{"id":16420,"date":"2019-05-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-05-06T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/magazine\/marketing-student-to-ux-designer\/"},"modified":"2023-11-07T10:02:55","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T09:02:55","slug":"marketing-student-to-ux-designer","status":"publish","type":"magazine","link":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/magazine\/marketing-student-to-ux-designer\/","title":{"rendered":"From Marketing Student To UX Designer: How Taking A Risk Paid Off"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Megan\u2019s story begins at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. As a Business Management student with an unyielding passion for fashion, Megan had a clear goal: become a fashion merchandiser, and work her way up the ladder to a senior position. She had the drive, the vision, and the grades to make it a reality. And yet, something felt amiss.<\/p>\n

We can all relate to that feeling. It\u2019s a feeling that is often tricky to articulate; the sense that you\u2019re destined for something more, or not unlocking your true potential in your current field. The closer Megan came to completing her degree, the more her disconnect with fashion intensified. Was this the right career path for her?<\/p>\n

For Megan, clarity came in the form of a marketing internship that she took up alongside her studies. Put to work across a range of tasks, Megan found herself dipping her toes into web design\u2014from designing marketing campaigns to branding material. It wasn\u2019t long before she realized she had a distinct passion for visual design\u2014and she was pretty darn good at it, too.<\/p>\n

Alongside this revelation came a wave of uncertainty and confusion about her future. Megan was forced to take a good look at the trajectory she was on. Was design what she was meant to be doing all along?<\/p>\n

\u201cI was trying to figure out how I could maneuver into a career in design without a design background. I felt this intense feeling of impostor syndrome\u2014I didn\u2019t feel like I could go back and do it all again.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Impostor syndrome, a feeling of self-doubt that develops into the belief that you\u2019re undeserving of your success, is something so many of us experience when a career change\u2014<\/em>or any major life decision\u2014<\/em>is imminent. If left to manifest, impostor syndrome can hinder us from taking risks, or following our passions.<\/p>\n

Megan realized she couldn\u2019t let impostor syndrome hold her back. Already enamored with design, she began watching YouTube tutorials, teaching herself Photoshop and playing around with Google Slides to get familiar with the visual design hierarchy. Her affinity for aesthetics initially lead her to consider a career in UI design, but upon learning more about the field, she yearned for something more challenging.<\/p>\n

As soon as she came across UX design<\/a>, a light switch went on in Megan\u2019s head. This was the all-encompassing vocation she\u2019d been looking for; the career that would allow her to create impactful designs with real purpose, while still enabling her to sink her teeth into the psychology behind consumer behavior that had captivated her as a marketing student. Extensive online research introduced her to the world of UX bootcamps, and after seeing the glowing reviews for CareerFoundry, she was sold.<\/p>\n

With one week to go before graduation, Megan made a bold decision: she quit her marketing job, and enrolled in the CareerFoundry UI Design Program<\/a>. It wasn\u2019t an easy decision to make, but one that Megan felt was entirely justified.<\/p>\n

\u201cI realized that I just didn\u2019t love marketing, and I didn\u2019t want to be committed to doing something I didn\u2019t love for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Fueled by a newfound sense of purpose, Megan invested all her time and energy into studying with CareerFoundry. She then spent an additional 2 months reviewing her portfolio, and completing the Job Preparation Course.<\/p>\n

Despite her unwavering determination, Megan admits that she underestimated the job hunting process. Despite starting her job hunt before she\u2019d even finished the course, she found that she was garnering little response from the 20\u2014<\/em>30 applications she was sending out daily. Picking up momentum when you\u2019re in the midst of a grueling job hunt is never easy, but Megan had a secret weapon: Danielle Sanders. As CareerFoundry\u2019s dedicated career specialist, it was Danielle\u2019s unparalleled support that motivated Megan to stay focused.<\/p>\n

\u201cI loved how hands-on she was. She was really adamant on preparing me for working life. We did mock interviews, looked at salary compensation, she even gave me advice on how to talk to your boss or negotiate a higher salary. She taught me all the useful things that you don\u2019t really learn in school.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the end, it was posting a design challenge<\/a> she had completed on Medium that put her on the radar of her current employer; a data-driven health and wellness company called Rally Health, where Megan is a lead designer. Her current project? A community-based app that tracks your diet and fitness.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the food and fitness tracker<\/a> that I created with CareerFoundry that caught the eye of my boss and led me to this project. In fact, it was my entire CareerFoundry portfolio that helped me assimilate into my new role.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Megan loves the collaborative nature of her new role. As a lead designer, she\u2019s able to get involved with every stage of the product design process\u2014<\/em>from conducting user research interviews to creating hi-fidelity mockups. Now that she knows what she\u2019s capable of, her sights are set higher than ever:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 5 years, I want to be a creative director. I feel a real passion for what I do, and I want to be a source of inspiration for others in the field.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Climbing the ladder to creative director isn\u2019t Megan\u2019s only goal. Her experience as a UX designer has inspired her to return to university, and potentially go to grad school to study human-computer interaction or strategic design.<\/p>\n

As our interview wraps up, I\u2019m keen to revisit the issue of impostor syndrome that seems to have been a running theme on Megan\u2019s journey. According to a recent report by Blind (2018)<\/a>, a whopping 58% of tech employees report experiencing imposter syndrome currently in their careers. Megan asserts that impostor syndrome is inevitable\u2014but it shouldn\u2019t hold you back.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m only 22 and I\u2019m already the lead designer at a great company. I came this far, and I need to remember that.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As a young woman, entering a male-dominated field and working her way up quickly to lead designer is no small feat. When asked what advice she would have for people considering a career change, Megan\u2019s answer is clear and concise: be proactive.<\/p>\n

\u201cDefinitely try going to a design lecture or meetup at least every other week, just to get a sense of the field. Don\u2019t be afraid of impostor syndrome. Most people experience it, and it can be good to keep you humble. It won\u2019t last forever!\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Megan\u2019s story is a testament to the power of dreaming big, no matter how many roadblocks might seem to obstruct your path. It\u2019s a lesson we can all learn from, and we can\u2019t wait to see what she does next!<\/p>\n

Discover How Our Graduates Went From Complete Beginners To Hired UX Designers<\/h4>\n