From Law Grad to Fintech UX Rockstar: A Day in the Life of a User Experience Researcher (Making ₦18 Million!)

Have you ever considered a career switch that lands you a high-paying job in tech? Our interviewee today did exactly that! Meet Creative, a 32-year-old User Experience Researcher at a Nigerian Fintech company, raking in an impressive ₦18 million annually.

Let’s jump right in and see what a typical day looks like for this Creative!
Creative: My day is a mix of analyzing data, conducting user research, and collaborating with different teams. I review dashboards, conduct interviews and tests, analyze competitor products, and delve into user data. I then synthesize everything into reports and visualizations to communicate insights to relevant teams. This helps solve business, product, and technical problems. Additionally, I speak directly with customers, observe their behavior, and work with product managers to find solutions that benefit both the business and the users. Finally, I track the progress of previous initiatives and see if adjustments are needed.

Sounds like a stimulating role! What do you enjoy most?
Creative: The constant novelty! There’s always a new challenge, a new user segment to understand, or an unexpected data point to explore. It keeps things interesting.

Is there anything you find frustrating?
Creative: In the Fintech industry, fraud is a major concern. This can limit creativity in problem-solving as strict compliance and security measures need to be followed.

Fascinating! So, how did you land in this exciting field?
Creative: My first tech role was customer-facing at a bank. I collected feedback on their digital banking product. This experience gave me valuable customer insights that I leverage today. I also actively pursued learning product design, product management, business strategy, and financial performance through courses, internships, and freelance/full-time work. This combination of skills makes me a well-rounded user advocate who can help teams solve complex problems.

That’s some serious initiative! Where can this career path lead?
Creative: There are many exciting options! Chief Research Officer, Chief Customer Officer, Chief Product Officer, Director of Research & Insights, and Business Strategy Consultant are all possibilities.

What are your future career aspirations?
Creative: While I’m loving my current role, I’m continuously honing my data analysis skills and pursuing an MSc in International Business Management. Additionally, building my own product is something I’m very interested in.

Interesting! Did your law background play a role in your success?
Creative: In a way, yes! Studying law sharpened my analytical thinking, and practicing law ignited my passion for research. There’s a thrill in uncovering information and realizing you didn’t know what you didn’t know.

What was your interview experience like?
Creative: Standard, but I get nervous! I combat that by being friendly, warm, and humorous. I also avoid projecting a “perfect” image. Instead, I acknowledge my weaknesses but showcase how I’m actively improving them and emphasize the strengths I bring to the table.

Any interview preparation tips for aspiring UX researchers?
Creative: Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes. Research who will be interviewing you, even if it’s just their role. This helps you anticipate their questions and understand what they’re looking for in a candidate.

One last piece of advice for aspiring UX researchers?
Creative: Stay curious, constantly learn, and be receptive to feedback. The biggest career killer is an “I know it all” attitude.

This is just a glimpse into the world of tech marketing professionals! Join us each month as we chat with inspiring individuals about their careers and the impressive salaries they command in the ever-evolving tech landscape. Stay tuned and get ready to be motivated! #BeyondtheClicks.