Guiding the Leap: Mentoring a Career Switch from Product Management to Product Design
The Roadmap to Redefining Careers: A Step-by-Step Guide for Mentors
Recently, I've seen an uptick in the number of my mentees expressing a desire to switch lanes from Product Management to UX or Product Design.
Tom, an experienced product manager who was recently laid off from one of the tech giants, was among the first to broach this topic. He loved the user-centric focus of his job but yearned for a more creative, hands-on role in shaping a product's journey - thus sparking a desire to transition into design.
Tom's ambition got me thinking: How could I guide others like him through this career metamorphosis?
Here's the roadmap we charted:
Step 1: Understanding the “Why”
Every transition begins with introspection. Ask your mentee: Why Product Design? Is it the creative challenge, or perhaps, the problem-solving allure? Encourage them to identify their driving force - their guiding beacon for this journey.
For instance, they might be inspired by a particular product redesign, be eager to more directly influence a product's aesthetics, or feel more fulfilled creating tangible designs rather than strategizing.
Encourage them to write down their reasons and reflect on them regularly to stay motivated.
Step 2: Building a Design Foundation
Guide your mentee to reliable resources where they can dive into the world of product design. Your mentee should start with the basics. Encourage them to read UX classics such as Don Norman's “The Design of Everyday Things”, “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug, “Laws of UX” by Jon Yablonski and to take online courses like Coursera’s “Google UX Design”. Share more of your favorite design books, online courses, and tools. Help them understand design principles, methodologies, and how to use design software like Figma or Adobe XD. A few of my mentees really enjoyed beginning their design journey by working their way through the Figma Masterclass.
Step 3: Skills Assessment and Highlighting Transferable Skills
Evaluate the mentee's current skill set and identify transferable skills. Mentees often overlook the valuable skills they already possess. As a product manager, they might have expertise in cross-functional communication and data-driven decision making. Help them realize the power of these transferable skills as they transition into design.
Here's a detailed framework to assess the skills of a mentee transitioning from product management to UX/product design:
1. UX Design Skills:
These are the core technical skills and competencies required for UX and product designer roles:
User Research: Does the mentee understand the different user research methodologies? Can they plan and conduct interviews, surveys, and usability tests?
Information Architecture: Can they create sitemaps, user flows, and understand the importance of hierarchical structure in design?
Interaction Design: Do they understand how to design interactive elements and create intuitive user interfaces? Can they anticipate how users will interact with a system?
Visual Design: Can they create visually appealing designs? Do they understand principles like hierarchy, color theory, typography, and consistency?
Prototyping: Do they know how to build interactive prototypes using tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD?
Usability Testing: Can they plan, conduct, and analyze usability tests? Can they iterate designs based on feedback?
Design Tools: How proficient are they with design software? Do they know how to use Figma, Adobe XD, or other relevant tools?
Accessibility: Do they understand and can they apply accessibility principles in design to ensure a product is usable by as many people as possible?
2. Transferable Skills:
These are skills the mentee may have developed in their product management role that are applicable in UX and product design.
Understanding User Needs: Product managers must understand the needs of the user, which is also key in UX design.
Strategic Thinking: Does the mentee have a track record of thinking strategically and making decisions based on user needs and business goals?
Communication: Can they communicate effectively with different stakeholders, including team members, other departments, and clients?
Collaboration: Do they work well in a team? Are they comfortable collaborating with developers, other designers, and stakeholders?
Design Management: Can they manage multiple projects, organize their work, and meet deadlines?
3. Soft Skills:
Soft skills are essential for working effectively with teams and stakeholders.
Problem-Solving: Can they identify, analyze, and find solutions to problems?
Empathy: Do they show a capacity to understand and share the feelings of users? This is fundamental for user-centered design.
Adaptability: Are they able to adjust to new conditions, learn from feedback, and continually improve their work?
Resilience: Can they cope with criticism, rejection, or failure, and bounce back quickly?
Continuous Learning: Are they self-driven and eager to learn new things?
Skills assessment isn't a one-time process. Try to reassess their skills at different intervals in the mentoring journey to track progress and adjust the learning plan accordingly.
It's also important to consider that while it's beneficial for the mentee to have a broad skill set, they do not need to excel in every area to be a successful UX or product designer. Strengths can be balanced within a team, and skills can be continuously developed over time.
Step 4: Identifying Skill Gaps
A gap analysis is a critical tool that helps identify the difference between the skills a mentee currently possesses and the skills they need to acquire for their intended role in UX or product design. Here's a detailed framework for conducting a gap analysis:
1. Define Desired Skills: The first step in a gap analysis is to define the desired skills for the intended UX or product design role. This should be a comprehensive list including both hard skills (e.g., user research, prototyping, usability testing) and soft skills (e.g., communication, problem-solving, empathy).
2. Assess Current Skills: Assess the mentee's current skill set. You should already have a detailed list from your skills assessment (Step #3).
