STC Usability SIG Newsletter
Usability Interface

Job Hunting Tips

Selling User Centered Design

By Molly Cloyd

I was laid off in April and surprised at how few job postings there were. After my initial panic, I decided to take a new approach: to educate companies about why they need user centered design (UCD). I drafted a 1-page proposal directed at VPs of Engineering or Product Management at start-up companies. I customized the proposal for each company I approached but I typically addressed the following.

• How UCD can help a start-up company maintain their market position in the face of increasing competition and the product/technology adoption curve.
• Where I thought UCD could contribute to the start-up company's specific product and business direction.
• An overall list of the benefits that will be gained (for customers as well as for the company) by taking a user-centered product development approach.

I e-mailed the letter to people I identified as key players at start-up companies that looked interesting to me. I had a very positive response—from a vice president telling me he hadn't ever really thought about usability but now would consider adding it to his processes; to several companies who wanted to add UCD to their development processes right away.

The result of all this is that I'm working as an independent consultant for two companies. While I don't think the market has improved much yet, I do think that there are a number of companies that are hiring and just need to be educated about the need for people like us.