User Experience for a Better World
Usability Certification and the job market
Hello, I am a web designer, graphic designer with many years of experience. I have experience in usability in developing interactive applications but no formal training. I am looking to take the crash course in Denver, but would like to get some feedback regarding the job market for this skill set and certification.
Thank you for your time.
Julie
Thank you for your time.
Julie
Views: 222
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Roma on -
I am also in the same situation and m interested in some certification to add value to my resume. I live in San Jose, CA -- Bay area. HFI offers certication courses and exams that can cost upto $6k. One can give an exam directly and would cost $750. I was wondering if there is any course material available outside so I could give the exam without taking the course. Besides they do not even have an courses in San Jose. However, I think they have some coming up in denver, colorada..Check out http://www.humanfactors.com/training/certification.asp
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Permalink Reply by Diane Chojnowski on -
Hi Julie,
I thought you might be interested in this article in U.S. News & World Report magazine listing Usability Experience Specialist (again!) as one of the 30 Best Careers for 2009 [May, 2009, issue]
Read article
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Permalink Reply by Julie A Ehlert on -
Diane,
Thank you for this article. I did see this for last year as well. I am seriously considering the crash course here in Denver. I guess I am wondering if in light of this article and the slow economy, are companies actually looking for this skill set? As valuable as this skill is, I would be concerned that this may be one of the things companies would cut out of their budget. I am hopeful that this skill, combined with my art direction background might slightly set me apart from others.
Thanks for your time.
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Permalink Reply by Julie A Ehlert on
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Hi Roma,
Thank you for your response. I am considering taking the courses here in Denver. Good luck to you.
Julie
Roma said:I am also in the same situation and m interested in some certification to add value to my resume. I live in San Jose, CA -- Bay area. HFI offers certication courses and exams that can cost upto $6k. One can give an exam directly and would cost $750. I was wondering if there is any course material available outside so I could give the exam without taking the course. Besides they do not even have an courses in San Jose. However, I think they have some coming up in denver, colorada..Check out http://www.humanfactors.com/training/certification.asp
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Permalink Reply by Girish Dhulekar on -
Hi Julie, I had been getting job mails for graphic designers, usability engineers and UX designer and most of the jobs are in CA - this is in the recession time so I am sure you should be able to find one easily.
PS: $750? this is roughly half the fees for the 4module-course in India.
Roma said:I am also in the same situation and m interested in some certification to add value to my resume. I live in San Jose, CA -- Bay area. HFI offers certication courses and exams that can cost upto $6k. One can give an exam directly and would cost $750. I was wondering if there is any course material available outside so I could give the exam without taking the course. Besides they do not even have an courses in San Jose. However, I think they have some coming up in denver, colorada..Check out http://www.humanfactors.com/training/certification.asp
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Permalink Reply by Sanjeev Sharma on -
Usability is somewhat above all technologies. Its all about human interaction in real time for a end user. This subject is reaserch based on different behaviours of user for particular application. its not just to design and very fanatastic layout or graphics but to understand the color theory and the impact of content. I have done CUA course in india and its help me refining my capabilites in different areas where i cannot think about the problems of user. earlier i'm making design for my shake and preferences. Its a good study if you do this course and it definetly helps you in finding more challenging job in the market.
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Permalink Reply by Sanjeev Sharma on
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Hi julie,
Its good if you have some formal training of four module course from HFI. Its gives more insight into this field and you know the answer why usabilty is so important to design anything. If you really want to be certified as UCA then i can help you on some major questions which can help you in giving the exam. otherwise you can test yourself in example question of yourself in HFI site in certification section. I think if you practice on what other can doing is the wrong way to grab the knowledge and i wrote in previous reply its research based so as much you can practice its benefeciery for you in long term. lets start attempting sample question in HFI site. you are able to pass the exam.
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Permalink Reply by joe on
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Usability jobs seem to be hot on the West Coast and eastern U.S. Here in the Midwest there are only a few companies I've seen that offer such positions. I think it would give you an edge - more likely if you are under 30. As usual, older workers don';t get the same chances
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Permalink Reply by NBWAL on -
Hello Julie,
ANy Luck So far???? Are you able to locate the job of you caliber and choice too??? the best thing you can do is go through the DESIGNING FOR PET (Persuasion, EMotion & Trust) 3 day international course and that should help you a lot beyond your imagination...
Of course, look at your financial budget too...
Best Luck, Do keep in touch and convey the status.
Nilesh
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Permalink Reply by Regis L. Magyar, Ph.D. on -
Julie,
Certification in Usability is greatly over-rated today. I have been in the business for many years and was one of the first people who was first officially Board "Certified" when this trend came along in the early 90's. Nowadays it is primarily a way for some people to generate an income by collecting dues from others, and for bestowing a "Title" upon newbies who are trying to buff up their resumes and feel "validated". The field of Usability today has greatly changed from it's original beginnings as "Engineering Psychology" or "Human Factors" which encompasses everything that that is now included in areas called "User Experience Design". The initial "certification" that unofficially existed in this field was a post-graduate degree in Experimental Psychology which encompassed everything that is now relevant in today's conception of this field; namely, the Behavioral (What people do), Cognitive (What people think) and Emotional (What people feel) aspects of using technology. Regardless of one's accomplishments or knowledge in the Udability field, you are only "certified" today if you cough up the bucks to the people who are "selling" you certification, which is sad. I suggest you start training youself in the field by first reading Don Norman's classic book "The Psychology of Everyday Things" and the excellent books on web design by Jacob Nielson. Your excellence & effectiveness in web design for your clients will be worth more that any Certification that you can purchse. Good luck, and rely on knowledge not marketing or hype.
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Permalink Reply by Eric Schaffer on -
Actually, I sort of disagree. Engineering psychology was never just experimental psychology. I remember how Bell Labs hired a bunch of experimental psychologists and then asked them how to design screens for trunk management software. It did not work really well. Engineering psychology has always been a very specific field, with a specific set of skills, models, and principles. Experimental psychology could be a foundational program. But don't ask experimental psychologists to design stuff.
When I was writing 'Institutionalization of Usability' I realized we needed a certification in software usability. Why? Because managers had to hire usability people and they did not have the skills to screen out job applicants who did not have a clue about the field. If you are applying to ME (or to Dr. Regis) you don't need a certification. Because WE can tell in 20 minutes if you know your stuff. But there are not that many of us to go around.
We know for an absolute fact that certification has worked out exactly as predicted. It is used by managers to screen potential hires. And, as Regis suggests, it is also a confidence builder and credential (which can help in an argument most certainly). Dr. Regis is a Certified Human Factors Professional (and I chose the Certified Professional Ergonomist title instead). Neither of us really needs it, I think. But for someone with fewer decades in this field, it probably helps. The world needs more certified usability folks, I'm pretty sure.
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