From Market Research to UX: How Kellyn Got Hired as a Lead UX Researcher with a 40% Salary Increase

In this episode of the Career Strategy Podcast, Sarah Doody talks with Kellyn Dunn, a Career Strategy Lab alum who successfully pivoted from market research to UX. She got hired for a Lead UX Researcher role, landed a 40% salary increase, and a position that finally reflects her skills and experience.

Before joining Career Strategy Lab, Kellyn had spent more than a decade in research but wasn’t getting traction in her job search. Despite being qualified for UX roles, she was applying to dozens of jobs with no interviews, no responses, and no clear direction. Like many experienced professionals trying to make a pivot, she was burned out, overwhelmed, and starting to question her move into UX.

Once she joined Career Strategy Lab’s UX career coaching program, everything shifted. Through the Compass Statement and Career Roadmap, Kellyn gained clarity on what she wanted, and used that focus to overhaul her positioning across her resume, LinkedIn, and portfolio. Within weeks, she started receiving higher-quality opportunities and ultimately got hired through a cold application.

Sarah and Kellyn talk about what made her job search finally click, how she rebuilt her confidence, and why clarity, not credentials, was the key to getting hired. Kellyn also shares how she used AI tools to reflect on her strengths, how the CSL community helped her stay motivated, and why a cold application worked when her story finally made sense.

If you’ve been stuck in your UX job search, wondering if anyone will ever take your background seriously, this conversation is proof that a strategic pivot is possible, without starting over.