Top UX Research Resume Mistakes and How to Fix Them with Real Examples
- Philip Burgess
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader
Landing your first UX research role or moving up in your career depends heavily on how well your resume communicates your skills and experience. Many new researchers struggle with common resume mistakes that can cost them interviews. This post highlights those mistakes and shows you how to fix them with clear before-and-after examples. By learning from these examples, you can create a resume that stands out for the right reasons.
Mistake 1: Using Generic Job Titles and Descriptions
Many new UX researchers list vague job titles like "Research Assistant" or "Intern" without clarifying their role in UX research. Similarly, job descriptions often repeat generic phrases such as "conducted user interviews" without explaining the impact or methods used.
Why this matters: Hiring managers want to see exactly what you did and how it relates to UX research. Generic titles and descriptions make it hard to understand your contribution.
How to fix it: Use specific titles and describe your tasks with clear outcomes. For example, instead of "Research Assistant," say "UX Research Intern focusing on usability testing and data analysis." Add details about the methods you used and the results you helped achieve.
Before:
Research Assistant at XYZ Company
Conducted user interviews and surveys.
After:
UX Research Intern at XYZ Company
Led usability testing sessions with 15 participants, analyzed qualitative data to identify pain points, and presented findings that informed product redesign.
Mistake 2: Listing Responsibilities Instead of Achievements
A common error is to list tasks performed rather than what those tasks accomplished. Saying "Conducted surveys" is less powerful than "Conducted surveys that increased user satisfaction scores by 10%."
Why this matters: Employers want to know how your work made a difference. Achievements show your value beyond routine tasks.
How to fix it: Quantify your impact whenever possible. Use numbers, percentages, or specific outcomes to highlight your contributions.
Before:
Conducted surveys to gather user feedback.
After:
Designed and executed surveys that gathered feedback from 200+ users, leading to a 15% improvement in onboarding flow usability.
Mistake 3: Overloading the Resume with Technical Jargon
New researchers often try to impress by including every UX research method or tool they know, sometimes using jargon that recruiters may not understand.
Why this matters: Overloading your resume with technical terms can confuse or bore the reader. It also takes up space that could be used for more relevant information.
How to fix it: Focus on the most relevant skills and explain them simply. Use terms that hiring managers will recognize and relate to the job description.
Before:
Utilized ethnographic research, heuristic evaluation, eye-tracking, and affinity diagramming.
After:
Conducted user observations and heuristic evaluations to identify usability issues, using tools like affinity mapping to organize insights.
Mistake 4: Ignoring the Resume Format and Readability
A cluttered or inconsistent resume format makes it difficult for recruiters to scan your information quickly. This is especially harmful when applying for UX roles where clarity and user experience matter.
Why this matters: Recruiters spend seconds scanning each resume. Poor formatting can cause them to miss your key strengths.
How to fix it: Use clear headings, bullet points, and consistent fonts. Keep sections organized and avoid dense paragraphs.
Before:
Paragraphs describing multiple projects without clear separation.
After:
Separate project entries with bold titles, bullet points for tasks and results, and consistent spacing.
Mistake 5: Leaving Out Soft Skills and Collaboration Details
UX research is a team effort involving communication with designers, product managers, and developers. Some resumes focus only on technical skills and ignore soft skills or collaboration.
Why this matters: Employers want researchers who can communicate findings clearly and work well with others.
How to fix it: Include examples of teamwork, presentations, or cross-functional collaboration.
Before:
Conducted usability tests and wrote reports.
After:
Collaborated with design and product teams to present research findings, influencing feature prioritization and improving user experience.
Final Tips for Crafting a Strong UX Research Resume
Tailor your resume for each job by matching keywords and skills from the job description.
Keep it concise—one page is usually enough for early-career researchers.
Use action verbs like led, designed, analyzed, collaborated.
Proofread carefully to avoid typos and grammatical errors.
Include a portfolio link if you have one, showcasing your research projects.
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