Whats the terminology we use to describe something? In the next instalment of our career advice mini-series, we ask senior content designers from the industry (some of whom you may recognise!) Listen, you have time. I actually don't think visibility in the community pays off as much as you expect. Added subtitles to a video? People can struggle to market themselves. Be clear on your 'why'. You can also request to be published by a publication that uses that platform, like UX Collective. These tend to be affordable and a good way of connecting on a person-to-person basis. I would never say 'it's great as it is' because the hiring manager will be looking for someone with ideas and informed opinions. Own your story, acknowledge the gaps, but confidently display how the experience you do have connects to the opportunity youre being considered for.. No need to be an expert, but get comfortable working with tools like Invision, Sketch, and Figma. I would definitely spend time looking at the brand's website or app and have a good view on what I would change about it, or what I would want to investigate further. Have you organised an event, thought about what guests would need, then communicated relevant information and organised their experience of the event to meet their requirements? The drawback around this is that we have to do a lot of education about what it is, how it works, how it adds value to organizations, etc. This wasnt just an internal change; reality changed around me as content design started to become an accepted discipline in UX - but my perspective changed as well. Perspectives 2022 is now available on demand. Take screenshots and document your contribution, and how that made a difference to the overall design. Author, co-founder of Tempo, content design manager at BT. Content designers are finely tuned to detect people who participate in community events or spaces primarily to sell to them. ", And most companies need all the help with advocacy they can get.. For example: What potential is there to be part of the discipline growth? It meant that I was able to develop a practice of basing my writing on user insight and referring to research findings when presenting my work. Tempo/Tempo Slack Group Tempo is a community designed to help content design leaders get the support, knowledge and resources you need to thrive in your role. Also, ask lots of questions.
In this Medium article, Rachel McConnell describes how you can grow within content design, and where you might like to go next. Consider turning your project documentation into a blog, for easy sharing, and also so you have a good point of reference about the projects barriers and wins for your future self. Keep your eyes peeled for some insight-rich words of wisdom from the likes of Selene De La Cruz (Mastercard), Beth Dunn (HubSpot), Rachel McConnell (BT), Gina Pensiero (Instagram) and Mario Ferrer (Shopify). The change had to happen inside and outside.. The first thing I look for when I'm going though portfolios is the structure. I dont think Id ever have been disciplined enough for Weeknotes, but a good download after each project could have been incredibly valuable - and cathartic too!. It's well worth doing the research into content design beforehand so you can articulate that 'why'.. We strongly encourage employers to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion as fundamental Discover the different content roles and the nuances between them. Great. Next, we asked our content design pros how they think someone without any specific content design experience should approach making previous work experience relevant in an interview. Our UX writers Europe meetup offers a safe space for anyone to speak. Join a Slack community, attend some events if you can, and follow other content designers on Twitter. Whether youve recently decided that you want to add more focus to progression in your content design career, or youre a content person itching to make the transition to your first content design role, youve come to the right place! What suggestions do you have for those who want to become more visible in the community? Content design your portfolio: I cant stress this last point enough. Maybe rework a specific flow on the Spotify app. Focus on the most important work (core customer problems and top business priorities), and do it well.. You might not have direct experience, but you do have relevant experience. Apply to talk at conferences, you've got nothing to lose. Also, never underestimate the power of networking. Look out for meetups too, there are several content design, service design and user research ones. You can even use language cues to do this. I also want to know how they go about breaking down their work can they explain the process they go through to get from an idea to their final designs? Mention that. Theyre the scaffolding that allows creative, impactful work to get done. Senior Content Designer, CoreX & Community, Staff Content Designer, Content & Creator Tools. That should be where you feel the most pull.". Sure, the nice final interface screens help, but the how the hell you landed there is waaay more relevant - at least for me. Find out how best to build your team. So, Id really suggest carefully going through the job description and matching your experience to the criteria (you'd be surprised how often people don't seem to read the job description!). ", Yes, being a strong writer is essential, and content should deliver on business goals and traditional metrics la click-throughs, conversions, etc., but solving the core customer need comes first.. For people who have already been working in content design: what advice would you give to someone piecing together/updating their portfolio? Sign up for our weekly newsletter and receive interviews, articles and other resources to help you improve your career. But with patience and openness, you can usually win them over once they see the value that good content design adds.. Employ the UX writing best practices of simple sentence structures and active voice. How do you work with others in your organization across functions and silos to create new pathways to help your customers reach their goals? Improve your skillset. Show that you have a love of words and of making them clear and understandable above all else. I mean it is, but way less than you think. What is content design? More than that though; it can lead you to new connections, useful knowledge-sharing opportunities, and even provide a helpful heads up on an interesting new role somewhere.
