How a 30-Year UX veteran is navigating a UX layoff without burnout

Chris Griffith: [00:00:00] having people to occasionally commiserate with and hopefully occasionally, you know, shout out their wins was the bo it’s like, okay, I’m in a safe space to move through and develop these things, these artifacts as I continue on in my journey.

Intro: Hey, I’m Sarah Doody, a user researcher and product designer with 20 years of experience. In 2017, I noticed something a little ironic. UX and product people, despite being great at designing experiences for other people, often struggle to design their own careers. That’s why I created Career Strategy Lab and this podcast to help you navigate your UX job search, grow in your current role, and avoid skill and salary plateaus all in a chill and BS free way.

So whether you’re. Stuck in your job search or wondering what’s next in your UX career. You are in the right place.

Chris Intro

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Sarah Doody: Chris is in the middle of his journey plowing through, well already plowed through a lot of stuff.[00:01:00]

Resume LinkedIn compass Statement. Part of portfolio.

Sarah Q1

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Sarah Doody: So I think the first thing that we should do is tell us a little bit about what you’re doing right now and a little bit about what you do within user experience.

Like are you more research, are you more design systems, content? And then let’s add a new question that we thought of this morning. Why did you decide to get into user experience and maybe why have you stayed in user experience? So Chris, I’m gonna turn it over to you to kick us off.

Chris A1

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Chris Griffith: Thank you so much, Sarah.

I am a user experience designer. Been in the field for about 30 years. How I got there was one of those ASEs happen journeys of. I, I’m of a certain age where I remember CD ROMs and the birth of multimedia and was really drawn into interfaces and those experiences, which led to one thing, to another, to another.

I, my last position, I was the sole UX designer, [00:02:00] UI designer for a wide swath of products and home automation, health and wellness. So I literally was doing, building a design system for me to keep my sanity as well as help the developers ui some light user research just because there was always so many hours in the day I was willing to give to the company and really just kind of fell in love with the whole thing.

I enjoy creating fun and useful experiences. So, and I’ve been in Career Strategy Lab. This is actually my last month and like Sarah said, I’m pretty much at the, the finish line with. Sort of the base deliverables that I can use and go forth with.

Sarah Doody: Thanks. We are going to get into some of what those base deliverables are because when I was kind of reviewing your journey, Chris, through career strategy lab, what struck me was how like diligent you were at doing everything quite quickly and [00:03:00] not getting stuck. Like I remember looking and realizing you had written the draft of your compass statement, I think within seven or 10 days of joining, which is exactly what we want, so people don’t get stuck working on it for three months or something.

So we’ll get to that and maybe what helped prevent you from getting stuck or procrastinating.

Sarah Q2

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Sarah Doody: I wanna shift a little bit more to the topics of kinda like confidence mindset, because I know if you put yourselves in the shoes before you joined Career Strategy Lab, to think about what you were doing, how your approach to your job search was, or if you had even started your job search.

And just give us a sense of what was life like before you joined Career Strategy Lab and, maybe, you know what that shift was like once you got into career strategy lab and started, you know, doing the work and working on your compass and your [00:04:00] resume and all of the things.

Chris A2

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Sarah Doody: So Chris, we’re gonna go back to you.

Chris Griffith: For me, I mean, we had a heads up in December that hey, sales numbers weren’t hitting what they were gonna hit. So it’s like there was going to be a head count readjustment of some kind. So I got to spend the end of the year going, Hmm, what’s next? I’ve been at the company for nine years and like I said, I was the only UX person.

So it’s like, well, on one hand if they don’t value ux, I’m out the door, another hand. If they do value ux, maybe I’m okay. I went out the door and what I was looking for, I was aware of Sarah’s work and I attended some things like this, so it wasn’t, you know, just a blind Google search for me. But. I hadn’t really been looking in the market for nine years and the market has evolved and changed that job search world with all the automated systems.

And this is like, okay, how do I approach this, you know, new world I have now landed in and then craft and build my story. You know, I was okay, you know, [00:05:00] initially going through from where I was like, Hey, I had this body of work. I’ve worked on some great projects, we’ve won awards, et cetera, et cetera. But how do I turn this into something that I can tell and use in my job search?

And for me, one of the things that sort of drew me in was I was going to be working with the CSL team. They spoke a lot of the same language. So, you know, I, none of my friends, my good friends are UX people. So I start talking about the need for a portfolio and this and that, and throw all these buzzwords and their eyes just start to glaze over.

So it’s like, who can take this raw material and keeps shining it up until it becomes hopefully a nice diamond and I wind up somewhere. So that was sort of the, the start of my journey. And to your question about me keeping on track, I have twins. They’re almost 25, but for us, schedule and management was life.

Otherwise we would’ve gone a, a little batty. So [00:06:00] that’s why I’m a little diligent with my timelines and, and management stuff, so.

Sarah Doody: now that you kind of mentioned that topic of, of diligence and, and timelines and things, I think one thing that you also did very well was. Taking time out of career strategy lab because I remember one call at the end of the call you said, yeah, I’m gonna go on my hike now.

And it just I’m imagining you were able to be so productive in CSL because you took time outta CSL and as a result, like you kind of didn’t burn out, you know what I mean?

Chris Griffith: Well actually I’m going backpacking tomorrow. I spend a lot of time out outside hiking and I really let that sort of be my natural sort of reset.

I will, you know, just let my mind just sort of work through the things. I mean, back when I was employed, I would just let those hard problems just whi in the back of my head as I’m marching down a trail and the same thing. I’m still applying that. And also it’s nice to step [00:07:00] away from, from the screens and just sort of, you know.

