![\"Ryan](\"http:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/RyanWu-1024x655.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I remember speaking to Ryan<\/a> (and filming this video<\/a> with him) when he\u2019d just finished the UX Design Program at CareerFoundry and was working h<\/strong>is first ever UX job. When I heard about his move into UX consulting\u2014at McKinsey!\u2014I couldn\u2019t wait to catch up again. <\/strong><\/p>\n Ryan is one of th<\/strong>e most passionate, hard-working, and ambitious grads I\u2019ve had the pleasure of speaking with, and he\u2019s living proof that learning new skills can literally change your life.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Before diving into the interview and learning all about Ryan\u2019s career change from marketing specialist to UX design consultant, it might be useful to answer some key questions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Firstly, what is a UX consultant? Usually, they’re a UX designer who focuses more on strategic design decisions that impact the entire business or organization, rather than just the product or service. They are often part of a UX team<\/a> working alongside UX designers and UX researchers, and if working for a consultancy firm (like Ryan at McKinsey) they\u2019ll work with a range of clients for a range of different products and services.<\/span><\/p>\n Secondly, what does a UX consultant do? As UX consultants are focused on the business aspects of UX design, they typically undertake a lot of research to better understand the customer and the market, and provide actionable insights to help an organization become more user-centric. You can find out more about the common tasks a UX consultant does <\/span>in this article.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Right, on to the interview!<\/span><\/p>\n Exactly! So after the CareerFoundry program, I was working at Intive, a design agency in Berlin. Then, about 18 months in, I was headhunted by a McKinsey recruiter. I was actually in a process with KPMG at the time, who also headhunted me, but then I got the email from McKinsey and it all went super fast!<\/p>\n I was freaking out! I was talking to McKinsey, a company I\u2019d always wanted to work for. I really wanted to go into consulting, and here was this opportunity, but I still had my student portfolio\u2014I hadn\u2019t updated it since my first job in UX as I wasn\u2019t expecting to leave Intive.<\/p>\n The call with the recruiter was amazing though, so I worked on updating my portfolio and CV overnight. The recruiter got back to me almost immediately and invited me to take part in a design challenge and technical interview the following week.<\/p>\n I got a book called Solving Product Design Challenges<\/a> by Artiom Dashinsjy and read it twice, front to back. That really helped me because you never know what\u2019s coming at you or what problem you\u2019ll have to solve. The book really helped me get into the right mindset. I can really recommend it.<\/p>\n The first step was a call with a design director, which lasted about an hour and had me solving a design challenge.<\/p>\n I remember that week being crazy; at that time I was doing a design thinking<\/a> coach certification, then during my lunch break I had the design challenge for McKinsey, then I went back to the coaching workshop, then at 4pm I had the technical interview, which focused on my process as a designer. How do I work? What are the challenges I face? How do I solve problems and deal with conflict?<\/p>\n Basically, I passed both the challenge and the technical interview with great feedback, then I was invited to the office the following week. As I said, everything happened super fast! In the office, it was a four hour session divided up into four components: three meetings with the partners, and then a portfolio review.<\/p>\n The partner interviews focused on personal stories\u2014they call them personal experience interviews (PEI), so the questions are very behavioral based. \u201cTell me about a time when\u2026\u201d type of questions: a time when you failed, showed empathy to team members, led your team\u2014they want examples to see if you have the right mindset.<\/p>\n Then, for the portfolio review, I gave a forty minute presentation to show my design work and talk through my processes with a design director. Overall, including the call with the recruiter, I went through seven interview rounds!<\/p>\n There is some information about the interview process on the McKinsey website, so I was somewhat prepared. But, to be honest, in the interview they can go left and right, they can dig deeper into certain things, so you really never know!<\/p>\n I have to say, though, after the first talk with one of the partners, I felt so comfortable. And the second call was the same\u2014overall, I had a really good feeling, but you never know, right?<\/p>\n My sister was visiting me in Berlin at the time, so after I finished the interviews, I went to meet her for a drink, then twenty minutes later, I got a call from one of the partners who basically said: \u201cRyan, you\u2019re amazing, we\u2019re going to hire you! The HR recruiter will call you tomorrow morning with an official offer.