Career

UX Design

6 Reasons Why Getting Into UX is Hard

Getting into UX is hard, especially if you’re a beginner or a bootcamp student struggling to land your first role. It’s not because of AI taking over jobs, but rather the challenges that come with starting in a competitive and evolving field.

However, with determination and the right strategies, breaking into UX can lead to a rewarding and dynamic career. Let’s explore six reasons why it is hard to get into UX and how to overcome these hurdles.

A 3D illustration of a black bomb with a skull icon and a red star on its fuse, symbolizing danger or urgency.

Reason One: Lack of Experience

It’s tough to get your first job without experience, but it’s tough to get experience without your first job.

How to solve: Work on real problems. You can overcome this catch-22 situation by solving real challenges for real people. Think of family, friends, or non-profit organizations that could use your help.

A 3D illustration of a yellow lightbulb floating above a cartoon hand, representing innovation and ideas.

Experience is crucial

Reason Two: High Competition

There are many open positions for intermediate and senior levels, but far fewer junior opportunities.

How to solve: Focus on the right skills. The easiest way to get your foot in the door is by mastering UI skills and slowly developing your UX mindset. Building a solid foundation in UI can open up entry-level opportunities.

A 3D illustration of two crossed checkered flags, representing the completion or goal of a challenge.

Focus on the right skills

Reason Three: Lackluster Portfolios

Single-screen designs, irrelevant projects, and redesigns no one asked for are portfolio red flags.

How to solve: Learn how to stand out. Employers and clients want to see evidence of relevant skills and experience presented in a concise but memorable way. Show how you solve real problems and bring value.

A mockup of a design challenges workbook cover with inner pages showcasing templates and exercises.

Learn how to stand out by solving real problems

Reason Four: Lack of Clarity

Many beginners confuse UX, UI, and product design roles and processes.

How to solve: Don’t skip the basics. Understand the differences between UX, UI, and Product design, and how they impact each other. A solid grasp of these fundamentals will set you apart.

A 3D illustration of four interlocking pastel-colored puzzle pieces, symbolizing collaboration.

Don’t skip the basics

Reason Five: Diverse Skills Required

UX requires proficiency in a broad range of skills, and it can feel overwhelming to master them all quickly.

How to solve: Prioritize your learning. Focus on the craft and soft skills that will help you execute project plans and create visually appealing products. Prioritization will make the learning process manageable.

A 3D illustration of blue and yellow balance scales, representing fairness or decision-making.

Learning should be prioritized

Reason Six: Evolving Industry

UX is a rapidly evolving field, and staying current with trends, technologies, and best practices can be challenging.

How to solve: Never stop growing. Continuous learning is essential. Fall in love with learning because each new project, audience, and problem will demand fresh insights and solutions.

A 3D illustration of a green plant in a terracotta pot, symbolizing growth and progress.

Never stop growing and learning

Getting into UX is hard, but it’s far from impossible. By addressing challenges like gaining experience, improving portfolios, and staying up-to-date in the industry, you can turn obstacles into opportunities. Embrace the learning journey and equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a fulfilling UX career.

For other valuable educational resources, explore our Learn section. Here, we offer heaps of courses, workbooks, and other resources that will help you improve your skills in UX/UI.
Happy designing! 🤗

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