the technological realm. Actually, throughout Westwing as a whole. Over the course of a few years, I became a complete software engineer, and that means much more than just coding. It means understanding the business because ultimately, technology is for the business, not the other way around. It also means understanding your tech colleagues, because behind them are strategies and processes. Let's take QA - there probably isn't a better person that understands business paths and use cases. One can learn various processes from them. Or DevOps - ask them why your super performant service is enabled to be super performant, resilient and highly available. They will tell you. As an ambassador for #westwingteam, I will share my experiences, the development opportunities I have received, and continue to receive. Oh, and the opportunities I have requested myself. #tomojemiejsce #teamwestwing #employeeadvocacy #employerbranding

Edinburgh, Scotland

It may be the middle of the summer, but our hiring team is not slowing down! 🍹 ⛱️ This time we’re looking for a Product Designer! 🎨 Do you have what it takes? You can see the detailed list of requirements here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dhu3jVNR In a nutshell, it boils down to this: 🧠 you know what product users want; ✨ you know how to give it to them! #Hiring #ProductDesigner #UXDesigner

No one talks about how it feels to go from working in your chosen career field and due to circumstances, shifting back into a role not related at all. As many of you know, between the months of September of last year and April of this year, I was a UX Design/Research intern at Universal Destinations and Experiences. When the time came to leave and I could no longer be extended, I was heartbroken. Not only did I find purpose, could make a difference, but was finally part of a team that really cared for each other and their growth in every way. I was lucky to find a new job quickly, but it was going back into retail, as that was the only business that had given me a call after a few months of applications. While my new team is amazing, it is hard to not do what I love to do every day. But....I find a way to work in User Experience into my day-to-day within my new job. Something as simple as tying a bow instead of a knot, to allow people with low dexterity a way to try on the clothes without difficulty. Many people are probably feeling the same way with the layoffs happening in the UX industry right now. Your time will come again, and you are not any less of a UX professional for not being able to jump immediately into another UX-based role. Take the time to collect yourself and apply what you know to your day-to-day life, so that when the time comes you can speak to it and talk about how your passion for UX is so strong that you found ways to utilize it where you never thought before. It will get better ❤️ #layoffs #UX #jobmarket

Of course you want to work with Tony Haile and team as a founding product designer.

I believe designers who get stuff done, who turn 'what ifs' into 'here it is’ really make a difference. It's not just about the fancy title—'Principal Product Designer,' 'Staff Product Designer,' ‘Design Engineer’, etc. Beyond these titles, it’s about making ideas real, putting them into the hands of users. These designers are game-changers, whether the company is just starting out or has been around the block. They push projects across the finish line and ensure products not only see the light of day but also truly resonate with and serve the needs of people. PS. I have personal problem with job titles and roles. But, it’s another topic :)

What a morning it was! 🎉 ProductParty kicked off again, bringing together an incredible mix of Product Designers, Product Managers, and User Researchers leaders from London’s top product companies. 🌟🥐 Many engaging discussions covering: - Best practices for org design to encourage cross-tribe collaboration among product teams. - Emphasizing the importance of making user insights accessible and building a culture that is open to listening to insights from user research. - How AI-led research can help small product teams get started with research. - Why product teams should collaborate with researchers on research, and how UX researchers can have the most impact. - The “optimal” ratio of designers to researchers (4-6 designers to 1 researcher was a popular pattern). - The (many) obstacles hiring design managers and applicants face in the hiring process. Thank you to those who joined to our event, creating a safe space for the London Product community to connect, share insights, and fuel their creativity. ✨ If you're a Product Designer, Product Manager, or User Researcher and want to connect with fellow professionals in London, join the waitlist to stay informed about future events https://lnkd.in/e6vHQmSn Helen Devine, Sophie Aldebert, Mrunali Bhangale, Adam Bradley, Benaz Irani, Liz Hamburger, Alessandra Canella, Jason Castaneda, Dr. Ailish McLaughlin, Razel Villanueva, Hannah Patrick, Rachel Jeans, 🍏 Kieren Messenger, Mariam Taraif, Anna Barker, Paul David Price, Chris Lewis, Ivy Mukherjee, Kishan Wadhia, 🐴 Douglas Chan, Rachel Ilan Simpson, Chris Wright and Jamie Beech #ProductParty #UX #Product #Community