4 Must-Have Qualities in a UX Hire

Problem: Finding the right UX talent can be challenging, especially when the wrong hire can disrupt team dynamics and waste valuable time. We cover four traits to look for in your UX hires and discuss real-world interview questions for UX designers that help you spot these traits.

Key traits to look for in UX candidates:

Empathy – Can they understand and share the user’s experience?
Problem-Solving – Can they think on their feet and come up with creative solutions?
Communication – Can they explain the ‘why’ behind their decisions clearly and confidently?
Humility – Are they willing to admit when they don’t know something and ask for help?

🎧 Listen to the Humans First episode to hear the whole conversation.

The Secret to Hiring Great UX Talent

Hiring the right UX professionals is a delicate process that requires more than just reviewing resumes and portfolios. According to Andy Van Fleet and Kayla Byington, two UX experts from Visual Logic, there are four key qualities that make a successful UX hire: empathy, problem-solving, communication, and humility. In a recent podcast episode, they shared insights into how these traits play a crucial role in finding the right fit for your team and ensuring long-term success.

1. Empathy: A Crucial Element in UX Design

Empathy is at the heart of UX design. UX designers must be able to understand and share the feelings of others. Empathy is a muscle that needs constant practice. As technology evolves, especially with the rise of social media, empathy has declined significantly in recent years.

How to spot empathy in candidates:

Ask about their experience listening to and understanding user challenges.
Evaluate how well they explain user-centric design decisions.
Look for candidates who show an ability to walk in someone else’s shoes (literally or figuratively).

Empathy allows designers to create user-centered solutions that genuinely meet the needs of users. Kayla suggests asking candidates questions like, “Tell me about a time when you learned of a user challenge firsthand.” The best candidates will be able to provide thoughtful responses and demonstrate a deep understanding of users.

2. Problem-Solving: Can They Think on Their Feet?

Problem-solving is another key trait that every UX designer should have. Whether it’s working with minimal information or adapting to unexpected challenges, a UX designer’s creativity and strategic thinking are essential for overcoming obstacles.

How to test problem-solving skills:

Ask, “Tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem with limited information.”
Evaluate their ability to come up with creative solutions and how they respond to “what if” scenarios.

In the fast-paced world of UX design, problems don’t always come with neatly packaged solutions. Kayla shares an interview prompt that has worked well: “Tell me about a time when the ideal solution was too expensive, but you still managed to solve the problem.” Problem-solving is about thinking on your feet and finding creative ways to navigate challenges.

3. Communication: Can They Articulate the ‘Why’?

Effective communication is a must-have skill in UX design. It’s not just about presenting beautiful designs, but also about articulating the rationale behind those designs. Designers must be able to explain the reasoning behind their choices to both clients and team members.

Signs of strong communication:

The candidate can explain the ‘why’ behind their design decisions.
They have the ability to tell a compelling story about their designs.
They demonstrate clarity and confidence when presenting their work.

A strong communicator can sell their ideas and ensure that everyone involved in the project understands the rationale behind decisions. As Andy and Kayla point out, candidates should be able to answer questions like, “Why was this solution important for the user?” and “How did you arrive at this conclusion?”

4. Humility: Admitting When You Don’t Know

Humility is often overlooked but is just as important as the other traits. Humble designers acknowledge that they don’t have all the answers and are open to learning from their mistakes. They’re willing to ask for help when needed and can admit when a project isn’t going the way they hoped. They also acknowledge a project they worked on was a team effort.

Key signs of humility:

They can talk about failures they’ve learned from.
They use “we” and “us” language, rather than “I” and “me.”
They are open to feedback and willing to admit when they don’t know something.
They can talk about the whole team and when discussing a past project

Kayla emphasizes that humility is critical when things go wrong. A humble designer can walk into a room full of stakeholders and admit when they’ve made a mistake, showing the courage to ask for help. The best UX professionals can say, “I don’t know, but I’m going to figure it out,” and take the necessary steps to learn and grow.

Go deeper: Hiring the right people is essential for increasing your organization’s design maturity

Why the Right Process Matters

Hiring the right UX designer isn’t just about evaluating portfolios and resumes—it’s about identifying the personal traits that will ensure long-term success on the team. Visual Logic’s approach to hiring involves a careful, deliberate process that goes beyond the surface. This includes giving candidates assignments to demonstrate their creativity and problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios.

The hiring process at Visual Logic includes:

Reviewing resumes and portfolios.
Conducting an initial screening interview.
Hosting in-depth, leadership interviews.
Assigning a real-world project to test the candidate’s skills.
Offering guidance and support to candidates during their project.

By taking time to evaluate candidates thoroughly, Visual Logic has built a team of designers who not only fit well within the culture but also bring the essential skills needed to tackle complex design problems.

Conclusion: The Four Key Traits for Hiring UX Talent

To sum it up, the four essential traits you should look for in a UX hire are:

Empathy – Can they understand and share the user’s experience?
Problem-Solving – Can they think on their feet and come up with creative solutions?
Communication – Can they explain the ‘why’ behind their decisions clearly and confidently?
Humility – Are they willing to admit when they don’t know something and ask for help?

By focusing on these traits during the hiring process, you can build a UX team that will deliver impactful, user-centered designs and contribute to the long-term success of your organization.

Visual Logic works with teams to build their design cultures while helping solve immediate UX problems. We’d love to hear about your goals for scaling your organization’s design and product teams.