AdminThe UX Woman Apprenticeship Program offers a transformative opportunity for aspiring UX professionals, particularly women, immigrants and people of color seeking to break into the tech industry. Conducted twice a year, each 7-month cohort is fully sponsored and provides participants with hands-on experience in UX design and research. Apprentices work on a startup idea of their choice, allowing them to build a portfolio that resonates with hiring managers in their desired industry.
The program’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in its mission to help underrepresented groups secure six-figure roles in UX design, product design, UX research or service design.
Participants benefit from personalized mentorship throughout the program, receiving one-on-one guidance to navigate the complexities of UX projects. This mentorship extends beyond the program’s duration, with up to three months of career coaching support to assist apprentices in their job search and professional development. The program’s comprehensive approach ensures that graduates are well-equipped to enter the competitive UX job market with confidence.
The curriculum is designed to immerse apprentices in the full spectrum of UX processes, from initial research to final design implementation. Apprentices engage in user recruitment, conduct interviews, synthesize insights and develop prototypes. They also learn to create user personas, journey maps and service blueprints, culminating in a compelling UX design and business pitch for their startup idea. This hands-on experience is invaluable for building a robust portfolio that showcases their skills and thought process.
The program is open to recent graduates and career changers who are passionate about pursuing a career in UX. Applicants should be prepared to commit 5-10 hours per week to program deliverables and attend weekend lectures that delve into the end-to-end design process. A willingness to receive and incorporate feedback is essential, as the program emphasizes iterative learning and continuous improvement.
To apply, candidates must complete an application that includes their LinkedIn profile, resume and UX portfolio, along with a statement of interest. While the program receives a high volume of applications, selected candidates will undergo a brief interview process before joining the cohort.
This rigorous selection ensures that each apprentice is committed and ready to make the most of this unique opportunity to launch a successful career in UX.
About the Program
Each year, UX Woman offers a unique opportunity for two aspiring UX professionals to participate in a comprehensive seven-month apprenticeship program. This program is available during the fall and spring seasons and is designed to immerse participants in the full spectrum of UX design and research processes. Apprentices select a startup idea that aligns with their interests, allowing them to develop a portfolio that appeals to hiring managers in their desired industry.
The apprenticeship is entirely free and includes personalized mentorship throughout the seven months. Additionally, participants receive one-on-one UX career coaching for up to three months after completing the program. Graduates of the program have successfully secured roles in UX design, product design, UX research and service design, with salaries ranging from $85,000 to $130,000.
UX Woman is dedicated to empowering women, immigrants and people of color to break into the tech industry and achieve six-figure UX careers. Our commitment is to support you in landing a high-paying UX job or provide coaching until you do.
Apprenticeship Requirements
This apprenticeship is open to recent graduates and individuals transitioning into UX careers. Before applying, please ensure you meet the following criteria:
- A strong interest in pursuing a career in UX research, UX design, product design or service design.
- Availability to dedicate 5-10 hours per week to complete program assignments.
- Willingness to attend 2-3 hour weekend lectures focused on the end-to-end design process.
- Openness to receiving feedback from UX mentors and a commitment to revising design work accordingly.
Apprenticeship Program Learnings
Throughout the program, apprentices will gain hands-on experience and develop a comprehensive skill set, including:
- Building digital products and services from the ground up.
- Leading the entire design process for a startup idea or topic of personal interest.
- Managing product and feature scoping, as well as overseeing project management tasks.
- Identifying target markets and positioning products for successful launches.
- Developing scalable business models and demonstrating how products or services can grow accordingly.
- Conducting discovery research by recruiting users, creating research plans, writing interview guides, leading 8-16 discovery interviews and synthesizing insights.
- Delivering compelling UX design and business pitches, supported by qualitative and quantitative data.
- Crafting narratives about users through personas, stakeholder maps, journey maps, process maps, service blueprints, ideation matrices, sketches, wireframes, UX workflows, prototypes and other visual deliverables.
- Leading user testing of wireframes and prototypes to enhance usability and iterating on startup ideas.
- Designing unique design systems from scratch, including components, style guides and branding elements.
- Analyzing competitors to articulate differentiators and explain why the solution is innovative and poised for success.
How to Apply
To be considered for the program, please complete our application form. The application process takes approximately five minutes and requires the submission of your LinkedIn profile, resume and UX portfolio. You’ll also be asked to share your motivation for applying to the program.
After submitting your application, you’ll receive UX tips and challenges via email to assist with your transition into the UX field. If selected for consideration, we will contact you to schedule a brief interview before joining the cohort. Due to the high volume of applications, we may not be able to respond to all applicants. If you do not hear from us within two months of applying, please consider your application closed.
Contact Information
UX Woman
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Industry: Business
FAQ
- What is the UX Woman Apprenticeship Program?
The UX Woman Apprenticeship Program is a 7-month, fully sponsored training initiative designed to help aspiring UX professionals – especially women, immigrants and people of color – gain hands-on experience in UX design, research and product development. Participants work on a startup idea of their choice and receive personalized mentorship and career coaching.
- Who is eligible to apply?
The program is open to new graduates and individuals transitioning into UX careers. Applicants should be interested in UX research, UX design, product design or service design and be willing to commit 5–10 hours per week, including weekend lectures.
- Is the program free?
Yes, the apprenticeship is completely free. Selected apprentices receive mentorship, training and career coaching at no cost.
- What is the time commitment?
Apprentices are expected to dedicate 5–10 hours per week to program activities, including attending 2–3 hour weekend lectures and completing project deliverables.
- What kind of mentorship and support is provided?
Participants receive one-on-one mentorship throughout the 7-month program and up to 3 months of UX career coaching after the program concludes.
- What will I learn during the program?
Apprentices will gain experience in building digital products from scratch, conducting user research, creating design systems, managing projects and delivering compelling UX pitches. They will also learn to analyze competitors and develop scalable business models.
- What are the outcomes for program alumni?
Graduates of the program have gone on to secure roles in UX design, product design, UX research or service design, with salaries ranging from $85,000 to $130,000.
- How do I apply?
Interested candidates can apply by filling out a 5-minute application form, which requires a LinkedIn profile, resume, UX portfolio and a statement of interest.
- What is the selection process like?
After submitting the application, candidates may receive UX tips and challenges via email. Selected applicants will be contacted for a brief interview. Due to high application volumes, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.
- Where is the program based?
The UX Woman Apprenticeship Program is based in Los Angeles, California, USA.
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