Introduction
Great designers help the teams and stakeholders make better decisions by using questions for identifying the opportunities while revealing the apparent and underlying needs and understanding what the user is looking for. It is not a hidden fact that design thinking has gained a lot of popularity in the past years and is expected to have a growth in the upcoming years. Add to this the fact that it has become a necessity in every business, and the demand for design thinking courses has naturally become very high. So, the people aspiring to become professionals in this field will have to face the interviews at some point or qualify for the job. Everyone is well aware of the fact that any interview situation can be nerve-racking. There are so many different scenarios that go on in a candidate’s mind before they appear for the interview.
10 frequently asked interview questions
No matter how much these courses on design thinking prepare a candidate, there is always a chance to falter or a question catching one off guard. While every interview is different, and there is no way to be sure of what to expect from the consultation, here’s a list of 10 interview questions that are frequently asked and some of the approaches that a candidate can take while facing these questions.
1.“Can you talk about your most significant achievement?”
Now, this is one of the first crucial questions that is asked in an interview. This is a recruitment process that is appropriate for hiring suitable candidates as it focuses on identifying candidates that are willing to take on challenges and opportunities for growth. Both of these are characteristics of a good designer. The key to answering this question is preparation and providing a portfolio of case studies often helps because it will already contain some well-rehearsed stories to choose from.
2. “Can you describe an occasion when a project did not go as you planned?”
If one wants to narrate their success story, they should also be prepared to talk about their failures. In a design thinking course, it is often taught to discuss the projects that they might have found challenging. While answering these questions, certain things should be kept in mind. What particular lessons have they learned from the project, or has there been an alternative (say, unlimited budget or time)? What was the path that they would have followed? Focusing on not just what did not go well but why it did not go well is very important because that shows a designer’s experience and maturity.
3.“What was the situation where you completely messed up, and what did you do about it?”
Now, this is one question that often catches people off guard because it is improbable that they will be able to think that fast, let alone dive into the details of a situation they might be embarrassed to tell. But here’s the thing, the interviewers do this to know the kind of person a candidate is and whether they are trustworthy and honest. The question has little to do with how or what they messed up and has more to do with what they did about it and whether or not they owned up to their mistakes while keeping their cool and coming up with an appropriate solution or did they try to cover it. Which path they chose to follow tells a lot about the candidate as a person.
4.“What does design mean to you?”
After taking a design thinking certification course, there are a lot of designers who think that design is all about aesthetics, which is not true because while visuals play a vital role, the main objective of design thinking is its use as a problem-solving tool for achieving business goals. The candidates should also learn more about the approach for a successful career. Just claiming to have known it during the interview while not learning anything from it might cause problems later.
5.“What, according to you, is the best thing about designing?”
There is no correct answer to this question as different candidates might be drawn to various aspects of the design thinking course syllabus. However, this question often reveals whether someone is passionate about their work and sees their area of strength.
6.“Can you describe some project that best illustrates your process and what is your favorite type of solution?”
Asking about a favorite solution for a complex interaction or data challenge is quite common. Interviewers are often keen on hiring individuals against those specific areas. See the work examples that map to those.
7.“Where do you find inspiration?”
As an answer, you should find out what influences the designer and whether they are up to date with the latest trends or which are the apps or websites the candidates admire the work of. This is another characteristic of great designers because other’s works constantly inspire them.
8.“How do you cross-functionally work with developers, copywriters, and project managers?”
The best designers are team players, and the question is intended to know whether a candidate can do that or not. There might be many projects that they will have to work on with others or have a strict deadline, and they should be able to complete them.
9.“What is your creative process?”
Any interviewer would want to know how an individual best works and whether or not that is suitable for their team. They want to know whether the designer can understand the problem before they start designing and prepare for any situations they might face.
10.“How do you deal with feedback?”
This question is to know if the candidate accepts criticisms and uses valuable feedback to improve their work. The company always looks for designers who believe in their careers but at the same time are not tricky or flexible.