Better to do it now than later when youre applying for a job and dont quite remember. In that sense, I think a really neat portfolio website, a polished LinkedIn profile, and a solid resume are more important. But how (and where) should you look to get involved? We turned to our content design experts to ask their opinions on what they look for when theyre interviewing but also, how they want you to show them what youve got to offer!
If you're on Twitter, don't be afraid to join in with any content design conversations too. How can you become more visible in this industry? But for senior content designers, I expect you to think deeply about and own the content strategy for a feature or product area. What also often stands out to me is the difference between people who can confidently say all the right words at a surface level such as communication, collaboration, user-centred, data-informed decisions and those who can really go into depth with their answers to prove they know what they're talking about. I think across the board, the fact that the discipline is still so nascent can lead people to not feel included sometimes - to have to fight for a seat at the table because the discipline is so new. It's great if they can talk about how they've worked cross-functionally to successfully solve a problem for example, with call centre teams or marketing to show that joined-up thinking really translates into how they work. Now its time to take a deep dive into some personal insight from our content design experts. An online portfolio is also very useful so potential employers can see the kind of work you do. I think thats why so many of us have started coaching others as well; were hoping to pay it forward and help raise up the next generation of leaders and voices in this great field.. I'd also think about everything I want to know about the culture and the company. We'll put your job ad in front of a growing community of content professionals. Networking also helps, and that's where the community has a real role to play.
Passion and potential are a winning combination., For me, it's always about clearly understanding their work. Do you love working out? My advice for those working in more marketing/advertising-based roles: Be ready to swap out the kind of creativity you might use to write snappy headlines and promotional content for a different kind of creativity. Consider what your team needs and/or what your product may be missing, then consider what skills you have as a content designer and what you think and know as a smart person working in the field. Published author. Content people love content people that care about content. I expect senior-level content designers to have already learned that lesson. The result could be that you saved time through less re-work, working more efficiently, readability scores improving, page reduction, or many other things.
How to nail your design interview: What to expect and what we look for Atlassian share some helpful insight on what its like to interview for a design role (including content design roles) at the organisation. Turns out, having a strategy makes writing the words that much easier. I try to picture myself in the interview answering the questions. At the time of writing, c.5,200 organisations are hiring in the UK alone. I think, honestly, the answer to this question is somewhat organization-specific and depends on how functions collaborate, how functions are scoped and, at a high level, what your team, company or org is trying to accomplish.
Apart from that, the most important thing is remembering that your outcomes are as important as your output. I've seen this, to some extent, at every company I've worked at in my time in content design/content strategy. We asked some senior industry experts for their advice on how budding content designers should approach that first rung on the ladder. That could be helpful! Inside Content Design at IBM with Tom Waterton, Content Design Lead A Working In Content article crammed with tips, insight and guidance. Although it wasnt content design per se, the skill sets were directly related. To me this shows that theyre not just thinking about what words to write, but theyre thinking about how those words solve problems.. If you could go back in time and give yourself a piece of advice early in your career, what would that be? You don't have to be a content designer to do content design, so start applying the principles and processes to your work today, and you'll have plenty to talk about by the time you interview!. Ive been working with a coach for a few years now, and its been transformative. We love it!. Over the years, I've found it's better to focus on learning and growing - which is sometimes very uncomfortable, and can be unpleasant, but has better long-term upside., Take more risks. Great question! These content designers from Shopify, Instagram, HubSpot, Duolingo and CapGemini reveal what theyve generally observed in the industry - and what they think made the difference in terms of their own progression. Owning your work in the room, thinking about edge cases before someone asks about them, and bringing all your recommendations back to that original content strategy those skills should come across both in interviews and in your portfolio (youve got have a portfolio! So firstly, start collating your examples of work now. When you're answering questions: think STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Consider writing blog posts too if you have time, it's nice to see content designers so passionate about their craft that they spend their free time sharing their knowledge (but it's not essential). Read on to find out. I'll often say, "great question" and take a few moments to think about how to respond. Some of the best portfolio advice I have received is: It doesnt have to be real work: Not enough previous experience to show in your portfolio? To stand out, content designers have to demonstrate to me that they can think more broadly than just the page or feature right in front of them. This is all about understanding what it takes to be a content designer, and then finding reflections in your current role. OK. Interviews, articles and other resources sent weekly to support your career. Going to meetups is a great place to start - especially in this new virtual world. I definitely had imposter syndrome and didnt think of myself as a designer for a long time - even when I was extolling the importance of content in design. In user-centred design, transparency is a big thing and people are very used to people writing honestly about things that slow them down, confuse them or otherwise find difficult - so you can really take it from any angle. If you can, user test your portfolio with some peers to get feedback before you send it out.
