New offer! Enroll in Fundamentals of UX Writing, get our new Error Messages video course FREE.
New offer! Enroll in Fundamentals of UX Writing, get our new Error Messages video course FREE.
Everything about the UX content field has exploded over the last few years. There’s a huge amount of interest in this fun, creative UX role. How do you keep up? And even more-so, how do you excel? The Career Course will give you the boost you need to get ahead in your career.
Take a look at the first two lessons. If you like what you see, get yourself signed up and get your career inline with your goals. There’s no time like now to get started!
Now, these skills are often required by default.
For beginners and mid-level content designers, understanding how the job market has changed will put you in a much better position to secure the type of role you want.
For mid and senior-level content designers, it helps to understand just what the market expects of senior-level designers.
There has never been a better time to find free resources online for UX writing and content design.
In fact, it’s even possible to get an entry-level job just by self-study and using exercises and tools you find online (if you use them wisely.)
This one is especially important for you to know. Beginners entering this industry have more entry-level tools than many experienced content designers did when they started, so they have a great foundation. Consider delving into some of these tools and exercises to keep your skills sharp. It never hurts to keep mastering the basics.
The field has shifted in other ways, too. Content designers at larger companies like Facebook, Netflix, Google, and other organizations with mature UX content programs, are expected to show how their work impacts financial metrics and business goals. They’re expected to show how their work ties into Objectives and Key Results (OKRs).
Take a browse of job postings for UX writers and content strategists at companies like Squarespace, Pinterest, Oracle, VMWare, Airbnb, even digital agencies…you’ll see similar recommendations.
Keep in mind, understanding the general job expectations is very different from talking about specific job titles and roles.
Just know that no matter what your job title is, you should be expected to tie your overall work back to the larger strategy.
Consider what Brain Traffic and Button conference founder Kristina Halvorson recently said about content strategy’s role in UX writing:
“UX writing should not exist without a larger content strategy framework. If you are going to practice UX writing within an organization, that should not be happening without that larger content strategy framework.”
She also recently commented more specifically on what is not content strategy in UX writing:
“A voice and tone guide is not a content strategy. A content system that sits within a design system, that’s not necessarily a content strategy. A content strategy links together all those different parts of the design “machine” and in fact wider organizational functions.”
Organizations now want you to be able to create copy for user interface (UI) components like tooltips and modals, while still crafting and thinking broadly about product strategy, content reuse, and marketing goals.
It isn’t just helpful, but increasingly a necessity to know how to whip up a basic frame in Figma or Sketch, change strings directly in code, or understand how your company’s APIs work.
Also consider that tools like Strings, Ditto, and Frontitude are changing how organizations manage their in-design copy.
The good news is that you can easily start using some of these tools today. Another note for mid and senior-level folks who haven’t used design software before: don’t become out-paced by refusing to learn a new tool.
Remote work requires independence, personal organization, excellent communication, and trust. Businesses put a premium on UX writers and content strategists who are proactive, can make sure they track the work they are doing, and can show impact.
So many UX writers and content designers only show the output of what they make, like the specific copy, and not the impact that has on the business. That puts them at a disadvantage for remote work.
The number of short-term contracts for UX writers continues to increase. Short-term contracts may be anywhere from a few weeks to several months. (In the U.S., they can last up to 2 years, but in general, contracts are much shorter.)
Because of the temporary nature, businesses are looking for freelancers who don’t need a long time to get their bearings. They want confident, self-assured writers who can take charge and lead. If you’re considering contract work, you need to know your stuff.
Does that mean you can’t freelance or consult as a junior or newer-to-UX person? Not at all. People new to the industry can still get those contracts. There are plenty of opportunities out there for those with capability but without a load of experience. The key is being able to show your knowledge of craft and adaptability.
Your best bet here is to keep an eye out for these roles, or even speak with a recruitment company who can put new roles in front of you. Keep in mind that contract work can often turn into full-time work. Contracting is also a great opportunity to check out whether a company is even worth working for full-time.
Although expectations are rising, that also means there are plenty of opportunities in the market. More hiring managers are recognizing the value of UX writing and that not everyone has experience at major tech businesses. This means there are more ways to show your skills and land yourself a shiny new role.
For those who have some experience, it’s important that you continue to work on your skills. Learning new skills, tools, and processes is important, and this is an exciting time. So let’s figure out how to make the most of it.
Understanding areas of responsibility is a good place to start. Another good thing to consider is what type of seniority you want (or may be qualified for) when approaching a role.
Not only will this help you understand aspects like salary or areas of responsibility, but it’ll also help you understand where a job sits in a career path. For instance, a mid-senior role with room to grow may be more attractive than a lead role that doesn’t have a clearly defined career ladder for growth.
This is important to understand right now, because it will also help you eliminate jobs that you either aren’t interested in, or aren’t qualified for. For instance, someone with a year’s experience won’t bother applying for the VP of Content role at Apple, nor would someone with 5 years’ experience at Microsoft want to apply for a UX writing internship at Squarespace.
So, what are companies looking for at different levels? In general, companies look for the following attributes to place a candidate or employee on a job ladder. Think of these skills as falling on a spectrum from beginner to advanced competency.
All of the previous, plus:
All of the previous, plus:
A great resource here is Intercom’s own designer documentation matrix, where they break down all the different levels and tasks that a content designer should be able to accomplish. This is a great one to print out and keep handy and share (but make sure to credit Intercom, too).
This is just the beginning, though. Getting ahead in your career means you need to put time in for some serious self-reflection about your skills: what are you good at, and where do you need to improve? How will you get from A to B? If you haven’t started thinking about it, now’s the time.
Over 125 content designers reveal how they use language models, their thoughts on the future of the industry, and more…
We’ll also send you news, discounts, job listings, and more
