The "Brag Sheet" strategy, or how a simple document can fast-track your UX career
(a step-by-step guide included)
👋 Happy Saturday, fellow UXers!
Earlier this week on LinkedIn, I discussed strategies for negotiating promotions…
… and promised a more in-depth exploration of Brag Sheets—how they can accelerate your UX career, how to create one, and how to use them effectively.
So this is exactly what we are going to talk about today…
But first, let me start by sharing a story about one of my students, Emma, who found herself stuck in a “mid-senior” level UX role for 4 years.
Emma was dedicated and hardworking, consistently putting in extra hours and hoping her efforts would naturally lead to recognition and a promotion.
As year four drew to a close at her company, her initial optimism began to wane, replaced by a growing sense of doubt about her future at the firm.
She wondered if her dream of advancing her career would ever become a reality at this company. She liked her team and manager (most days, at least :) and didn’t want to look for a new job just yet..and that's when she decided to reach out for guidance.
Emma came to me feeling frustrated and, let’s be honest, overlooked.
She worried that her quiet diligence wasn't enough to get her noticed.
She had always believed that good work should speak for itself, but the reality of the corporate world often proved otherwise.
Together, we reviewed her career activities, her contributions to the team and to the company, and the feedback she had received.
Quickly, it became obvious that while Emma was clearly a valuable asset to her team, she lacked a structured way to show her achievements and articulate her unique value to the decision makers.
This realization led us to develop her "brag sheet", a comprehensive, living document detailing each and every one of her professional accomplishments, project outcomes, skills developed, as well as the positive feedback she had received from stakeholders and peers.
We divided her brag sheet into 4 sections, each tailored to reflect different aspects of her professional growth:
Project outcomes
Here, Emma listed every project she had contributed to, specifying her role, the objectives, the tools and methodologies employed, and most importantly, the outcomes (a.k.a their impact on the business).
Skills development
This section was dedicated to the new skills Emma had acquired over the last 4 years, her increased mastery of tools, and methodologies she had implemented. Each skill was linked to specific projects to illustrate her hands-on experience and proficiency growth.
Professional recognition
Emma had received many informal commendations, but had never thought to record them. We documented these recognitions, coming from both internal and industry peers, to highlight her reputation inside and outside of her current company.
Feedback and testimonials:
Positive feedback from her leaders, peers, and clients were compiled. This boosted Emma’s own morale AND also served as tangible proof of her collaborative spirit and UX advocacy efforts.
With her brag sheet in hand, Emma felt empowered.
She used it to prepare for her next mid-year performance review and to update her LinkedIn profile and resume.
The detailed documentation of her achievements and the visualization of her career trajectory gave her a new level confidence to advocate for herself.
At the review, Emma presented her brag sheet as a clear, concise testament to her contributions and her impact on the company.
For the first time, her manager saw the full scope of her work and its significance laid out comprehensively.
Her brag sheet not just facilitated a meaningful discussion about her career path but also highlighted her readiness for a more advanced role!
By the end of the year, Emma's efforts were finally recognized: she was promoted to a lead role with a nice raise.
Emma's story is a good example of how a well-constructed brag sheet can transform a career ;)
Yours, too!
Bottom line:
Getting ahead in your career is not just about your skills and dedication but also about your ability to effectively communicate your professional value!
Why UXers Need a Brag Sheet
We all know that UX is a very dynamic field.
And we all know that requires a blend of creativity, technical skills, and user-focused analysis.
A brag sheet is a perfect way to help us showcase our unique blend of skills and their contributions to various projects.
It's particularly useful for:
Performance reviews: It provides concrete examples of your contributions, backed by data.
Job applications: It offers rich details that can enhance your applications.
Mentorship and networking: It gives you a ready reference of talking points about your experience and skills.
Let’s see how you can start with creatingc your own 👇
📈 6-Step Guide to Creating a Brag Sheet
👉 Step 1: Set Up Your Document
Start by choosing your format.
Most people choose to use a simple Word document or a Google Doc for easy updating and sharing.
Your brag sheet should have a clear structure, with separate sections for different types of accomplishments.
In my experience, the following 4 categories work really well:
Project Outcomes
Skills Developed
Awards and Recognitions
Feedback and Testimonials
👉 Step 2: Documenting Projects
For UXers, the Projects section is vital.
Begin by listing each project you've worked on.
For each project, include:
Project Name and Date
Your Role
Objectives of the Project
Tools and Technologies Used
Outcome/Impact
(optional)Visuals or Links (if available and/or appropriate)
Example:
Project: Redesign of XYZ App (Jan - June 2023)
Role: Lead UX Designer
Objectives: Improve user engagement by simplifying user journey
Tools: Figma, Figjam, Analytics
Outcome: Increased user engagement by ~40% as measured by time spent on the app and user feedback
Visuals/Links: [Link to the case study or Figma file]
👉 Step 3: Highlight Skills and Growth
In this section, note the skills you have developed, particularly those unique to UX such as accessibility, user research methods, usability testing, or visual design.
Be specific about how you applied these skills in projects.
Example:
Skill: Qual User Research
Application: Conducted over 30 user interviews to gather insights for the XYZ App redesign, leading to a user-centered solution that boosted engagement.
👉 Step 4: Include Awards and Recognitions
If you have received any awards or recognitions, either internally from your employer or from industry organizations, list them here.
Include a brief description and the date received.
Example:
Award: Best User Experience Design, ABC Tech Conference, 2024
Details: Awarded for outstanding design and user experience improvements in XYZ App.
👉 Step 5: Gather Feedback and Testimonials
Feedback, whether from peers, leaders, or clients, can be incredibly persuasive.
Include quotes and testimonials that highlight your strengths and contributions.
(Make sure to get permission to use this feedback in your brag sheet!)
Example:
Feedback from Project Manager at ABC Corporation: "The redesign led by [Your Name] not only met the brief but exceeded our expectations by solving [X, Y, Z] usability issues we hadn't identified and saved us a lot of rework in the future!"
👉 Step 6: Regular Updates
Last but not least, your brag sheet should be a living document.
Just set a reminder to update it regularly. Be it after the completion of a project, at the end of a quarter, and after a performance review.
This will ensure that your brag sheet is always current, ready to be shared and reflects your most recent accomplishments.
Now, let’s learn to how to use your Brag Sheet effectively 👇
Once your brag sheet is set up, use it strategically:
Tailor it for specific opportunities: While the brag sheet itself is comprehensive, you can select the most relevant pieces for specific job applications or discussions.
Prepare for interviews and reviews: Use your brag sheet to prepare for discussions about your career progression. It can help you articulate your achievements and career goals clearly.
Share with mentors and peers: Get feedback on your brag sheet from trusted mentors or colleagues. They can offer insights on how to improve it and may suggest additional accomplishments to include.
All in all, a well-maintained brag sheet can make a significant difference in your career growth. And by taking the time to record and reflect on your achievements, you prepare yourself for future opportunities and gain a clearer understanding of your professional aspirations and areas of strengths!
Hope all of this helps, and thanks for being here! See you next Saturday 😄
—Marina
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