Meet Jillian, A UX Research Intern at Skilbi!

Interested in?#UXResearch and #Design ?but nervous about going into a?new?industry?

Jillian Diaz, M.S. shares her experience starting out in the UX field as an intern at Skilbi , as well as her other life passions and aspirations.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? What are you studying & when did you start working at Skilbi?

A: I joined Skilbi as a?UX Researcher?when I was a senior at Chapman University, as I thought it might be a?great opportunity?to do on the side of my undergrad studies. I am now in grad school, studying a Masters in Science in Applied Psychology, focusing on Organisational Consumer Behaviour. It’s sort of?business psychology?— I’m finding it very interesting so far. I love how much?flexibility?I have, since I am both studying and working?remotely.

Q: Can you share a few fun facts about yourself?

A: I am half Asian and half Hispanic, so I have a very?diverse cultural background. I love water sports, and played water polo in college. After I graduated from my undergrad, I spent 1 month in Costa Rica as a?digital?nomad, working and studying remotely; and I recently got back from a 3-week backpacking trip of 211 miles — which was quite the experience!

Q: What would you say is your greatest accomplishment so far?

A: Definitely the backpacking trip! It was very unexpected and quite last-minute — my friend invited me, and I had never backpacked before, so I nervously but eagerly jumped on the?challenge. It was very difficult but I’d say that is my greatest accomplishment unrelated to work and school.

Q: What is your dream job?

A: My plan is to become a?UX researcher, but I’m not sure yet which company I’d like to work at. I love?learning?about the?methodology?and other factors related to UX, and Skilbi allows me to?explore?the field of User Experience widely. During my?internship?at Skilbi, I have done a?little bit of everything?related to UX, including some?design?on?Figma, but now I know that I want to?focus?solely on UX Research in the?future.

Q: How did you feel when applying to this internship? Did you have anyone to guide you through your application process?

A: I was?nervous?when applying to Skilbi because it was my?first?time?applying to UX roles. In the past, I have been a Teacher’s Assistant, and a specialist for a fundraising company, so I didn’t have much background in UX, which made me nervous when applying.

A: In regards to applications in general, I was quite?confident, as this is not my first internship, and I was also a part of a professional co-ed business fraternity. Here, they taught us?how?to?interview,?how to be professionals, and I attended many?professional development?events. Therefore, my application process was quite comfortable, but applying to this field was a little?difficult.

Q: What advice would you give to a student applying for their first internship?

A:?Research?the company before the?interview: look into their?mission, their?values, and?what?they are?about. Also, the hiring manager is interviewing you, but?you should also be interviewing the company!?This is the time to?ask?them things you want to know more about —?it’s more than just a job!

Q: What’s your favourite thing about working at Skilbi?

A: I have made some?great?relationships?at Skilbi! We have three meetings per week, so, although it is a?remote?position, I get to know my?coworkers?and supervisors very well. It is a?highly?comfortable?and?friendly?environment?to work in, and easy to have a?voice.

Q: Do you consider yourself an entrepreneur?

A: I wouldn’t consider myself as a lead entrepreneur, but more of a?support?or?team?member?to an?entrepreneur. I think I would find it?difficult?to spear-head something from?scratch?and?execute?all the way, but if I had a?team?or?partner, and a?project?that I truly?believed?in, then I could definitely?help?and?take?part?in it. I don’t exactly consider myself as an entrepreneur, but I believe I have an?entrepreneurial?spirit.

Are you in the?process?of?applying?for your?first?internship? Or perhaps your?first?job?at a?start-up??We’d love to hear about your?experience?— so?feel free to share?in the comments below, or reach out to us on our socials!

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