3. Identify Gaps: Compare the desired skills against the current skills. If a desired skill isn't present or not sufficiently developed in the mentee's current skill set, this constitutes a gap.
4. Prioritize Gaps: Not all gaps are equally important. Prioritize them based on the requirements of the target UX role and the mentee's career goals. Some gaps will need to be addressed immediately, while others might be longer-term goals.
5. Develop Action Plans: For each gap, create an action plan detailing how the mentee can acquire or improve the necessary skills. This could involve coursework, self-study, practical experience, or additional mentoring. Be sure to include clear, measurable objectives and a timeline for achieving these goals.
Here's a simple example for a specific skill:
Desired Skill: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes.
Current Skill: Understands the concept of prototyping but has limited hands-on experience.
Gap: The mentee needs practical experience in building and testing prototypes.
Priority: High - Prototyping is a crucial step in the design process, enabling testing and refinement before development begins.
Action Plan: The mentee will design a prototype for a personal project using a tool like Figma or Adobe XD. This should be an interactive prototype that simulates the final product's functionality. They will then conduct usability tests to gather feedback, using the insights to refine and iterate on their prototype.
Repeat this process for all identified skills gaps.
Next, sit down with your mentee and draw up a skill map. Once these gaps are highlighted, you can start planning how to bridge them.
Step 5: Drafting a Skill Development Plan
Guide your mentee in creating a detailed skill development plan. Which courses should they take? What workshops could help? How can personal projects provide practical learning? This plan should be action-oriented with specific timelines and measurable goals.
For instance, if they need to improve their visual design skills, they might enroll in a course like “Core Principles for Visual Design” on Skillshare or undertake a personal project that involves creating a visually engaging mobile app.
Step 6: Encouraging Hands-On Experience
Encourage your mentee to test their new skills in the real world. Suggest they redesign an existing product or take on small design projects.
For example, they could volunteer to redesign the user interface for a local nonprofit's website or at least undertake a design challenge on a platform like Dribbble or Behance.
Every hands-on experience, no matter how small, is a step forward in their design journey.
Step 7: Offering Feedback
As a mentor, your feedback is pivotal in your mentee's growth. Regularly review their work, providing constructive critique and praise in equal measure.
For example, after they redesign a product, discuss what works well and what could be improved. Perhaps their choice of colors enhances user engagement, but their font selection needs reconsideration.
Show them that feedback, be it positive or negative, is a pathway to improvement and excellence.
Step 8: Fostering Networking
Encourage your mentee to connect with the design community. Introduce them to your network, advise them to participate in industry events, and urge them to join online communities.
For example, they could join LinkedIn Groups like “UX Pros” or online communities like “Designer Hangout.” Networking is not just about finding job opportunities; it's also about gaining industry insights and finding mentorship.
Step 9: Crafting a Portfolio
Guide your mentee in creating a compelling portfolio that tells their unique design story while highlighting their PM background. Ensure their portfolio demonstrates their problem-solving skills, and creativity.
Step 10: Preparing for Job Search
When your mentee is ready for the job market, offer guidance on tailoring resumes, showcasing their portfolio, and preparing for interviews. Mock interviews can be an excellent practice tool. Remind them that every 'no' is one step closer to the right 'yes.'
Remember, as a mentor, your role is not only to provide guidance but also to instill confidence in your mentee throughout this transition. Celebrate their achievements, however small, and remind them that patience and persistence are crucial during this career metamorphosis.
Step 11: Supporting the Transition
Once your mentee has started applying for jobs, the real transition begins. They may face rejections or difficult interviews. It’s during these times that your role as a mentor becomes even more critical. Provide emotional support, remind them of their growth, and encourage them to see every challenge as a learning experience.
Step 12: Celebrating the First Job
When your mentee lands their first role as a Product Designer, it will be a validation of their hard work and your effective guidance. It’s a time for celebration! But your mentoring role doesn't stop here. The first few months in a new role can be overwhelming; continue to be a sounding board for their experiences and help them navigate this new landscape.
Step 13: Continual Learning and Growth
Even after securing a job, the journey isn't over. The field of Product Design is always evolving, with new tools and methodologies being introduced regularly. Encourage your mentee to continue learning, growing, and adapting to new trends.
The process of guiding a mentee from Product Management to Product Design can be rewarding for both parties involved. It’s an opportunity to grow together, learn from each other, and experience the joy of achieving a challenging goal. The roadmap outlined here is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but rather, a flexible guide that you can adapt to fit your mentee’s unique needs and aspirations.
So, for all the Toms out there, eager to navigate the exhilarating path of Product Design, rest assured you're not alone. This guide, accompanied by a supportive mentor, can serve as your compass to a fulfilling career in Product Design.
Welcome to the creative side of product development, where each day offers a new design challenge waiting to be solved!
—Marina
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