Career progression paths for former UX Designers - what direction did you take

Product management Product management careers and networking
1

Hey everyone! I’ve been thinking about my career journey lately and would love to hear from others who started in UX design.

My path has been pretty interesting so far. I began as a UX designer right after finishing my master’s degree and stuck with it for about 6 years. Then I made the jump to product ownership, which I did in various forms for another 6 years. Now I’m working in this combined product owner and product manager role for the past year or so.

I’m really curious about how other designers have evolved their careers. Did you switch to completely different fields? Which ones worked out well for you? How did your design background actually help in your new role? Did the opportunity just fall into your lap or did you actively seek it out?

Also wondering about compensation - are there other well-paying career paths that designers typically move into besides just climbing the traditional ladder?

Personally, I think my design experience made me way better at solving problems and working with teams as a product owner. I can talk to designers easily and understand why they make certain choices that might confuse other people. But I’m not sure how to really sell this skill set to potential employers beyond just mentioning it.

Right now I’m trying to figure out my next move and what skills I should focus on developing. I know networking is super important so I’m working on that too.

Would love to hear your stories and any advice you might have!

2

jumped into tech sales and shocked myself! burned out after 5 years in UX dealing with endless revisions. now I’m selling design tools and clients trust me right away - they know I’ve actually used this stuff. commission pay beats my old design salary by a lot, and no more stressing over perfect mockups lol

3

Went back for an MBA and now I’m in venture capital. Honestly? UX design taught me to evaluate products way better than most finance bros. Three years designing apps means I can spot terrible user experiences and overhyped startups instantly. Plus the networking from design communities helped me get meetings with portfolio companies. Pay is… let’s just say I don’t miss fighting over $5k salary bumps anymore lol. Downside is dealing with suits who think they understand product strategy but can’t tell good design from trash.

4

The Problem: You’re an entrepreneur with a background in AR/VR/MR technology and software development who’s facing challenges transitioning into a product or program management role after your startup’s closure. You’re concerned that your specialized expertise in XR might be hindering your job search.

:thinking: Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):

The job market, especially in technology, often prioritizes specific, immediately applicable skills. While your experience leading a team and developing XR technology is valuable, recruiters might struggle to directly connect it to the specific requirements of product or program management roles. Furthermore, the language you use to describe your experience may not resonate with recruiters focused on specific keywords and metrics. Simply stating that you “oversaw product development” isn’t as compelling as showcasing quantifiable achievements and transferable skills.

:gear: Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Reframe your Experience for Product/Program Management Roles: Your XR background provides a strong foundation. The key is to highlight transferable skills that are highly relevant to product and program management. Focus on:

  • Project Management: Emphasize your experience in planning, executing, and delivering complex projects within budget and timeline. Quantify your successes using metrics like on-time delivery rates, budget adherence, and team performance improvements.
  • Product Development: Highlight your understanding of the product lifecycle, from ideation and design to development and launch. Focus on your contribution to product strategy and your ability to prioritize features based on market needs and business goals.
  • Client Relationship Management: Showcase your experience building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, understanding their needs, and managing their expectations. Provide examples of how you secured and maintained contracts or exceeded client expectations.
  • Team Leadership: Emphasize your ability to lead and motivate a diverse team, delegate effectively, and foster a collaborative environment. Quantify your success in team performance improvement and employee satisfaction.

Step 2: Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter: Use keywords relevant to product and program management roles. Research job descriptions carefully and incorporate relevant terms like “Agile,” “Scrum,” “roadmapping,” “product strategy,” “stakeholder management,” etc. Quantify your accomplishments using numbers and metrics wherever possible.

Step 3: Network Strategically: Attend industry events, connect with recruiters on LinkedIn, and reach out to people working in product and program management roles. Don’t just focus on connections within the XR space; explore broader tech communities. Informational interviews can provide invaluable insights and potentially lead to job opportunities.

Step 4: Consider Upskilling: If there are specific skills gaps, address them through online courses, workshops, or certifications. For example, consider certifications in Agile methodologies, product management frameworks, or specific software development tools.

Step 5: Broaden Your Job Search: Don’t limit yourself to XR-specific roles. Consider roles in broader technology sectors that utilize your transferable skills.

:mag: Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:

  • Pitfall: Focusing solely on your XR expertise and neglecting transferable skills. Recruiters may not immediately see the connection between your past work and the requirements of a product or program management role.
  • Next Check: Analyze job descriptions for relevant keywords and tailor your resume and cover letter accordingly. Quantify your achievements with specific metrics to demonstrate the impact of your previous work.

:speech_balloon: Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) resume and cover letter, the types of roles you’re applying for, and any feedback you’ve received from recruiters. The community is here to help!

5

Made the jump to service design and loving it! Spent 5 years in traditional UX but got tired of designing individual touchpoints without seeing how everything connected. Service design lets me map entire customer journeys across channels and departments. My UX background was perfect - I already knew user needs, but now I’m tackling systemic problems instead of just interface fixes. Pay’s about the same as senior UX, maybe a bit better since there’s less competition. What really helped was volunteering for cross-functional projects to show I understood business ops, not just pixels. If you’re good at connecting dots between teams and processes, definitely worth checking out!

6

Made the jump to design consulting and loving it! Your UX skills work great for tackling bigger business problems. Love the variety—every project’s different, and clients eat up the design thinking. The freedom and money don’t hurt either!

7

Made the jump from UX to data analytics! Spent 4 years designing interfaces but kept finding myself obsessed with user metrics and A/B test results. Switched to UX research first, then dove into product analytics. Having that design background is honestly a huge advantage - I can read user behavior patterns and catch usability problems in the data that regular analysts totally miss. Money’s solid too - senior data roles pay as much or more than design, especially at tech companies. Had to learn SQL and stats, but design thinking works perfectly for data storytelling. My take: start mixing more numbers into your current design work to prove you can handle it, then sell yourself as someone who gets both users and business metrics.