In an interview, you can't just have any kind of questions. Your questions must invoke answers that unveil a candidate's approach, creativity, and ability to iterate in a collaborative environment.
UX interview questions assess a candidate's design thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
In this post, we will talk about some of the most commonly asked UX interview questions and what the answers reveal so you, as a recruiter, can pick the ideal person for the role.
1. Can you describe yourself?
This is what most interviews start with. It might sound like an icebreaker line, but it can reveal much about the candidate.
You essentially want to hear why the applicant chose UX design. This UX interview question allows you to listen to their journey with UX design and how they make a good fit for the job.
Similarly asked questions:
- What can you tell me about yourself?
- How would you introduce yourself?
2. What are the challenges you face as a UX designer?
Asking this question helps reveal how designers define and measure success and gives insight about into their weaknesses.
You're looking for someone who not only acknowledges failures but transforms setbacks into something constructive.
Similarly asked questions:
- Could you share the experience of your most/least successful UX design project?
- Tell me about a design problem that pushed your boundaries.
3. How do you measure the success of a design project?
Assessing the success of a project entails diving into various facets of the project. It's crucial to encompass different methodologies, providing a comprehensive grasp of the subject.
This UX interview question will allow you to understand the candidate’s approach to measuring success. This includes talking about task completion rates, error rates, time on task metrics, click-through rates, and evaluating the time users spend engaging with the product to gain insights into usability and user engagement.
Similarly asked questions:
- What criteria do you use to gauge the success of a design project?
- How do you evaluate the success of a design project?
4. What kind of research methods do you use?
User research is extremely important in a UX design process, and you will need to assess the designer's familiarity with the processes and methods.
Ask user research questions and encourage them to talk about the benefits and limitations of each method to understand the depth of their knowledge in this field.
Similarly asked questions:
- How do you validate your design decisions?
- What is your approach to user research? What Methods Do You Use?
5. What tools are you familiar with?
There are a lot of tools one can use when it comes to UX design. What you are aiming to understand with this UX interview question is to know what tools your candidate has worked on in the past and knows about.
You can also understand their experience level with the tools when they answer this question. Ensure they know at least one tool for different purposes like designing, wireframing, usability testing, analytics, etc.
Similarly asked questions:
- Which tools do you have experience using?
- What tools are you proficient with?
6. What are the trends in the UX Design industry right now?
Apart from skills, you also need to look for passion and knowledge. Identify individuals who are up to date about industry trends.
This shows that they're constantly learning and can be an invaluable asset to your company.
Similarly asked questions:
- What, according to you, will be the next big thing in UX design?
- What currently excites you about UX Design?
7. What is the difference between UX design and UI design?
A seasoned UX design professional can easily articulate the difference between those two. This UX interview question aims to let you know if the candidate is a good UX designer.
Ideally, the candidate should showcase expertise in variances, emphasizing that UI design constitutes just a fraction of the comprehensive UX design process. It is one facet among the diverse disciplines housed under the expansive UX umbrella.
Similarly asked questions:
- Is UX design the same as UI design?
8. Who are your design heroes?
Any designer would always have idols whose books they read or work they follow. Or they may have a favorite app design that they appreciate because of the quality of the UX.
Their admiration of their design heroes and favorite apps can reveal a great deal about an applicant's ‘design thinking,’ sensibility and taste, and what kind of UX designer they are.
Similarly asked questions:
- Which UX designer's work do you follow?
- Which app's UX design is your favorite?
9. How do you respond to negative feedback?
In scenarios like this, an exceptional UX designer demonstrates a thoughtful approach. They don't perceive critiques as personal injury but as opportunities to delve deeper and discern the underlying reasons behind a client's dissatisfaction with a design.
Outstanding UX designers maintain objectivity, relying on established principles, past experiences, relevant research, white papers, and validated best practices, adhering to industry standards and design conventions.
Similarly asked questions:
- How do you handle criticism?
10. What does it mean to be a great UX designer?
The response will reveal the kind of UX designer you may be hiring. Look for humility backed by confidence and answers that include a discussion around empathy — “being in the customer’s shoes”. Arriving here often shows commitment to deep user research to solve problems.
An experienced UX designer balances business targets and technical parameters while creating the best user experience possible.
Similarly asked questions:
- What makes you good at what you do?
11. What draws you towards this role and company?
This UX interview question necessitates thorough research on the company beforehand. What it intends to reveal is if the candidate has done enough research about the company and its work culture.
Do they understand the company’s objectives and are aligned with them? Check if the responses are earnest and honest. If someone makes an effort to know what you as an organization do, it is a good sign.
It shows that the candidate is interested in the job and is preparing for it.
Similarly asked questions:
- What makes you a good fit for this company?
12. Can you describe your design process?
Proficient UX designers typically guide you through a defined process or 'toolkit' they use when tackling challenges or projects.
The ideal answer would include a clear process with specific steps to resolve user issues and create engaging experiences. You get to analyze their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Similarly asked questions:
- What does your workflow entail?
- What Does Your Design Process Look Like?
- Take me through your portfolio.
13. How would you improve the UX of our product?
What the question truly seeks to uncover is: Have you invested time in conducting thorough research? It's always prudent to delve into the intricacies of the company before stepping into the interview arena. This showcases the candidate’s genuine interest in your company and role.
Candidates should ideally dedicate some time to familiarize themselves with the company's products. Explore the company’s website intricately and, if applicable, engage with the company’s app.
Similarly asked questions:
- What do you think about the UX of our product?
14. What Made You Go Into UX Design?
The response should reveal the motivation behind the designer's work. Encourage them to share their experience about the first product whose UX they found compelling.
You're looking for answers that resonate with honesty, passion, and interest in the industry.
Similarly asked questions:
- Why do you want a career in UX design?
15. How do you practice universal design?
Accessibility holds significant weight for UX designers, particularly in the context of evolving screen sizes and the ubiquitous consumption of content. Crafting digital products that transcend location is pivotal for a product's triumph.
It's noteworthy to check whether the designer is well-versed in and adheres to the 'Web Content Accessibility Guidelines' set by the World Wide Web Consortium. Have they undertaken an accessibility analysis in the course of a previous project?
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