When talking to my UX research team recently, I used the term "Insights Users" to talk about Research Team Stakeholders and I mean..... I kinda love it. 😍 Since then, I’ve started using the term in more settings: meetings, LinkedIn comments, and industry leader chats.

As UX researchers, we always talk about being a voice for the user. 🗣️ But we have to acknowledge that we do have different types of users – our experience/product users, yes, but also the people who use our insights to make less risky, more informed decisions for the business, the product, the experience, and the design.

This shift in perspective changes how we approach our work and relationships across the organization. Let's explore who these Insights Users actually are.

Let’s talk about what I refer to as the "No Ask" Policy 💡

During my job search in 2022, ~80% of my interviews were a result of direct outreach to job posters: whether it was the hiring manager, recruiter, or a potential teammate for the role. My big secret? The "No Ask" Policy™️ 😆 I also used this approach when job searching in November 2023 and, though I received way fewer direct responses, I still interviewed with 9 companies, most of which I cold applied to.

Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about UX Research portfolios. Why do UX Researchers need one? Which projects should be included? How do you organize the information? Where do you even start? Well, I’m here to answer these questions so let’s dive into it!