Think and focus on, Hey, what am I working on? What do I need to improve in my storytelling and my deliverables? And, also accept there’s only so much you can do. You can’t be like, well, Gerald Spool said, you know, go into a closet and whisper. I’m a UX designer three times. And, you know, offers appear. It is a different world now.

Yeah. So approaching this in a more of a measured, almost marathon like fashion and just accept it and just continue moving on and, you know, let the sounds of nature offer a little healing.

Sarah Doody: I

love it. And for anyone that wants to Google something after we’re finished here, Google forest bathing because it’s this whole concept in the Japanese culture and it’s very much aligned with what Chris is talking about.

Just the, the idea that nature can be so healing and clearing for your mind and stuff.

Sarah Q3

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Sarah Doody: Alright. We may get back to the compass statement here. The, the next question I’m curious about is, you know, thinking back [00:08:00] to everything you did in career strategy lab, because, you know, if, if you’re new to hearing about career strategy lab, really we’ve sprint applied everything related to the job search, so you’re all familiar with, with sprints.

And so we have, you know, a resume sprint and a LinkedIn sprint and a Compass statement, sprint portfolio obviously. And I’m curious, maybe you cannot identify only one, but was there a certain sprint that really stood out to you in your experience?

Chris A3

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Chris Griffith: pushing the portfolio. I mean, as a UX person, we all knew that’s sort of like our Everest problem. Pushing that aside the, the LinkedIn because you know, I sort of took it upon myself like, you know, until they find me and had that sort of discovery, LinkedIn or vice versa, you know, the portfolio isn’t necessarily needed and you really just think about it.

You gotta hit that [00:09:00] first step along the journey. So, you know, working through and saying, okay, how do I take this nine years from this company and the nine years from that company and distill it into something that a hiring manager can look at it, a recruiter can look at it and going. Oh, this is what Chris has done and I can extrapolate into my needs and maybe the two things mesh together, you know, because can run down your subject matter expertise, acronyms, and you know, fine, there are five people on the planet who will understand your little world.

But wait, I’m trying to get into a broader world. So it’s taking that and, and stepping it in some ways sanitizing it, sort of generic it into a fashion. Like, oh, okay, I get it. You’re not an expert in home automation. I’m not gonna pepper you with all this and let’s work and build that [00:10:00] through and also go back and, and, and tend the garden that you’ve neglected.

well. It’s like I didn’t necessarily, I mean it was accurate, but it wasn’t given the same love and attention as an active job searcher. It was good enough if something stumbled along the way. I wasn’t completely like, oh, I have nothing. But at the same time, now I’m in a different place.

This needs to, you know, the weeds need to get plucked, the things need to get watered. You know, the trails need to get tended and that’s, you know, where I’m like, okay, this in place. I have a cornerstone and I can do what I can do, and I’ve done what I could do. And we move on.

Sarah Doody: I took a note. I’m just going to read it. Tend the garden you’ve neglected. I love that quote. I think it’s such a great, great analogy, right? Like, sure, maybe we have a resume or a portfolio. It’s kind of like half baked, but when push comes to shove and you need it.

[00:11:00] We often realize, oh man, I, now I have to rush. Right? And so I think that’s a great reminder for everyone to tend that garden. I love it.

Sarah Q4

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Sarah Doody: Okay. One last question ’cause I, I love this question. I think the last one should be, I. What is one tip you would give someone who decides that they’re going to do career strategy lab?

Like, is there, is there one, one thing. It could be super actionable, it could be some like mindset thing, whatever you want.

Chris A4

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Chris Griffith: yeah. Just an easy one there. Lot of ways, I think just trusting the process. I mean, you know, it’s like, oh my gosh, look at these sprints and all these things.

And, and as I started working through and unpacking everything, it’s like, oh, you know what? This is the support of the network. And also, the coaches and the staff and the other CSL members sort of giving you that sort of safe space to. Work through and hone and craft all this.

And for a lot of us, you know, we’re [00:12:00] unemployed, we’re not necessarily in happy places. So having people to occasionally commiserate with and hopefully occasionally, you know, shout out their wins was the bo it’s like, okay, I’m in a safe space to move through and develop these things, these artifacts as I continue on in my journey.

Sarah Conclusion

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Sarah Doody: All right, so that is all the time we have time for, but this is my moment for all of us to thank Chris for your time, for sharing so openly about everything.

bye everyone. Have a great rest of your day. Thank you. See

Outro: Thanks so much for listening to the Career Strategy Podcast. Now make sure to follow so you don’t miss an episode, and you can check out all of our episodes@careerstrategylab.com slash podcasts now to learn more about how to apply UX and product strategy to advancing your career. Whether that means leveling up in your current role, getting a new role, getting freelance work, or just being ready for the [00:13:00] unexpected, then I invite you to watch my free UX job search workshop@careerstrategylab.com slash hired.

And please feel free to send me a DM on LinkedIn. I would love to hear from you.

Post Roll: Hey there. Before I go, I wanna speak to you specifically if you’ve applied to 50, 100, 200 or more jobs and you haven’t secured an offer or interviews yet. First of all, I want you to know it’s not your fault. It is challenging out there and learning how to navigate the job, search, interviews, negotiation, et cetera.

It is not something that we are taught. Your boss is too busy to help you. Your friends just give you vague advice. Your family doesn’t really know how hiring in UX works. This is why I created my career strategy lab, UX job search accelerator. If you are tired of your [00:14:00] DIY approach. Not leading to the results you want, then I challenge you to consider.

Maybe it is time for a pivot, just like products pivot. Maybe your job search needs a pivot too. So head over to career strategy lab.com/apply to learn more or have a call with someone on my team or myself so we can answer all of your questions. Hope to talk to you soon.