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Having initially studied Spanish and journalism in Canada, Sagan Pope moved to Spain to teach English for 5 years alongside working freelance in content marketing and copywriting. When she moved back to her native USA, Sagan felt confused\u2014it didn\u2019t feel clear to her which one of these skills she\u2019d acquired she wanted to actually focus on. She ended up working in marketing, but soon realised that it wasn\u2019t the career path for her. She then began doing some research on what other career paths she could do that would combine the creativity of teaching and writing but in a different field.<\/p>\n
Through a rigorous search, she stumbled across a UX design job that caught her eye.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cReading the job description, I realised it was actually the perfect fit for me and so I began researching on how I could make that transition\u2014if I needed to get a master\u2019s, what qualifications I needed etc. And that\u2019s how I stumbled upon CareerFoundry\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
When asked whether she\u2019d heard about UX design before, Sagan admitted that it was completely new. It was the promise of creativity that drew her in\u2014and she knew she wanted a job in the tech industry. Not only did CareerFoundry seem like the best value for her money compared to doing a university degree elsewhere. The flexibility of the course also hugely appealed to her, as this meant she could continue working full-time while she became certified.<\/p>\n
One of Sagan\u2019s top priorities was making the transition as quickly as possible. Through sheer determination (and a few late nights), she finished the UX Design Program<\/a> in an impressive 5 months while working 40 hours a week\u20145 months less than the average time it takes to finish a CareerFoundry UX course. She cites the fact that the course was so interesting as a force for her motivation, as well as the value of having a mentor to guide her through the process. \u201cI really liked having that connection, being able to ask questions and talk to folks who are already in the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also notes that having the opportunity to work on your own projects is a wonderful way to come away from the programme with a portfolio that can be shown during interviews. In fact, she found the course so comprehensive that she felt like she\u2019d gotten the same level of experience as she would have gotten in an internship.<\/p>\n
Once she\u2019d finished the course, Sagan wasted no time in networking and taking steps forward towards getting a job in the field. Armed with a robust portfolio, Sagan started getting interviews within a month of beginning her job search. Soon, she\u2019d landed her dream job as a UX designer on the payroll and HR team of Tyler Technologies, a software company that sells software to the public sector.<\/p>\n
Sagan now spends her days continually improving her company\u2019s user experience. When asked about how she adjusted to her new role, she said she welcomed the change, stating:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cHonestly, it feels like I\u2019ve been here forever. It feels like I fit right in, because this is the exact job that I was meant to be doing. I get to work with clients who are super excited to help us out and looking forward to the improvements that we\u2019re working on within the software. It just makes me happy to come to work every day compared to past roles that have felt more like a job.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
All in all, it\u2019s the creativity and the value of UX design that makes her so passionate about it. Getting the opportunity to hear client feedback, taking that to the drawing board and then seeing the finished product is what makes UX design so exciting. Doing a UX course with CareerFoundry allowed her to build on the skills she already had from teaching, like facilitation and team leadership, and apply them in her design sessions\u2014meaning she doesn\u2019t feel like her past careers are totally obsolete in her new role.<\/p>\n
When asked about what advice she would give to anyone considering switching to a career in UX design, Sagan stated:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMake sure you take on any projects that you can, make connections and build on your portfolio. That\u2019s what\u2019s going to get you in the door of a company. It takes hard work\u2014but once you put the effort in, you\u2019ll see the results. And that\u2019s a great feeling!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Sagan hasn\u2019t looked back since, and her story is a testament to the fact that hard work will always take you to where you need to be!<\/p>\n
Do you want to follow in Sagan\u2019s footsteps and become a UX designer?\u00a0<\/strong>Book a call today with one of our experienced program advisors<\/a> to find out whether the CareerFoundry UX Design Program<\/a> is a good fit for you. After the call, you\u2019ll receive a comprehensive, takeaway guide to switching to a career in UX design.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Read the inspiring story of how Sagan Pope went from English Teacher to UX Designer in just 5 short months…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":""},"class_list":["post-16341","magazine","type-magazine","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"meta_title":"English Teacher To UX Designer: How I Landed My Dream Job","meta_description":"After feeling lost in her teaching career, it was the job description of a UX job that inspired Sagan to take the plunge with CareerFoundry...","meta_image":false,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/magazine\/teacher-to-ux-designer-career-change\/","magazine_header_text":"Take the first step in transforming your career and start learning Design or Development for free today!","magazine_buttons_header":"Click on the topic that interests you most","header_image":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/header_banner-362.png","cookie_contact_set_magazine_header_text":"Curious about becoming a UX designer? 5-10 months is all it takes\u2014find out how by speaking to your program advisor today.","cookie_contact_set_magazine_buttons_header":"Click below to arrange your call \u2013 it only takes two minutes!","embeds_code":"