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Jeanmarie, Senior UX Designer at Property Management Software Company : Advize Career Interview
A senior UX designer at a property management software company shares insights into a dynamic and rewarding career.
The interview reveals a path shaped by extensive undergraduate extracurricular involvement, highlighting the value of self-discovery and networking.
A typical day involves balancing strategic planning and hands-on design work, collaborating with diverse teams and advocating for customer needs. Adaptability, strong communication, and a curious mindset are key skills.
The fast-paced nature of the tech industry, the ability to see designs come to life, and the constant challenge of balancing customer needs with business goals are highlighted as major sources of enjoyment and challenge.
Advice for aspiring designers includes pursuing adjacent design-related roles, building a portfolio through diverse projects, and embracing a willingness to learn and adapt in a constantly evolving field.
The interview concludes with the powerful message that a non-linear career path is achievable through self-belief and incremental progress.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Jeanmarie Levy
Senior UX Designer
Property Management Software Company
UC Santa Barbara
University of Southern California, Masters of Education in Higher Adminstration
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Political Science, American Studies
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
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Career Path of a Senior UX Designer at a Property Management Software Company
Jeanmarie's successful career stemmed from extensive undergraduate involvement in extracurricular activities like being a resident assistant and participating in associated student groups, building strong networks and providing interview stories beyond academic achievements. This exploration, coupled with self-reflection on academic interests—a shift from pre-med to political science—demonstrates the importance of "being really honest with yourself about what your interests are" and trying different things to find the right fit.
Main Responsibilities Of A Senior UX Designer At Property Management Software Company
Jeanmarie's main responsibility as a Senior UX Designer is leading a product development team, encompassing "strategy and research of what features we're gonna build next," including user interviews and the design of those features before handing them off to engineers. This highlights a leadership role encompassing both the strategic and the hands-on aspects of UX design within a product development lifecycle.
A Day in the Life of a Senior UX Designer at a Property Management Software Company
A senior UX designer's day varies greatly, oscillating between "discovery phases" involving customer interaction to define new features and the detailed "nitty gritty" of development collaboration with engineers. The role is highly collaborative, with approximately 60% of the time dedicated to design tools and the remainder focused on communication and problem-solving with colleagues and clients.
Key Skills For A Senior UX Designer At Property Management Software Company
Jeanmarie, a Senior UX Designer, emphasizes the importance of "adaptability and flexibility" in her role, highlighting the dynamic nature of her work where priorities can shift rapidly. Strong communication and collaboration skills are equally crucial for effectively interacting with various stakeholders, from "folks in the c-suite" to engineers and customers.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Senior UX Designer At A Property Management Software Company
Jeanmarie, a Senior UX Designer, thrives on the "fast-paced nature of working in tech," enjoying the daily variety and autonomy that comes with it. A key aspect is "advocating for the customer," a deeply fulfilling part of the role that aligns with their previous experience improving financial aid accessibility for high school students.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Senior UX Designer At Property Management Software
Jeanmarie's biggest challenge as a Senior UX Designer is balancing "what is best for the customer and what is best for the business," requiring constant negotiation between ideal user experience and quick business deliverables. This "tightrope walk" between customer impact and business needs, however, is also what makes the role engaging and necessitates "a lot of critical thinking and context switching."
Favorite Parts of Working in the Tech Industry as a Senior User Experience Designer
Jeanmarie, a Senior UX Designer, appreciates the "innovative and ever-changing" nature of the tech industry, contrasting it with the bureaucracy of her previous higher education role. The flexibility, remote work options, and collaborative, fun-loving environment, including daily crossword puzzles during team standups, are key aspects of her enjoyment.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Software Industry, According To A Senior UX Designer At Property Management Software Company
To thrive as a UX designer, a constant willingness to learn and adapt is crucial, as the field and its tools, like Figma, are ever-evolving; this requires a curious mindset, openness to feedback—"asking people, what's wrong with this?"—and strong communication skills to articulate design choices to various stakeholders.
What a Senior UX Designer at Property Software Company wishes they had known before entering the UX design industry
Jeanmarie, a Senior UX Designer, discovered the profound impact of "seeing an actual feature...go out into the world and be used by people," a rewarding aspect not fully appreciated before entering the industry. However, the realization that "you can't be so closely tied to your work" because of factors beyond individual control, and learning to detach from projects that don't launch, were crucial lessons learned along the way.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring User Experience Designers
Entry-level UX design roles are often titled "Associate UX Designer," but Jeanmarie suggests that "finding anything adjacently related to design" is beneficial, such as marketing or graphic design roles. A university setting offers many opportunities to develop relevant skills by solving problems for student clubs or organizations, building a portfolio even without formal UX design internships, since the field is still emerging.
Significant Career Lesson From a Senior UX Designer at a Property Management Software Company
A significant career lesson learned is the importance of "betting on yourself," recognizing that career paths are rarely linear and that "everything will be figureoutable." This involved overcoming the fear of shifting interests and making incremental steps towards a new career goal, demonstrating confidence in one's skills to navigate a non-traditional path.
How Identity Has Influenced A Senior UX Designer's Career Working In Property Management Software
Jeanmarie's successful career path stemmed from significant undergraduate involvement in extracurricular activities like being a resident advisor and participating in associated student organizations, building crucial relationships and providing diverse interview stories. This experience, coupled with self-reflection on academic interests—shifting from pre-med to political science—demonstrates the importance of exploration and honesty in identifying one's passions, allowing Jeanmarie to confidently state that "getting involved in the university space is so important."
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