In this Medium article, Rachel McConnell describes how you can grow within content design, and where you might like to go next. Consider turning your project documentation into a blog, for easy sharing, and also so you have a good point of reference about the projects barriers and wins for your future self. Keep your eyes peeled for some insight-rich words of wisdom from the likes of Selene De La Cruz (Mastercard), Beth Dunn (HubSpot), Rachel McConnell (BT), Gina Pensiero (Instagram) and Mario Ferrer (Shopify). The change had to happen inside and outside.. The first thing I look for when I'm going though portfolios is the structure. I dont think Id ever have been disciplined enough for Weeknotes, but a good download after each project could have been incredibly valuable - and cathartic too!. It's well worth doing the research into content design beforehand so you can articulate that 'why'.. We strongly encourage employers to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion as fundamental Discover the different content roles and the nuances between them. Great. Next, we asked our content design pros how they think someone without any specific content design experience should approach making previous work experience relevant in an interview. Our UX writers Europe meetup offers a safe space for anyone to speak. Join a Slack community, attend some events if you can, and follow other content designers on Twitter. Whether youve recently decided that you want to add more focus to progression in your content design career, or youre a content person itching to make the transition to your first content design role, youve come to the right place! What suggestions do you have for those who want to become more visible in the community? Content design your portfolio: I cant stress this last point enough. Maybe rework a specific flow on the Spotify app. Focus on the most important work (core customer problems and top business priorities), and do it well.. You might not have direct experience, but you do have relevant experience. Apply to talk at conferences, you've got nothing to lose. Also, never underestimate the power of networking. Look out for meetups too, there are several content design, service design and user research ones. You can even use language cues to do this. I also want to know how they go about breaking down their work can they explain the process they go through to get from an idea to their final designs? Mention that. Theyre the scaffolding that allows creative, impactful work to get done. Senior Content Designer, CoreX & Community, Staff Content Designer, Content & Creator Tools. That should be where you feel the most pull.". Sure, the nice final interface screens help, but the how the hell you landed there is waaay more relevant - at least for me. Find out how best to build your team. So, Id really suggest carefully going through the job description and matching your experience to the criteria (you'd be surprised how often people don't seem to read the job description!). ", Yes, being a strong writer is essential, and content should deliver on business goals and traditional metrics la click-throughs, conversions, etc., but solving the core customer need comes first.. For people who have already been working in content design: what advice would you give to someone piecing together/updating their portfolio? Sign up for our weekly newsletter and receive interviews, articles and other resources to help you improve your career. But with patience and openness, you can usually win them over once they see the value that good content design adds.. Employ the UX writing best practices of simple sentence structures and active voice. How do you work with others in your organization across functions and silos to create new pathways to help your customers reach their goals? Improve your skillset. Show that you have a love of words and of making them clear and understandable above all else. I mean it is, but way less than you think. What is content design? More than that though; it can lead you to new connections, useful knowledge-sharing opportunities, and even provide a helpful heads up on an interesting new role somewhere.
Better to do it now than later when youre applying for a job and dont quite remember. In that sense, I think a really neat portfolio website, a polished LinkedIn profile, and a solid resume are more important. But how (and where) should you look to get involved? We turned to our content design experts to ask their opinions on what they look for when theyre interviewing but also, how they want you to show them what youve got to offer!
