Advice for future UXRAs
How to maximize your time during the Lyft UX Research Associateship Program — and how to apply for our next cohort
2021 saw lots of evolution for Lyft’s UX Research team, but perhaps the most interesting was welcoming our first two UX Research Associates.
Historically, our team has grown in ways similar to other tech companies: early on, one mighty researcher was hired to establish the research practice and build the team. Several years later, we now count ourselves nearly 40 strong. As we looked around and took stock of our team, we were proud of the strength and diversity of our work, skills, knowledge, and experience. But we also saw that there was an opportunity to diversify our channels for finding early talent and thus lay the groundwork that will allow us to reflect ever-widening perspectives within our research team.
With that in mind, a small tiger team built the program that ultimately welcomed Jade and Xernan this past fall as research associates, at which point they became active builders of their own experience. The UXRA program is an immersive entry into UX research via hands-on training. We learned a lot from Xernan and Jade, which will help us build an even better (and more expansive– we’re adding Design, Design Ops, and Content Design associates in 2022) program this year.
But you don’t want to hear more from me. Our associates led the way on creating this blog post so they could introduce themselves and share some tips for future associates on how to make the most of this opportunity.
– Kat Murray, Head of Research (and Lead Tiger for the team that started Lyft’s UXRA program)
Meet the UX Research Associates
- Hi! My name is Jade Searchwell and I am on the Pay, Identity, and Integrity team. I conducted two studies: a remote unmoderated concept & message test to understand user pain points for an Identity feature, and a remote moderated usability test to inform the design of Rides for Others on the Lyft app.
- Hello, my name is Xernan Peralta and I’m on the Rentals team. I’ve conducted two studies so far. One of the studies was a remote moderated usability test to help inform the design of renting a car with a specific rental company. The other study was a foundational study to understand the behaviors of someone renting a car.
Tips from Associates
What is the UX Research Associate Program? It’s a program for people interested in UX Research, with no past experience, to get into the field and do some work! It’s an amazing experience but there’s a lot to do. You will, by no means, be a pro at what you’re doing, and that’s okay–that’s exactly what the program is here to help with.
1. Be a sponge.
Be present and ready to absorb all the information around you. Seek out a variety of ways to learn new things, like shadowing, notetaking, or attending design crits. Crits are a great way to see how other roles, such as product design and content design, think and how they communicate with cross-functional partners. Crits are also a great opportunity to help address any concerns in your work.
During this time, be open to learning new things — even if it feels really hard. There will be time to set up goals for yourself during the program to establish what you want to learn and achieve.
2. Shadowing is key.
The UXRA program is expansive, and there are a lot of paths you can follow. A great way to refine your craft is to shadow as much as you can before you ramp up into your first project (and even after). There are many different types of research and methods, and each researcher has their own approach to them. Eventually, you will be making study plans, interviewing participants, synthesizing research data, and doing readouts for your team. Shadowing will give you knowledge and insights, will make your work stronger, and will help you to develop your own style as a researcher.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
No one knows the answer to everything, especially coming into a new role. And, hey, being a researcher is more about questions than answers anyway, right? You have several people around you — managers, mentors, and cross-functional buddies — who you can ask questions. Know that no question is “dumb” and it’s better to ask early and often anytime you’re confused or need clarity. Also, the Lyftionary (a guide to terms, acronyms, etc at Lyft) is your new best friend. 👌🏾
4. Make yourself a priority.
When you begin this program, chances are you will feel overwhelmed. There is a lot to take in, but it does get easier! When feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious, remember to lean on your team. Whether it’s your manager, mentor, or cross functional buddy, they are here to help and support you. They want to see you succeed and most importantly, ensure that you are taking care of yourself. So, ping your team that you’re taking a walk to clear your mind or that you need a break or that you need someone to talk to. Whatever it is, remember that your team is here for you and you can feel comfortable communicating your needs. Also, while at Lyft you have access to mental health services like Modern Health. Just as much as this is a program to learn how to work as a UXR, it’s a program to learn how you like to work and what you need to be successful doing it.
5. Build your Community!
This is the key to maximizing your time at Lyft. Chances are, your team is huge and every meeting you attend you say to yourself, “I haven’t met that person yet, I didn’t know they were on my team.” Good news! 1:1s are awesome. Scheduling 1:1s with your core teammates and cross functional partners is a great way to get to know everyone on a personal and professional level. This is also a great opportunity to ask other researchers what their research process looks like and how they tackle problems. Other than 1:1s, Lyft has several community slack channels that you can join. Want to learn more about the Black community and how you can be an ally? Lyft has a slack channel for that. Want to discuss all things research with your fellow researchers? Lyft has a slack channel for that. Love plants? You guessed it, Lyft has a slack channel for that, too! From Employee Resource Groups to virtual happy hours, there are many ways to connect with the community and enjoy your time at Lyft.
Interested?
Did you read something here that excites you about the Lyft UX Research Associate program? We’ll be looking for our next associates starting in the late spring of 2022. Sign up here to be notified when program applications open for 2022 — in an exciting expansion, Lyft will offer three associate programs: Research, Design, and Content Design (UX Writing).
This piece was written by me, Jade Searchwell and Xernan Peralta. Special thanks to Kat Murray, Alison Marlin, Zoe Glas, David Hildebrand, and Hannah Chen for their support during this process.
Interested in joining the Lyft Design team? We’re hiring.
