Happy Saturday, UX colleagues!
It’s Marina Krutchinsky. Welcome (or welcome back 😄) to my weekly newsletter, a resource for real-world UX strategies for career advancement.
Read time: 3 minutes
So you’ve conquered the design world, and now contemplating sharing your wisdom through UX mentorship.
But you are not sure where to start…
Here are a few common scenarios I’ve encountered with my mentees and a couple of suggestions on how to get started crafting tailored mentoring plans for each.
Scenario 1: Career Transition
Mentee: “I come from marketing. How do I shift to UX?”
Do this:
Explore their past experience for transferrable skills.
Link marketing strategies to UX principles in a discussion.
Share your UX journey, focusing on similarities and differences with marketing.
Ask them to tackle a UX problem using their marketing know-how.
Let them teach you for a change.
Skip this:
One-track Mind → Avoid sticking solely to UX jargon.
Lecture Mode → Skip the one-sided conversations, dialogue is key.
Scenario 2: Skill Development
Mentee: “I want to dive deeper into user research.”
Do this:
Assemble a mix of learning materials - articles, podcasts, videos.
Set up small tasks to practice new skills immediately.
Offer constructive feedback regularly.
Introduce a small project that encompasses various UX skills.
Celebrate small wins and learning milestones together.
Skip this:
Monotony → Don't rely on just one type of learning resource.
Overwhelm → Avoid dumping too much information at once.s.
Scenario 3: Design Process Optimization
Mentee: “I'm struggling with this user flow...”
Do this:
Take turns playing the role of the user navigating the flow.
Actively look for and discuss overlooked aspects together.
Promote giving and receiving feedback.
Switch up roles in the process for a fuller understanding.
Skip this:
Skipping Steps → Ensure they experience every phase of design.
Solo Show → Don't let them (or you) hog all the action.
Scenario 4: Project Guidance
Mentee: “This project has too many constraints!”
Do this:
Dive into a project with a hands-on approach.
Keep the brainstorming lively and judgment-free.
Share immediate, constructive feedback.
Allow them to lead on certain aspects.
Tackle challenges together, from ideation to execution.
Skip this:
Taking Over → Let them steer the project.
Idea Shutdown: → Every idea deserves exploration.
The goal is to equip the mentee with practical strategies that are essential not just for the current project but for their overall growth as a UX pro.
Scenario 5: Interview Preparation
Mentee: “What are they going to ask me in a job interview?”
Do this:
Help them create solid narrative for their case studies.
Offer specific, actionable feedback.
Simulate different types of interviews.
Suggest clear steps for improvement.
Skip this:
Sugarcoating → Be honest, even if it’s tough.
Vague Feedback→ Specifics are way more helpful than generalities.
Turn their work into a product and make them sell it to you in an interview setting.
Scenario 6: Soft Skills Development
Mentee: “I find stakeholder management tough.”
Do this:
Role-play challenging scenarios to help them think on their feet.
Practice navigating tricky emotional waters.
Have casual debriefs to reflect on interactions.
Encourage them to give and receive feedback in role-plays.
Try seeing situations from different angles.
Skip this:
Ignoring Emotions → Soft skills are all about people.
Lecture-Heavy → More practicing, less talking.
Scenario 7: Career Growth and Advancement
Mentee: “Where can I go from here?”
Do this:
Collaboratively sketch out their dream career path.
Break the journey into smaller, achievable goals.
Create a visual representation of their career aspirations.
Discuss what’s feasible short and long term.
Give specific suggestions for each career step.
Skip this:
One-Size-Fits-All → Customize the path to their unique skills & interests.
All Talk, No Action → Make plans visual and actionable.
Being a mentor isn't just about dumping what you know on someone else.
It's really about getting where your mentee is coming from, what they're aiming for, and what's tripping them up.
You're there to help them dodge the big mistakes and figure out this whole UX puzzle together, like a team of two.
Mold the future UX leaders in ways they (and you) never imagined!
—Marina
P.S. Thanks for being here! See you next Saturday !
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