Hi there, please tell us a little bit about yourself! Who are you? What do you like to do for fun?

Hi there! I'm Kyra. I live in Toronto with my partner and three cats (Peanut, Sesame, and Red Bean). When I'm not working, I like to bake bread, try out new recipes, illustrate, and learn new languages. My favorite part of meeting new people is learning what their passions are.

Can you tell us what you do as a UX Writer at UserTesting for those who are unfamiliar?

I'm a UX Writer at UserTesting. As a UX Writer, I design delightful experiences by using content to support our users throughout their entire journey. I spend most of my time collaborating with designers, project managers, developers, and other writers throughout the design process and the product life cycle. I basically get to help our users gather information and make decisions based on real human insights.

How did you decide to pursue your specific career? What pivotal moments pushed you to where you are now?

When I studied Intercultural Communication at university, I briefly considered a career in law. One summer, I interned at a law firm and observed how the legal language is written to be inaccessible to people without a legal background. As a result, I was inspired to improve access to knowledge and information, so people can achieve their goals and advocate for themselves.

After graduating, I went on to study technical communication, and worked as a technical writer for almost 2 years. When I was working as a technical writer, I find myself more getting curious about design and wanting to be involved earlier and earlier on in the design process. I wanted to design content that improves the user experience. So, I consumed loads of UX Writing resources, had countless coffee chats, and initiated projects that eventually helped me build the experience I needed to land my first UX writing job.
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Any advice on how to stand out and get hired for those starting off?

Practice storytelling. Instead of just showing what you can do, focus on how you do it. What's the problem/opportunity for this project? What setbacks did you run into, and how did you get over them? How did you record feedbacks and iterate? Hiring managers are interested in your thought processes and how you empathize with the users. And don't be afraid to network!
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What are some must-have resources or skills you would recommend for your industry?‍

Design thinking, storytelling, and receiving and giving feedback.
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What are 3 character traits that would make someone excel in your field?

Curious. Empathetic. Insightful.

Most satisfying & difficult thing about your job?

The most satisfying thing is helping people do what they need to do. The most difficult thing is prioritizing what to work on.
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What would you like to say to your younger self?‍

Don't feel like you need to have everything mapped out for the next 10 years. It's ok to ditch that plan, go with the flow, and trust your gut.

Best advice you've received/heard?

The best thing you can do for your career is just to stay curious.