\u201d I was like \u201cOh my gosh, what just happened?! I have a job at McKinsey now!\u201d<\/p>\n It was probably the best recruiting experience I\u2019ve ever had. Super efficient, supportive, and kind. I was amazed at the efficiency and kindness of all the people I had dealt with. It was a really great experience!<\/p>\n McKinsey<\/a> is such a good firm. They\u2019re super organized and they created an amazing onboarding experience for all the new consultants. I think the class of November 2019 was the biggest they\u2019ve ever had for the German offices; I think there were over 100 of us starting!<\/p>\n We had five days of sessions on various topics, such as company values and mission, diversity, LGBTQ, and then a session to prepare you for your first project.<\/p>\n The role is extremely versatile. I\u2019ve already worked in over seven industries. I started working in e-mobility, then I did pharma, automotive, public sector, travel, e-commerce, and now I\u2019m working in healthcare.<\/p>\n We spend about a month really trying to understand the needs of the user, doing customer research<\/a>, leveraging external resources, talking to experts and different persona<\/a> types. We try to find their pain points, come up with concepts, and draw wireframes\u2014that\u2019s all within the first month.<\/p>\n It\u2019s incredible; I really get to cover the whole spectrum of UX and UI. And with practice, you get to be really good at all the different components, like user interviews.<\/a><\/p>\n After the research phase, we ideate together as a team and work really closely with the clients. We create UI concepts, and if it\u2019s a new idea, we\u2019ll visualize it with wireframes or prototypes to bring the concepts closer to our stakeholders!<\/p>\n After the ideation and design phase, we\u2019ll help the client think about the long-term impact, so we might conduct research into the financial implications of a product or new set of features, for example, and the business opportunities that might present.<\/p>\n Very much so! Even as a UX design consultant I still create low-fidelity wireframes to get initial feedback and iterate on those. Then I create visuals to support the marketing team and to help the client and any investors understand the concept. Because pictures and visuals really help people to understand certain concepts, right?<\/p>\n If the client decides to go through all the phases, I get to see the project through from conception to launch. In some cases, we help to create design systems, to determine the direction for the user interface, and even work together with the developers to get the product built. So we can really go through the process from start to finish: user research, prototyping, testing, creating the UI, handing off to developers\u2014everything!<\/p>\n Working as a UX design consultant is very cross-functional, so we\u2019re not purely helping the client to build, say, an app\u2014we\u2019re also working on the business strategy, looking at the bigger picture.<\/p>\n And I love that I touch on such a variety of different components. As I said, I\u2019m not just thinking purely about design and user experience, but also about what that means for the business. That\u2019s what\u2019s really great about my work; I can collaborate with different people across different work streams and really align to make a positive impact.<\/p>\n I always thought about moving into consultancy, even when making a career change from marketing and before studying UX. The idea of being able to work in different sectors and solve different problems always intrigued me.<\/p>\n Because of my academic background, I thought it would be hard for me to get into consultancy, and I\u2019d actually never tried, but then I encountered it more closely at a recruiting event and thought it could be a possible career path. I also never thought that design and consultancy could go together, but they do!<\/p>\n It\u2019s not so much the \u201clearning UX\u201d part\u2014once you\u2019ve got those skills (from the UX program), you just have to build upon them. You eventually get better at the UI part, and at user research.<\/p>\n I think the real learning curve for me was getting into the groove of the job; learning how to communicate and align, dealing with difficult topics, solving disagreements, and getting everybody on the same page. That\u2019s the most difficult part of the job! Some of my colleagues are so good at it because they\u2019ve got experience, so I try to observe them and see how they deal with those difficult conversations, and how they align when clients have a different understanding or expectation. Bringing all those moving parts and people together seamlessly is an amazing skill, and it\u2019s really difficult. I\u2019m still practicing!<\/p>\n My whole experience has been a learning curve though, to be honest. At McKinsey, the hours are long, but as my dad keeps telling me, it\u2019s like they\u2019re paying me to go to school. I\u2019m learning a lot while working there; it\u2019s like a career accelerator! And I was promoted after one year. In general, I\u2019ve learned to communicate better, and to help key stakeholders understand the overarching message. That\u2019s really crucial as a UX consultant.