How To Navigate This UXR Job Market as a Junior Level Candidate in the Bay Area
Hi all, I recently finished my MS in HCI, and I'm starting to look for junior UXR and adjacent roles in the Bay Area, mainly temp agency contract work. I know the market is especially bad for junior candidates, so I'd appreciate advice from people who've been through it or who hire, because I'm still feeling a bit lost as to my strategy.
Here's a bit of background:
- 3 years of qual research experience across undergrad and grad school, including my dissertation.
- A bit of design experience alongside research
- No industry internship
What I've done so far:
- Built a minimalist Framer portfolio with two UXR case studies that try to focus on decisions and outcomes. (still working on mobile)
- Created an ATS-compatible resume that tries to emphasize the impact of my work.
- Starting to apply for temp contract roles, as I've heard it might be somewhat easier to get my foot in the door.
- Keeping an eye out for roles that seem to value UXR skill sets without it being the title or differing in scope. (CX, Associate PM sometimes).
Some stuff I'd love to know:
- Is contract work really that much easier to get in as a junior, or is that really oversaturated too?
- Is there anything Bay Area-specific I should know about? Networking events, staffing firms I should check into, or anything else?
- And if you're a hiring manager, what would make you pick one junior candidate over another?
Or anything else you think would be helpful to know or change, really. Thanks guys!