Finding the best UX course
Days before I was due to start a new job, COVID-19 hit Australia and I suddenly found myself unemployed. Most employers put recruitment on hold as they tried to adjust to life in a pandemic.
Unfortunately, when recruitment started taking off again employers were able to demand overqualified candidates due to the high unemployment rates.
Even worse, I was unqualified. I’d always felt that my lack of formal training had been a barrier to many jobs so I thought, perhaps, this was the right time to undertake some study. It was clear that I wasn’t going to be able to find work in corporate finance without that magical piece of paper: a university degree that would make me more desirable to employers.
But a thought occurred to me — there was no reason that I needed to become an accountant to find a job, I could study anything at all… I could even study something I might actually enjoy!
After lots of careful consideration and an unknown number of days lost to a YouTube blackhole, I decided that I wanted to study UX design.
In a rash (and completely out-of-character) move, I signed up for a double degree at university which was due to commence the following month.
However, my brain kept reminding me that making such rushed decisions was not how I normally do things. All day long I would think to myself, “Is this the best decision? Is this a good idea? Do I really need TWO degrees?!”.
I realised that I should speak to someone who had experience hiring UX Designers. The only problem was that I didn’t know anyone in the field.
So, I searched through Seek.com.au and made note of the names of all the recruitment agencies advertising UX positions in Brisbane. One name came up again and again — Sophia at Blackroc.
I called her the very next day.
Research
Sophia told me what I’d hoped to hear — a university degree would delay me entering the UX workforce for a further 4 years and there were other viable options available. She also gave me a golden nugget of insight… it’s very rare for her clients to require candidates to hold a degree.
That did it for me. I started researching other training providers straight away.
My start date at university was fast-approaching and there were so many courses and training providers to choose from. I was faced with making another rash decision and my brain was not happy about it at all. Do I pull out of uni, or should I go crazy at Officeworks buying even more fun stationery ready for my first day?
I forced myself to sit down and do what I do best — compare and analyse.
Analyse
It seemed to me that courses like the ones offered by General Assembly, CareerFoundry and Academy Xi pushed their students through course materials like they were on a conveyer belt, coming out the other side with a participation award and simulated work experience. And with quite a high price tag. I wasn’t convinced that this would prepare me sufficiently to enter the workforce, so I looked at a few other options.
Additionally, I noticed that lots of UX Designers I came across on LinkedIn had been employed by General Assembly for a short time. This concerned me — would I be taught by someone who was new to teaching?
The short RMIT course looked like it covered good ground, was a lot more affordable, and was offered by a reputable university but at only 6 weeks duration I wondered how employable I’d look at the end of it.
The UX Accelerator from PeakXD was considerably cheaper than some of the others and it was clear that I would be taught by people who were also practising UX Consultants. They weren’t fresh out of school and they had real-world experience. The course included work for a real client, and I imagined my future employer being very impressed that I’d worked with a client who was so well regarded! This course also provided the option to sit the exam for an internationally recognised certification. A formal qualification! My brain was in love with the idea of finally being qualified in something. I was a little sceptical though — this course appeared to be better than all the other options in every way… What was the catch?
Decision
The catch was… well, honestly, I didn’t find one. I chose the UX Accelerator course with PeakXD and I have no regrets at all.
I cancelled my enrolment at university on the first day of O-week. I’d done the research and this time I was certain I was on the right path. My brain had stopped the rotation of “are we sure about this?” questions and I was all-in on the UX Accelerator.
I’ll admit that I struggled to stay on top of all my home commitments, full-time work (I found a temporary position a few weeks after starting the course), house renovations, and life as a new mum (who knew I would spend so much time Googling poop colours?!) all while dealing with post-natal depression and the added pressure of being the sole income earner for the household.
But I knew that changing careers was going to make me happier in the long run, so I stuck with it and did as little housework as I could get away with.
The course itself was great. I felt like my coaches really cared about my progress and it wasn’t “just a job” to them. They were human beings who understood that I needed to breastfeed my baby during our Zoom calls sometimes, and they gave me really valuable feedback on my work which helped me get the most out of our time together.
With their support, I completed the course on schedule, and I celebrated with a glass of alcohol-free bubbly (because, breastfeeding).
I took the exam a few months later and I am proud to say that I am now the holder of the BCS Foundation Certificate in User Experience.
The best part? My coaches were as impressed with me as I was with them and now, I’m employed as a UX Consultant for PeakXD.
TL;DR
- Speak with local recruiters to find out what employers are looking for.
- Find a course with personalised support and accountability.
- Consider how your chosen course and training provider will look on your resume, and how your portfolio will benefit.
- If you’re worried about changing careers: Take the leap and believe in yourself. You can always go back but if you don’t try something new, you won’t ever know where it might lead.
Edit 2023: I’ve compared lots of UX design courses over here, check it out if you’d like some help finding the right course for you.