If you're on Twitter, don't be afraid to join in with any content design conversations too. How can you become more visible in this industry? But for senior content designers, I expect you to think deeply about and own the content strategy for a feature or product area. What also often stands out to me is the difference between people who can confidently say all the right words at a surface level such as communication, collaboration, user-centred, data-informed decisions and those who can really go into depth with their answers to prove they know what they're talking about. I think across the board, the fact that the discipline is still so nascent can lead people to not feel included sometimes - to have to fight for a seat at the table because the discipline is so new. It's great if they can talk about how they've worked cross-functionally to successfully solve a problem for example, with call centre teams or marketing to show that joined-up thinking really translates into how they work. Now its time to take a deep dive into some personal insight from our content design experts. An online portfolio is also very useful so potential employers can see the kind of work you do. I think thats why so many of us have started coaching others as well; were hoping to pay it forward and help raise up the next generation of leaders and voices in this great field.. I'd also think about everything I want to know about the culture and the company. We'll put your job ad in front of a growing community of content professionals. Networking also helps, and that's where the community has a real role to play.
Passion and potential are a winning combination., For me, it's always about clearly understanding their work. Do you love working out? My advice for those working in more marketing/advertising-based roles: Be ready to swap out the kind of creativity you might use to write snappy headlines and promotional content for a different kind of creativity. Consider what your team needs and/or what your product may be missing, then consider what skills you have as a content designer and what you think and know as a smart person working in the field. Published author. Content people love content people that care about content. I expect senior-level content designers to have already learned that lesson. The result could be that you saved time through less re-work, working more efficiently, readability scores improving, page reduction, or many other things.
How to nail your design interview: What to expect and what we look for Atlassian share some helpful insight on what its like to interview for a design role (including content design roles) at the organisation. Turns out, having a strategy makes writing the words that much easier. I try to picture myself in the interview answering the questions. At the time of writing, c.5,200 organisations are hiring in the UK alone. I think, honestly, the answer to this question is somewhat organization-specific and depends on how functions collaborate, how functions are scoped and, at a high level, what your team, company or org is trying to accomplish.
Apart from that, the most important thing is remembering that your outcomes are as important as your output. I've seen this, to some extent, at every company I've worked at in my time in content design/content strategy. We asked some senior industry experts for their advice on how budding content designers should approach that first rung on the ladder. That could be helpful! Inside Content Design at IBM with Tom Waterton, Content Design Lead A Working In Content article crammed with tips, insight and guidance. Although it wasnt content design per se, the skill sets were directly related. To me this shows that theyre not just thinking about what words to write, but theyre thinking about how those words solve problems.. If you could go back in time and give yourself a piece of advice early in your career, what would that be? You don't have to be a content designer to do content design, so start applying the principles and processes to your work today, and you'll have plenty to talk about by the time you interview!. Ive been working with a coach for a few years now, and its been transformative. We love it!. Over the years, I've found it's better to focus on learning and growing - which is sometimes very uncomfortable, and can be unpleasant, but has better long-term upside., Take more risks. Great question! These content designers from Shopify, Instagram, HubSpot, Duolingo and CapGemini reveal what theyve generally observed in the industry - and what they think made the difference in terms of their own progression. Owning your work in the room, thinking about edge cases before someone asks about them, and bringing all your recommendations back to that original content strategy those skills should come across both in interviews and in your portfolio (youve got have a portfolio! So firstly, start collating your examples of work now. When you're answering questions: think STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Consider writing blog posts too if you have time, it's nice to see content designers so passionate about their craft that they spend their free time sharing their knowledge (but it's not essential). Read on to find out. I'll often say, "great question" and take a few moments to think about how to respond. Some of the best portfolio advice I have received is: It doesnt have to be real work: Not enough previous experience to show in your portfolio? To stand out, content designers have to demonstrate to me that they can think more broadly than just the page or feature right in front of them. This is all about understanding what it takes to be a content designer, and then finding reflections in your current role. OK. Interviews, articles and other resources sent weekly to support your career. Going to meetups is a great place to start - especially in this new virtual world. I definitely had imposter syndrome and didnt think of myself as a designer for a long time - even when I was extolling the importance of content in design. In user-centred design, transparency is a big thing and people are very used to people writing honestly about things that slow them down, confuse them or otherwise find difficult - so you can really take it from any angle. If you can, user test your portfolio with some peers to get feedback before you send it out.