My Goals for the CareerFoundry UX Design Bootcamp
Tomorrow I'll be starting my UX design bootcamp with CareerFoundry. So I figured I'd take a moment to plan and write out some of my goals for the next few months. Hopefully, sharing these goals online will make me more likely to complete them.
Finish it quickly
The main aim for anyone who does one of these online bootcamps is to get a job. And since I've been struggling to get a job over the last year (thanks COVID), it only makes sense for me to want to blaze through it. The sooner I can finish the bootcamp, the sooner I can get into my first UX design job. However, it is important to remember that I musn't compromise on actually learning the content. If I go too fast, I won't be able to take in anything that I'm learning. I need to strike a balance between working quickly, and absorbing the content.
Take advantage of mentor sessions
This one is important - or so I've heard. Reading up on other people's experience on the bootcamp tells me that those who utilised their mentor sessions well, ended up finding it much easier to change their career. So I'll need to do the same. I think CareerFoundry recommends scheduling a mentor session every week, and I intend to stick to this, even though it does seem like a little much. Also, I musn't be afraid to change my mentor if I feel like I'm not getting the level of support I need. And I may also look into finding a mentor outside of CareerFoundry with whom I can speak with on a less frequent basis. Just to gain a different perspective.
Find a study buddy
CareerFoundry recently started a new study buddy system where everyone is paired up with someone else on the bootcamp. I welcome this idea. I'm sure that going through the bootcamp alone can get stressful at times, and so it would be nice to have a buddy by my side who's following the same journey. We'll be able to help each other with any difficult assignments. It would also be nice to have a small group chat with 4 or 5 people. I know that there is a Slack channel for extra support, but with so many people on there, it will be difficult to really form a connection with others.
Develop my portfolio
Doing this is a given. A good UX designer needs to have a good portfolio. But I don't plan on waiting until I've finished the entire bootcamp before starting on my portfolio. As soon as I complete the introductory project, I will work on putting it together into a portfolio. This will also allow me to start applying for UX jobs early on, as well as allowing me to obtain some portfolio feedbcak from my mentor.
Keep sharing!
For me, this is one of my most important goals. The main reason I started this blog is to share my UX journey online. And so I aim to continue posting regularly on here to share what I've been learning and give updates on the progress of my work. It will be a good way for me to reflect on everything throughout the process. I'll also be sharing updates on my Twitter.