Finding a UX mentor can be a great way to learn new skills, get feedback, and advance your career. But what if you live in a small town where there are not many UX professionals or opportunities? Don't worry, you can still find a UX mentor online or offline, if you follow these tips.
Before you start looking for a UX mentor, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve from the mentorship. Do you want to learn a specific tool, technique, or domain? Do you want to improve your portfolio, resume, or interview skills? Do you want to get advice on career development, networking, or freelancing? Write down your goals and prioritize them, so you can find a UX mentor who can help you with them.
When I started looking for a mentor my goal was after my certification in UXD was to find someone who knew the job application process. While I have been a part of the hiring process in the past, the most intimating portion for me was not knowing the structure of how the application thru hiring process work. I felt if a mentor could advise me of the process, then I could focus on finding a secondary mentor in my subcategory of Customer Experience Research. Make sure you are open to feedback, you never know who knows what and will be your next mentor/mentee.
One of the easiest ways to find a UX mentor is to use online platforms that connect mentors and mentees. There are many websites and apps that offer this service, such as UX Coffee Hours, MentorCruise, or ADPList. You can browse through the profiles of different UX mentors, see their availability, rates, and specialties, and request a session with them. You can also join online communities, such as UX Mastery, UX Stack Exchange, or UX Design Collective, where you can ask questions, share your work, and get feedback from experienced UX practitioners.
Additionally, joining active online communities like UX Mastery, UX Stack Exchange, or UX Design Collective expands the mentorship landscape. Being part of these communities not only facilitates networking but also creates opportunities for broader learning, collaboration, and receiving feedback from a diverse group of experienced UX practitioners. Overall, incorporating these mentorship avenues enriches the learning journey for individuals aspiring to jumpstart their UX careers.????
In the quest to find a UX mentor, especially in a small town, it's crucial to expand your search beyond geographical boundaries and think globally. The digital age has connected us in unprecedented ways, opening up access to thousands of skilled UX professionals worldwide. Platforms like ADPlist are a great starting point, offering a network of experienced UX mentors ready to share their knowledge. Additionally, don't hesitate to directly reach out to designers you admire, regardless of their location. Many are open to mentoring and can provide valuable insights and guidance based on their experiences and challenges.
In a small town, depending on if you are close to a base city for places such as UXPA, you will have to rely on online mentorship. There are hundreds of mentors available and thousand of mentees. Do not get stuck if you are not able to meet with a mentor again for a month. This may be you opportunity to speak with different people to see what will click the best with your learning style.
Another way to find a UX mentor is to attend online events related to UX, such as webinars, workshops, podcasts, or conferences. You can learn from the speakers, who are often experts in their fields, and network with other attendees, who may be potential mentors or peers. You can also participate in online challenges, hackathons, or competitions, where you can showcase your skills, collaborate with others, and get exposure to different UX problems and solutions.
Agreed, the world is no longer in person only connections. It is now world wide. Make sure to attend events. If someone has not made a contact sheet for meet up afterward, make sure you take initiative to create the sheet and have people place their data in it. These people want to connect and help each other in the community.
Even if you live in a small town, you may still have some local contacts who can help you find a UX mentor. For example, you can ask your friends, family, colleagues, or former classmates if they know anyone who works in UX or has UX skills. You can also contact your local university, college, or library, and see if they offer any courses, workshops, or resources related to UX. You can also check if there are any local meetups, groups, or organizations that focus on UX or related topics, such as design, technology, or innovation.
You can reach out to your contacts. This can help keep you leveled and out of industry jargon. I am sure if someone is not in UX they do not know about JTBD, UI, and Customer Journey Maps. Guess what, some of your future employers and stakeholders are not going to understand. This give you time to practice and prevent you from talking like a jargon machine.
Finding a UX mentor is not a one-time event, but a continuous process that requires effort, patience, and respect. You need to be proactive and reach out to potential mentors, introduce yourself, explain your goals, and ask for their guidance. You also need to be respectful and appreciate their time, expertise, and feedback. You need to follow up with them regularly, update them on your progress, and thank them for their support. You also need to be open-minded and willing to learn from their advice, suggestions, and critiques.
When I was in college I did not reach out soon enough to find a mentor. When I started my google certificate program and I had made it to module 5 talking to different mentors is what motivated me to finish the course. It is never too early to talk to someone in the field.
Finding a UX mentor is not only about getting help with your immediate goals, but also about building a long-term relationship that can benefit both of you. You can offer your mentor something in return, such as your skills, knowledge, or network. You can also share your insights, experiences, and challenges with them, and ask for their opinions, perspectives, and stories. You can also support them in their endeavors, celebrate their achievements, and recommend them to others. By doing so, you can create a mutually beneficial and rewarding mentorship that can last for years.