How I transitioned from being an Engineer to UX Designer

I’m an Engineer turned Designer, having completed my Computer Engineering at TSEC, Mumbai. I had been involved in coding and website development for a very long time.

I got placed in Capgemini and started in a Production Support role. Although the role wasn’t as exciting as I hoped, the only positive was that it allowed me to work from home, giving me the freedom to explore new possibilities.

After working in my job for 1.5 years, I wanted to explore front-end development roles since I have an interest in coding and regularly worked on personal projects. However, I faced numerous rejections, and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, making it nearly impossible to switch jobs.

Being stuck at home due to lockdown gave me some free time to reconsider my career choices, and I started exploring various options online.

During that period, I came across Ran Segall’s video showcasing the ease of designing a website in Webflow without coding. Curious, I started learning Webflow and creating websites, finding a new love for design.

As I was learning Webflow, I discovered that I’m better at creating designs from scratch than working on things that others have already designed. This guided me towards a field where the main task is to think and design — UX Design. I did a lot of research about this field.

Around the same time, Google launched a UX Design Course, I enrolled for it, completed all assignments, and created my portfolio. If someone is very new to UX Design, I would definitely recommend that course.

I was among the Top 50 participants in India who completed the course, which led to a free portfolio review session with a Google Designer — Cheriana Griggs. The review helped me in tailoring my portfolio to showcase what hiring managers are actually looking for.

After completing my portfolio, I began applying for UX Design roles, but due to my limited industry experience, I faced repeated rejections.

Not discouraged by rejections, I changed my focus and applied for a job within Capgemini. I got the chance to work with a famous brand — IKEA. It was the best opportunity to learn and show my skills.

This experience build my confidence and I resumed applying for design roles externally, resulting in multiple offers, including two from Reliance Jio and Human Factors International (HFI). I chose HFI for its brand status in the design industry and most importantly, flexibility to work remotely

Currently, I work with HFI on projects for the client Dell. Over the past 1.5 years, my journey as a designer has been a continuous learning experience. Each day brings new insights and challenges, contributing to my growth in the field of design.

I feel grateful as I think about the chances that guided my journey. I’m really happy to be a part of the exciting UX Design field, understanding the many possibilities it has.

While transitioning to a new field is undoubtedly challenging, my advice is simple: If you really like doing something, you’ll figure out a way to do what you really love.

I’m thrilled about the ongoing journey, committed to continuous learning, and eager to contribute to the world of design.

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If you have any questions about transitioning to UX Design, feel free to schedule a free call with me on ADPList. I would be happy to help. :)

You can schedule a call here.

You can also reach out to me on Twitter. Just send me a DM if you have any doubts.

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