<\/p>\n It\u2019s pretty open, but I definitely see myself here for the next four or five years at least. I can see myself growing into a design director role, carrying a lot of responsibility in terms of planning out projects and helping other designers to grow.<\/p>\n Right now, I still have a lot to learn, so for the next couple of years, I\u2019d just like to experience different industries. I really enjoy working in healthcare, and I also like e-commerce and the travel industry. I\u2019m fairly open right now; maybe I\u2019ll be doing hands-on design work, maybe I\u2019ll be focusing more on strategy. Maybe I\u2019ll have my own business! It\u2019s hard to say, but the next five years will be with McKinsey.<\/p>\n The great thing about CareerFoundry is that it\u2019s remote; that was the number one value proposition for me, as I couldn\u2019t quit my job. Then, of course, there\u2019s the mentorship and support.<\/a> You\u2019re able to talk to a real person with real work experience, and that\u2019s so valuable.<\/p>\n In UX, a lot of learning is done on the job, but those transferable skills are all really important and you can bring those with you from other fields. So, it\u2019s a combination of things that have set me up for success: soft skills<\/a> from my previous jobs, design skills and mentorship from CareerFoundry, and continued on-the-job learning!<\/p>\n I would say, don\u2019t be afraid. Just do it. I was also a bit afraid, but you always have to take that risk. If you\u2019re really interested in a topic then go for it. If you can\u2019t quit your job or don\u2019t have the money to study full-time, do it on the side like I did. I was working and learning, and I had nothing to lose; either way, you come out with an additional skillset.<\/p>\n In my case, it turned out to be life-changing because I got a new job afterward. It changed my career, and then, a year and a half later, it changed my career again. Don\u2019t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and learn something new\u2014whether it\u2019s UX, project management, psychology, or whatever. If there\u2019s something you want to do, don\u2019t be afraid to try it out.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also helpful to talk to people who have done it. Reach out to other people, and I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll be willing to give their two cents on their experience and tell you about the motivation that led to their own career change. Before I signed up for CareerFoundry, I wrote to about ten people on LinkedIn and asked for their thoughts on the program. That helped to reassure me that, yes, I should do this!<\/p>\n Are you dreaming of a career in UX? Do what Ryan did: book a call with a program advisor<\/a>\u2014they\u2019ll help you figure out your next steps. You can also get a taster of UX design with this free, introductory short course.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Ryan is just one of hundreds of CareerFoundry alumni who are forging careers they love after taking the leap to learn new skills. Check out these other success stories from other CareerFoundry graduates who made a career change from marketing into UX:<\/strong><\/p>\nHi Ryan! Thanks for joining me today. Last time we spoke, you\u2019d just started your first job as a UX designer. Now you\u2019re a Senior Experience Design Consultant at McKinsey! How did that happen?<\/h4>\n
How did it feel to get that email?!<\/h4>\n
How did you prepare for the design challenge?<\/h4>\n
What was the interview process like?<\/h4>\n
That sounds hectic! What happened next?<\/h4>\n
Seven interview rounds! That\u2019s intense. How did you feel? Were you well prepared?<\/h4>\n
What was it like to receive the final job offer?<\/h4>\n
Amazing! So you started at McKinsey in November 2019. How was it starting your new role?<\/h4>\n
Now you\u2019ve been there for a while and settled in, can you tell me more about your role and what it\u2019s like to work as a UX consultant?<\/h4>\n
It sounds like the role is both strategic and very hands-on in terms of design. Is that right?<\/h4>\n
What do you enjoy most about working as a UX consultant?<\/h4>\n
![\"A](\"http:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ryan-quote-1-1-1024x420.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nDid you always know that you wanted to move into UX consultancy eventually?<\/h4>\n
You\u2019ve made a career change from marketing into UX and are now working as a senior UX consultant at McKinsey. What\u2019s been the steepest learning curve for you so far?<\/h4>\n
Where do you see yourself in five or ten years from now?<\/h4>\n
Looking back on your journey, how do you reflect on your experience with the CareerFoundry UX Design Program?<\/h4>\n
![\"A](\"http:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ryan-quote-2-1024x486.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nWhat advice would you give to anyone else considering a career change and thinking about taking a CareerFoundry program?<\/h4>\n
Excellent advice! Thanks Ryan, and congratulations once again on landing your dream job.<\/h4>\n