After three years of copywriting, I knew I wanted to get into the tech industry — and quick.
Why? Because I could tell copywriting was a dying art: more companies were hiring in-house vs. traditional ad agencies, and the job openings at big agencies were getting smaller by the year. There weren’t many mid-level writing roles; it was intern, senior, or bust.
Plus, the fact that I was still writing all my work on Google Docs or an outdated version of Microsoft Word were also huge red flags. I wasn’t learning any new software nor was I learning any new skills. I knew that if I wanted to keep a writing job in the future, then I’d have to look to tech. I could transfer my wordsmith skills into a UX Writer, Content Strategist, or Content Designer role.
A few months after this epiphany, I was able to make that jump and land a Content Designer role — and you can, too.
The trick is to prepare for questions your recruiter might ask, and have answers that link to how transferable your skills are.
Here are a few questions I got asked during my job hunt, which you can prepare for.
1. “When did you first learn about UX Writing?”
This is your chance to give a brief overview of your career and emphasize that, at the end day, there isn’t a “linear path” to UX writing. And your recruiter should know that, too.
For example, if you’re a copywriter, think about your experience and when you were actually “doing” UX versus traditional copywriting. Were you thinking about edge cases like where your copy could land, or who your copy could be seen by? That’s UX.
Were you thinking more holistically of where your content would reside outside of just a billboard or a single webpage, and how it would function within the entire ecosystem? That’s UX.
Do some digging into your own career and prepare a few anecdotes that show how you realized you were actually a UX Writer. You aren’t the only one.
2. “How did your experience at X company set you up for UX Writing?”
Here’s your opportunity to show how all the skills you’ve developed at your previous job(s) give you an edge over those with a UX degree. Your “untraditional” way into UX is actually a strength, because you can apply all the other skills and perspectives you’ve gained along the way (ex. marketing, competitive analyses, coordinating events, etc.) into your new role.
Focus on 2–3 skills that you can leverage in an interview that will show your recruiter how they’re “transferrable” to UX.
For example, you could argue that your experience with coordinating high-level events means you’re adept at communicating with team partners, that you’re comfortable with working in ambiguity, and that you can react to last-minute changes with ease. All of these skills would be useful in a cross-functional (XFN) heavy UX role.
3. “Which skills do you think are important to do well in this role?”
Regardless of what you say, I’d suggest including strong people skills and data skills, hands down. Being able to develop strong relationships with your teammates leads to trust, which leads to influence. And influence is something that any tech company would find valuable — because it means you’ll be able to get shit done with everyone aligned, minus the thrash and drama.
And if there was anything I wish I knew before starting a UX role, it would be data. Getting comfortable with data. Living data. Breathing data. (You get the point.)
In big tech companies, data is king. So you’ll have to be able to interpret data and understand the basics of how your content affects metrics. I didn’t know too much about data going into my UX role — which was fine, and I learned along the way — but already having that experience with data and data interpretation are lucrative skills for any UX writing role.
4. “I notice your portfolio doesn’t have a lot of UX work…”
Turn this question around on your recruiter by saying the skills you’re about to list are your “growth opportunities.”
There’s power in acknowledging that you don’t have everything that makes you the perfect candidate, but it also shows how you’re prepared to work on them — and that you’re already mapping out a career trajectory for yourself.
But to avoid this question from the get-go…consider writing a UX/UI case study and add it to your portfolio! Just because you don’t have direct experience doesn’t mean you can’t proactively flex your UX mind. (And you can share your shiny new case study with the Medium community!)
So…do you have any questions for me?
