During a recent LinkedIn Live, I got a question that stopped me in my tracks:
“How can someone transition into UX when they don’t have direct experience — and still be seen as a strong fit?”
I’ve heard this one dozens of times from career changers — and the real answer is not what most people expect.
Here’s the truth:
👉 HR and hiring managers aren’t just looking for someone who knows UX.
They’re looking for someone who already thinks like a UXer.
That means most folks get stuck trying to “prove” themselves by:
- Listing tools (Figma, Notion, Jira…)
- Dropping buzzwords (“human-centered,” “design thinking”)
- Applying blindly and hoping something sticks
But that’s not how you build trust.
Instead, here’s what I teach my clients to do:
1. Reframe your past through UX principles.
Were you solving user problems, simplifying workflows, or guiding decisions? That’s UX.
You just need to speak the same language.
2. Show, don’t tell.
Even 1–2 clear case studies — done solo or through a course — can show how you think, not just what you built.
3. Prioritize relationships over résumés.
Great roles don’t go to the best résumé. They go to the person who builds the most trust.
That’s why networking (the right way) works better than job boards.
The punchline is:
Positioning is less about your title…
and more about how well your story solves the company’s problems.
You can pivot — if you learn how to talk like a UXer, think like a UXer, and build trust like a UXer.
I teach this step-by-step inside my Career Creators program.
Want to see how it works? Just reply and I’ll send the full breakdown.
– Joseph
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