1. THE
QUEST
FOR THE
ULTIMATE UX
PORTFOLIO
by
Pradeep Nayar
@designonmymind

2. Who am I?

5. THE
QUEST
FOR THE
ULTIMATE UX
PORTFOLIO
1. Know Yourself
2. Prepare your work
3. Get out there!

6. What is your favorite car manufacturer?

8. NOTE: YoYu OarUe a A BRRAEN AD BRAND

9. WHAT MAKES
YOU DIFFERENT?

10. What do you want to do?

11. OPTION 4
Visual Design
The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio
UX DISCIPLINES
11
OPTION 1
OPTION 2
User Research Experience Strategy
OPTION 3
Interaction Design
Problem Space Solution Space
Deliverables
Interview Scripts
Moderation Guides
Key Findings Report
Experience Maps
Personas
Scenarios
Concept/Mind Maps
Journey Maps
User Flows
Sketches
Site Maps
Wireframes (Low fidelity)
Wireframes (High fidelity)
with annotations
Prototypes
Sketches
Visual Comps/Mockups
Style Guides
Prototypes

12. Where do you want to work?

13. The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio
WHERE CAN YOU WORK?
13
IN-HOUSE
(Work for an organization)
Startup Mid-Sized
Company
Large
Corporation
EXTERNAL
(Work for a client)
Freelance Agency Consulting
What’s different?
Type of work
Duration of work
Level of engagement
Level of influence on direction
Complexity of the problem

14. THE
QUEST
FOR THE
ULTIMATE UX
PORTFOLIO
1. Know Yourself
2. Prepare your work
3. Get out there!

15. The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio
CONSOLIDATE YOUR WORK
15
Collect everything!
Pick the top 3 - 5 case studies
Choosing the right case study is important
Take pictures!
Did I mention take pictures?

16. ONLINE
(What’s out there)
VS OFFLINE
(What you carry with you)

17. ONLINE PORTFOLIO TIPS
Focus on breadth and not depth of work
Mobile friendly (Responsive is a plus)
Be brief (don’t get too wordy)
What problem did you solve?
Your role
Size of the team
Design approach
Password protect (if necessary)
The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio 17

18. The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio
OFFLINE PORTFOLIO TIPS
18
Focus on 3 - 5 case studies
Be contextual (based on the position)
Be a storyteller of your work
Framing each case study
Problem/opportunity
Your specific role
Team you worked with
The approach
Key challenges
Overcoming challenges
Metrics of success
Outcome
Sample deliverables
Have a backup plan! (Murphy’s law)
WOW your future boss! (create excitement)

19. How do I show confidential documentation?

20. CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENTATION
DO NOT EMAIL
Take it with you for your in-person interview
Blur/Remove logos in sample deliverables
Avoid posting online (If you do, password protect it)
Be careful of legal implications

21. DON’T TAKE ALL THE CREDIT

22. Don’t forget C.R.A.P
Contrast
Repetition
Alignment
Proximity

23. Don’t talk about…
Me, Myself & I
!
Talk about Us…
what we will gain and
how you are going to help
get there

24. THE
QUEST
FOR THE
ULTIMATE UX
PORTFOLIO
1. Know Yourself
2. Prepare your work
3. Get out there!

25. The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio
BEYOND THE PORTFOLIO
25
Your LinkedIn profile
Keep it up-to-date
Have a good picture
Write a good summary
Get some recommendations
Get endorsed
Formal well-structured resume
1 - 2 page(s) depending on experience
Check for typos & alignment
List of work references
Check out local IXDA & Meetup UX events!

26. How do hiring managers think?

27. The Quest for The Ultimate UX Portfolio
THE TYPICAL HIRING PROCESS
27
Do you have the right hard skills?
Do you have relevant experience?
Do you present yourself well?
How do you talk about your work?
Do you have attention to detail?
Do you have passion for UX?
Are you worth my time?
Do you have the right soft skills?
How are your communication skills?
Do you know and use UX lingo?
Do you have the right attitude?
Do you have the right skill set?
Are you a good story teller?
Are you a good cultural fit?
Can I work with you?
Will you add value to the team?
Will you grow with the team?
CANDIDATE REVIEW
RESUME & ONLINE PORTFOLIO
INITIAL SCREENING
OVER THE PHONE
FINAL INTERVIEW
IN PERSON (OR VIRTUALLY)

28. QUESTIONS, COMMENTS & FEEDBACK
@designonmymind
Photos Credit:
Flickr user @jdhancock
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode