Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
What is UX Researcher?
3.
Eligibility Criteria
3.1.
Minimum Requirements
3.2.
Preferred Qualifications
4.
Responsibilities
5.
Skills to Become a UX Researcher at Google
6.
Salary of UX Researcher at Google
7.
Roadmap for UX Researcher
7.1.
Pursue a Degree in Computer Science or Behavioral Science
7.2.
Improve your User Research Abilities
7.3.
Get Hands-on Experience with UX Research
7.4.
Create a Portfolio
7.5.
Expand your Social Circle
8.
Frequently Asked Questions
8.1.
What are the needs to become a Google UX researcher?
8.2.
Is it necessary for UX researchers to be able to code?
8.3.
Is becoming a user experience researcher a wise career choice?
8.4.
What is the typical salary for a Google UX researcher?
8.5.
Are UX researchers highly compensated?
9.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024

UX Researcher at Google

Author Aditya Kumar
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Introduction

We follow a simple but essential assumption at Google: "Focus on the user, and everything else will fall into place". This is made feasible by User Experience Researchers (UXRs).

  • User Experience (UX) teams are made up of designers, researchers, writers, content strategists, program managers, and engineers passionate about the people who use our products. 
     
  • UX Researchers play an essential role in obtaining information on product user demands, attitudes, emotions, and behaviors to inspire and guide design. To produce industry-leading products that bring value to their consumers and Google's companies, they work closely with engineering and product management.

What is UX Researcher?

To create products that meet user needs (while also delighting them), you must first understand who your consumer is and what their needs are. User experience (UX) research can help with this.

UX researchers do in-depth research on target users to collect and analyze data to aid in the product design process. We'll look at what UX researchers do, how they do it, and how you can get started or grow your career in this in-demand industry in this guide.

Starting to think about your users is one of the first steps in building a new product or improving the user experience of an existing one. What are their names? What country are they from? What are they looking for? What is their motivation for wanting it? How can your product assist them in achieving their goals?

It's your job as a UX researcher to find answers to these queries. Instead of guessing based on your own subjective experience, you'll devise a research approach that will enable you to respond to these questions using statistics. You become a spokesperson for your users, giving them a say in the product creation process.

Eligibility Criteria

To become a UX researcher at Google, you need to fulfill the requirements which are mentioned below:

Minimum Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree or similar work experience is required.
     
  • Six years of relevant job experience in UX, HCI(Human-Computer Interaction), applied research, and/or product research and development is required.
     
  • Experience in research design using a variety of approaches, such as usability studies, contextual inquiry, and surveys, but not restricted to these.
     
  • Experience with product research, either usability or generative, is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

  • A master's or doctoral degree in a comparable subject is required.
     
  • Ability to communicate user research findings to cross-functional partners to maximize effect and product strategy.
     
  • Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of various research methods and when and how to use them in the product development process.

Responsibilities

These are the responsibilities you need to follow if you join the UX researcher team at Google which are listed below:

  • Conduct research into a variety of product and experience characteristics.
     
  • Lab studies, field visits, ethnography, surveys, benchmark studies, server logs, and online experiments (A/B testing) are all used to collect and analyze user behavior.
     
  • In a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment, collaborate with designers, product managers, engineers, and other UXRs to prioritize research opportunities.
     
  • Recognize and incorporate technology and business needs into your research.
     
  • Through written reports and in-person presentations, communicate study findings to a wide range of audiences.

Skills to Become a UX Researcher at Google

If you're wondering how to enter into UX research, UX Planet suggests having a degree in a related discipline like marketing, cognitive science, psychology, economics, or information science is advantageous.

You'll need an analytical mind and the ability to understand data, but soft skills are also necessary because you'll need to be able to read people. Since UX researchers work closely with UX and UI designers and engineers, product managers, and project managers, they must be collaborative and know how to work well with people of all types. Last but not least, a thorough understanding of the design process is essential.

For an entry-level UX researcher, the following requirements and specifications apply:

  • Bachelor's or master's degree
  • Some experience as a UX researcher or in a similar position
  • Comfortable with starting and iterating quickly, as well as utilizing data
  • In-depth knowledge of user interface design, as well as experience performing user research and using qualitative and user-centered design techniques
  • Working knowledge of quantitative, behavioral, and statistical methods is required.
  • Problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities
  • Participant in a group
  • Excellent time-management abilities
  • Outstanding interpersonal and communication abilities

Salary of UX Researcher at Google

An early career UX Researcher with 1-4 years of experience gets an average total compensation of $122,449 (including tips, bonus, and overtime pay). Based on 12 salaries, the average real income for a mid-career UX Researcher with 5-9 years of experience is $137,000.

The salary figures mentioned above are subject to change.

Roadmap for UX Researcher

Like many aspects of UI/UX design, UX research is a relatively new position. You can apply on the official site of Google for the UX researcher position. As a result, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to a career in user experience research. Some UX researchers are self-taught, while others come from different fields. Consider these suggestions as you follow your career path.

