User experience lies at the intersection of technology and human behaviour. UX research plays a crucial role in both physical and digital product development, enabling the creation of user-centric designs that maximize utility and satisfaction with the product, service, or system.
UX researchers dive deep into end-users minds to uncover their needs and craft functional and visually appealing experiences. This guide will help us understand more about UX research, what it entails, and how to become a UX researcher without experience.
What is UX research, and what does a UX researcher do?
UX stands for user experience, representing how people interact with and experience a product, system, or service. It’s an interdisciplinary field based on psychology, sociology, anthropology, and human-computer interaction we use to understand how a person perceives a product’s utility, ease of use, and efficiency.
UX research involves a systematic study of the target audience, their requirements, which is used to provide context and insights to create and improve product design.
In addition to this, it’s about understanding users by employing different research methods, including analysing their behaviour needs, and attitudes along and using this information to improve design outcomes, mitigating risk of non-usage, and validating user-centric design decisions.
UX professionals conduct their research using various methods, including user interviews, usability testing, focus groups, data analysis, and surveys.
Here’s what represents the best UX:
- When your UX approach, design, and implementation make end-users feel entirely at home;
- When the interactions with a product, service, or system are intuitive and enjoyable.
- When users can easily accomplish their goals with minimal effort and friction.
UX researchers cannot work with their own subjective opinions and approach. To design a research strategy, it is essential to understand the audiences and their perspectives and empower the UX research with data-driven insights.
Work responsibilities of a UX researcher
To know how to become a UX researcher without experience, we think it’s important to understand the work scope and responsibilities of the person taking this role. UX research is a creative process where you will have fun, build products millions of people love, and make good money, while fulfilling the following responsibilities;
- User research: UX researchers must conduct interviews, build and analyse surveys, run usability testing to gather data on the ideal user experience for a specific product or service.
- Data analysis: An essential part of the job is identifying patterns and insights from qualitative and quantitative research. The researchers extract crucial information about user behaviour and attitudes, which is required to build customer-centric products.
- Prioritising user needs: UX researchers prioritise the target audience and users. They must learn to understand and resonate with them during research and design to ensure an intuitive and user-friendly product.
- Staying updated with the latest trends: User experience is dynamic because user preferences and opinions change over time. Hence, a UX researcher must also stay ahead of these changes and opinions while implementing them in their research.
How do you become a UX researcher, even with zero background?
The ideal disciplines that can make your journey to become a UX researcher easier include;
- Behavioural science
- Human-computer interaction
- Psychology
- Anthropology
- Sociology
Some universities also offer dedicated courses in UX research; for instance,
- The University of Michigan offers a User Experience Research and Design Specialisation course through Coursera.
- The University of San Diego offers a User Experience: Research & Prototyping course through Coursera.
Hailing from a different background doesn’t mean you cannot become a UX researcher. Many renowned UX researchers come from different backgrounds and have built successful careers.
For instance, Elizabeth Churchill, a psychologist, is the director of user experience at Google. Saraswati Saha Mitra, a Researcher at WhatsApp, has a Master’s degree in Market Research.
Several similar examples are available, which you can check out to get some inspiration to become a UX researcher.
Follow these next steps to become a UX researcher with no experience;
Get the basic training
Start by taking an introductory course to understand UX research principles and terminology. This will help you build a solid foundation, making it easier for you to navigate the field more effectively.
Here are a few courses to check out:
Most courses will cover UX design, wireframing, prototyping, user research, usability testing, visual design, and more.
Build your research skills
It’s a research-based profile, which implies you should be good at things like, data analysis and creating research reports. More importantly, learn to empathise with your users as you conduct interviews and extract insights from their answers.
These are only a few things you can do in the beginning. You can also read blogs, reports, survey analysis, watch videos, and listen to podcasts to further amp up your research.
Build a network
- To become a UX researcher without experience, you must build a network, especially here in the Middle East. Sometimes, networking lands you a better job than your qualifications.
Find a community of UX researchers and get to know people by joining a few groups on LinkedIn. Find some links below:
Surrounding yourself with like-minded people is a great way to learn skills, stay updated with trends, and be better prepared for a UX research role.
