Last Weeks of a UX Design Bootcamp: Now What?

Learning something new is always a leap of faith. 12 weeks ago, I stopped my old life and started another one.

I enrolled in a user experience design immersive program. After two years of toggling back and forth between writing and marketing, between knowing what I wanted and being unsure of pretty much everything job related, after a shortened version of the programming through the same educational platform, I finally just did it.

After all those long nights, all those hours pouring over reading and online material and figuring out what, exactly, design thinking and the ux process looks like, I’m almost done.

I have to say now that it’s almost the end of something, a huge weight has been lifted off my chest.

And replaced with an entirely new one.

Somewhere between learning and doing, I forgot that the entire point of this intense training is to get a job. To create designs that communicate who I am, why I found the solution I did, and why in the world someone would want to hire me.

What happens when you live in the grey space between knowing and still learning?

I wish I could give you some kind of golden rule advice. Some kind of blanket statement that would make anyone who's trying to do the same thing take a deep breath. I wish I was that wise.

But in reality, I don’t have any of that. What I do is a positive, humble reflection of what life after intensive training looks like.

Learning UX has not just taught me a new skill, but it’s given me a chance to land firmly in a place where I know I’m where I should be.

Yes, it was really, really risky to put everything on the line. It was scary to do any of this, but I did. I have tangible, solid, strong work. I have concepts that I’m proud to showcase. I have work that I have gone back to and changed entirely.

I have piles and piles of sketches and wireframes and use cases and mind maps. I have post it notes on my walls and color palettes are now a form of therapy.

I changed the way that I solve problems while still staying true to a personal belief that you don’t always have to take the familiar path to get an amazing result.

When it all comes down to it, looking for a job is going to be another experience. Another milestone, another bridge to cross on shaky but moving feet.

You have to learn to embrace that journey, that unknown, that feeling in the pit of your stomach that you are about to do something great. You’re not making it up as you go anymore.

Every designer is a work in process, and we are always working on works in progress.

Part of looking for that first job, part of spending hour after hour ideation and redesigning and having those moments of triumph, all those tiny things form something great.

To wrap it all up I guess what I’m really trying to say is that looking for a job, I know, is going to be so much trial and error. So much frustration, so much worry. But it’s also going to be filled with good moments. Ones that are worth holding onto.

Even if I don’t land my dream job, even if it takes three months for me to feel confident to start asking for interviews and having conversations with the right people, what this program has taught me is that everyone is more than capable.

All you have to do is start.