Pursue a Degree in Computer Science or Behavioral Science

Candidates for most UX researcher positions must have a bachelor's degree, while it does not have to be in a UX-related subject. Obtaining a degree in a discipline such as technology or behavioral and social science may be advantageous. If you want to work in user experience, here are several majors to consider:

  • Human-computer interaction
  • Psychology
  • Statistics or applied statistics
  • Computer science
  • Information systems
  • Design
  • Anthropology
     

This may appear to be a large selection. On the other hand, user researchers come from a diverse spectrum of backgrounds. Many people may not have learned about user experience until they were well out of college. Don't worry if you already have a degree in something unrelated. You may improve your UX abilities in a variety of ways.

Improve your User Research Abilities

Aside from a degree, there are various ways to learn about user research tools and techniques while honing your abilities in the field. Here are a few methods to start building your skill set today, depending on your learning style:

  • Find a course on Google UX Design and complete that course from start to finish, you'll be guided through the design process. 
     
  • Learn how to create an A/B test for a website, analyze UX survey data, and communicate research findings using empathy maps. 
     
  • Take advantage of free resources such as blogs and podcasts to understand industry jargon and keep up with current developments.
     
  • Enroll in other courses or UX boot camps to broaden your horizons. Non-degree students can also get UX research certificates or specializations from several universities.

Get Hands-on Experience with UX Research

If you go through job advertisements for UX researcher positions, you'll notice that comparable work experience is frequently specified as necessary. Fortunately, you don't have to wait till you find a job to get some practical experience.

  • Help a local small business or non-profit by volunteering your UX research expertise. UX Rescue, Catchafire, and Code for America are examples of organizations that match your abilities with appropriate positions.
     
  • UX internships are available at several prominent firms, including Google, Meta, Adobe, Apple, and Microsoft, and some of them may include research. The process of applying for an internship is similar to that of applying for a job. An application and an interview are usually part of the procedure. Look for job openings on LinkedIn and Twitter. Keep an eye on their website for new positions if there's a company you'd like to intern with.
     
  • Become a member of a hackathon team. Join one of these fast-paced, competitive software development competitions to test your UX research talents. It's a terrific opportunity to meet and collaborate with other UX and design experts while building your portfolio. Find a team to join, grow your network, and learn about events online or in your neighborhood by visiting sites like hackathon.io or the Hackathon Hackers Facebook group.

Create a Portfolio

Your portfolio is a significant component of your application because it shows potential employers your talents and expertise. Keep track of your work when you take classes, finish projects, volunteer your time and add your best and most current projects to your portfolio.

You can use a free platform like LinkedIn or a GitHub repository to showcase your most significant work or host your portfolio on your website (services like Wix and Squarespace are popular).

Expand your Social Circle

Begin to develop a network of people in the UX field. Coworkers at your present employment, UX research organizations, and online UX communities are all possibilities. Networking is an excellent method to learn about new prospects and connect with possible employers.

During your job hunt, networking can help you receive more interviews. Check out Coding ninja's job search guide for suggestions and methods on how to network and a step-by-step guide on how to get more interviews.

For the preparation for Google watch these videos:

  • How to learn anything easily and fast
  • 4 Month placement roadmap for Product Based Companies

 

Check out the Google Interview Experience to learn about Google’s hiring process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the needs to become a Google UX researcher?

A bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, or a similar discipline is required to work as a UX researcher at Google. If you're looking for a more senior position, you may also need a master's degree or a doctorate.

Is it necessary for UX researchers to be able to code?

It is not required to have any design expertise. Whether you apply to be a quantitative or qualitative UX researcher, you'll use both quantitative and qualitative research approaches in your career.

You're good to go as long as you have the necessary expertise, analytical capabilities, and project management abilities.

Is becoming a user experience researcher a wise career choice?

Being a UX researcher could be the ideal job for you if you have a curious mind and enjoy learning about new things in depth. Furthermore, it's a prominent industry with a strong demand for workers.

What is the typical salary for a Google UX researcher?

A Google UX researcher earns an average of $139,508 per year, 10% higher than the national average.

Are UX researchers highly compensated?

UX researchers in the United States earn an average of $88,000 to $134,000 per year. Salary varies by organization and is determined by geography, experience, and other considerations.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed how to become a UX researcher at Google? We have also discussed its eligibility criteria, pathway, and skills. So basically, UX researchers do in-depth research on target users in order to collect and analyze data that will aid in the product design process. To create products that meet user needs (while also delighting them), you must first understand who your consumer is and what their needs are.

We hope that this blog has helped you enhance your knowledge regarding Google STEP Progrаm. If you want to learn more, check out our articles on Google STEP ProgrаmGoogle Kick StartApplications Engineer at GoogleGoogle Preparation GuideHow do I get into Google?, and Technical Program Manager at Google.

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