Look for relevant Slack, Facebook, and Discord groups to ask questions, discuss concepts, and even ask for new opportunities.
You can also follow other UX researchers on LinkedIn to see what they post about, their experiences, projects, etc.
- Jan Ahrend – UX Research Lead at YouTube
- Jakob Nielsen – Co-Founder of Nielsen Norma Group (NN/g)
- Sarah Doody – Founder and CEO at Career Strategy Lab
Get familiar with UX tools
You can only expect to become a good UX researcher if you know how to use UX tools.
- Before diving into this field, find the best tools in each category and familiarise yourself with them. Find relevant tools in the following categories;
- User research and testing: These tools gather qualitative insights from users to identify user behaviour and discover pain points and usability issues.
- Survey and feedback: Collect qualitative and quantitative data from the target audience to know their preferences, experiences, and satisfaction levels.
- Analytics tools: Gather insights on user behaviour as they engage with websites or applications. Check recorded sessions to identify popular features, areas with high drop-off rates, and user flows.
- Design tools: Based on the insights gathered, create wireframes, prototypes, and user interfaces and visualise design concepts.
- User research and testing: These tools gather qualitative insights from users to identify user behaviour and discover pain points and usability issues.
The list can change according to your requirements and current needs. But the key is to familiarise yourself with the important ones if you want to know how to start a career in UX research.
Build your portfolio with independent or university projects
- There are two ways to gain experience in any field: either volunteer to work as a UX researcher or start a job as a fresher.
Start by exploring opportunities to work as an independent contractor. Those who did a boot camp, university course, etc., in UX research will already have worked on several projects.
Your work at the university or course can become your starting point where you share your completed projects to get work or a job.
Build your portfolio simultaneously, as it will help you get better roles as a UX researcher in other organisations.
If nothing else works, try the following;
- Participate in UX designing contests where you showcase your skills, win awards, and gain recognition.
- Start freelancing on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. Begin working with fair rates, as it will increase your chances of getting hired. Win projects to build your portfolio and network.
- Offer your help to friends and acquaintances who run a business and have an online presence.
Remember, there isn’t a fixed milestone or achievement after which you can say, “I am a successful UX researcher.” It’s a process which takes time and requires effort. So, as you learn, implement what you know and gain as much as possible.
- Find a mentor: A mentor can provide invaluable guidance and support in your journey to becoming a UX researcher. Preferably, find a mentor in the MENA region, specifically near your home.
Here are some people to follow on LinkedIn:
When approaching a mentor, be respectful of their time and convey your goals for mentorship. Write a good message to share your enthusiasm and specific areas of interest to make an impact.
How much do UX researchers earn in the Middle East?
The average salary of a UX researcher varies based on their level of experience and work location. For instance, a UX researcher in the USA typically earns a higher salary compared to someone with the same job role and experience in other regions.
- The average salary of a UX researcher in the UAE ranges between AED 10,000 (US$ 2,772) to AED 25,000 (US$ 6,806) per month.
- The average salary of a UX researcher in Qatar ranges between QAR 6,000 (US$ 1,638) to QAR 10,000 (US$ 2,730) per month.
- The average salary of a UX researcher in Kuwait ranges between KWD 965 (US$ 3,136) to KWD 1,000 (US$ 3,249) per month.
- The average salary of a UX researcher in Egypt ranges between EGP 3,000 (US$ 60) to EGP 20,000 (US$ 402) per month.
- The average salary of a UX researcher in the USA ranges between US$ 833 to US$ 19,166 per month.
- The average salary of a UX researcher in the UK ranges between £1,666 (US$ 2,095) to £8,333 (US$ 10.481) per month.
- The average salary of a UX researcher in Canada ranges between US$ 5,583 to US$ 791 per month.
Conclusion
To answer your question about how to become a UX researcher, begin by understanding the basics, getting familiar with all the relevant tools, gaining some experience, and building your network.
One of the ways UserQ can help you become a successful UX researcher in MENA is by joining us. Occasionally, we offer UX researcher internships to help upcoming UX researchers get first-hand experience in the field and help them build a career path.
Visit our Careers page regularly to stay updated on new opportunities and make the most of them.
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