Have you reached an inflection point in your career? Not sure how to get to the next step – or even what the next step will be? In this hands-on session, you will get an overview of the hiring landscape and salary trends for UX professionals. You’ll hear about the most in-demand positions and skills that employers are willing to pay a premium for – and learn how you can target your own skill set to those opportunities. You’ll also participate in a few exercises to help actively identify new career directions, keep your digital skills relevant to employers, overcome job-hunting obstacles and, ultimately, forge a fulfilling professional path.

1. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Career Crossroads
Navigating Your Next Professional Move
Diane Domeyer, Executive Director
@dianedomeyer @creativegroup
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey
© 2016 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. All rights reserved.
The Creative Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans

2. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
1. Job seekers are in command
2. Digital reigns supreme
3. Perks have come into season
4. Companies are sharpening employee
skills
5. Full-time, contract-to-hire and
freelance hiring is heating up
Trends
Driving
Hiring
5
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

3. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.3
Salaries Are Heading North
• Starting salaries are getting bigger:
+3.8% overall
+4.2% for interactive jobs
• UX specialists: 5.9%
• UX directors: 4.4%
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

4. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
In-Demand
Areas of Expertise
• Coding
• Customer experience
• Social media
• Soft skills
4
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

5. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Most In-Demand Positions
• UX designer
• Visual designer
• UI designer
• Front-end web developer
• Creative technologist
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

6. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
• 91% of creative professionals are
worried about keeping their skills
marketable
• 62% feel their employers could do a
better job of supporting their
professional development
What Keeps Creatives Up at Night
Source: The Creative Group survey of more than 800 in-house AIGA members nationwide
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

7. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Top 5 Reasons for Leaving a Job
Executives were asked, “Which of the following is
most likely to cause good employees to quit their jobs?”
Source: Robert Half survey of 250 senior executives from the largest U.S. and Canadian firms
Inadequate salary
and benefits: 11%
Unhappiness with
management: 34%
Limited opportunities
for advancement: 33%
Lack of recognition: 15%
Bored with their job: 3%
Other/don’t know: 4%
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

8. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Ways to Improve
Your Job Prospects
• Pursue a promotion
• Find a new job in your
industry/niche
• Switch disciplines
• Strike out on your own
4
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

9. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Randy Kincaid
Founder
Reverbant
Chris Hass
Senior VP
Mad*Pow
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

10. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
PURSUE A PROMOTION
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

11. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

12. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Tips for a Productive Meeting
Make a strong case
Get feedback
on soft skills
Request technical
skills development
Ask for more
responsibility
4
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

13. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
FIND A NEW JOB IN YOUR
INDUSTRY/NICHE
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

14. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Tips for Landing the Job
1. Beef up your LinkedIn profile
– 68% of creative executives review job
candidates’ LinkedIn profiles
2. Tailor your application materials to the job
3. Demonstrate your value
4. Show off your technical savvy
5. Play up your soft skills
5
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

15. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
SWITCH DISCIPLINES
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

16. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
STRIKE OUT ON YOUR OWN
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

17. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Routes for Self-Employment
RUNNING A
FULL-FLEDGED
BUSINESS
WORKING WITH A
STAFFING AGENCY
FREELANCING
3
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

18. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

19. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

20. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited. 20
#5 Why do you want others to find you and your work interesting?
Because it will make me feel good about myself.
“I want to move from my in-house job to a more
creative agency job.”
#1: Why do you want to work at an agency?
It will allow me to be more creative.
#2: Why do you want to be more creative?
Because I feel stifled right now and need to do more interesting work.
#3: Why do you want to do more interesting work?
Because I think it will make me a more interesting person.
#4: Why do you want to be a more interesting person?
Because I want others to find me and my work interesting.
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

21. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

22. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

23. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited. 23
Being S.M.A.R.T.Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Time-bound
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

24. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited. 24
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

25. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
FACE ROADBLOCKS HEAD-ON
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

26. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited. 26
Detours
• Chosen out of interest
• Align with core values
• May be prompted by industry
trends/changes
Dead Ends
• Chosen out of fear
• Make you feel compromised
• Are often prompted by
discomfort or frustration
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

27. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited. 27
What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve your goal?
If you’re not willing to sacrifice anything, it’s probably
time to redefine your goal … and that’s OK!
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey

28. © 2015 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. All rights reserved. This
material is the confidential property of The Creative Group. Copying or reproducing this material is strictly prohibited.
Career Crossroads
Navigating Your Next Professional Move
Diane Domeyer, Executive Director
@dianedomeyer @creativegroup
© 2016 The Creative Group. A Robert Half Company. All rights reserved.
The Creative Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans
Session Survey: http://uxpa2016.org/sessionsurvey/85
Conference Survey: http://www.uxpa2016.org/survey