Our next, and 12th, Ask Like A Pro cohort kicks off in a few weeks. Please join us for a Q&A. Register on Eventbrite.

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, user research is becoming an increasingly important and appreciated aspect of product development. Companies are recognizing the value of investing in user research, and as a result, there has been a surge in demand, and competition(!), for skilled talent. To be successful in this field, it’s important to have the right foundation, hands-on experience, a mentor and trusted network.

One of the best ways to gain practical experience in user research is to work on real-world projects with actual stakeholders. Getting hands-on helps you gain a deeper understanding of the entire end-to-end process, including how to identify research objectives, select the right research methods, recruit the right people, ask the right questions, analyze and interpret data, partner with stakeholders, and present your learnings. By working on real-world projects, you’re also exposed to a variety of challenges (and there will be many!), which help you build problem-solving and storytelling skills as well as create case studies.

Another way to gain valuable experience is to learn from an expert in the field. Someone who has spent a decade (or two!) in the trenches, actually conducting research and designing products. Experts can help you gain insights into the user research mindset and process that are very difficult to acquire in a traditional classroom, from informational interviews, watching YouTube videos, or reading. Experts can provide feedback, guidance, and advice to help you improve your research skills and meet you where you are right now.

​Ask Like A Pro is our signature user research training series for:

• Individuals who want to break into the industry

• Existing practitioners who want to fill in gaps and upskill

• Those seeking UXR productivity hacks, excellent templates to save time, increase their strategic acumen, or reduce their cognitive load

• People seeking to work with an expert and/or mentor

• Those who want a real-life user research case study

• People looking to become more marketable as a user researcher

• And anyone looking to build their UXR confidence

The common thread is CONFIDENCE. Our registrants want to feel more confident in their craft!

Our sponsored projects provide end-to-end learning and application with mentorship and guidance at every step of the way. Our motto is Guidance + Practice = Confidence.

Please join us for an info session and Q&A with alumni to learn more about the series and the different levels of participation. Register on Eventbrite.

There are three ways to participate in Ask Like A Pro. Our next cohort begins in a few weeks.

Our alumni are currently working at some of the world’s most respected brands, exploring unique and planet-changing questions, and striving to create a better future!

We’ve had students from 24 countries, and we couldn't be any prouder of their growth, case studies, curiosity, commitment to helping other alumni, and building better futures.

• Indeed

• Adobe

• Cisco

• Inspirato

• Atlassian

• Ford

• User Interviews

• The Home Depot

• Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

• Morgan Stanley

• Workable

• Highmark Health

• Robinhood

• AnswerLab

• Credit Karma

• Roblox

• Alibaba.com

• Dreambox

• Levi’s

• Meta

• Google

• Microsoft

• Zendesk

…and more.

User research is a constantly evolving field, and staying on top of the latest techniques and methodologies is essential for success.

Finally, remember that the value of education and experience is not just in the skills and knowledge you acquire, but also in the network and connections you build. The Ask Like A Pro Alumni network is powerful and global. The regular events we hold bring our community together to learn, grow, connect, and reconnect. The UXR community is relatively small, and developing relationships with other professionals can help you expand your knowledge and find new opportunities.

Please join us to learn more about Ask Like A Pro for yourself, your team, and or those you mentor. Register on Eventbrite. It will be recorded and all registrants will receive the recording.

Private team training details can be found here.

Upcoming Events

• February 20th: "UX Research for Product Messages" event led by Jen Havice. (Ask Like A Pro Alumni Event open to the public). Register on Eventbrite 4 - 5:30 PM PST.

• February 21st: Is Ask like A Pro Right for Me? Q&A with Alumni (Improve your UX Research Skills with "Ask Like A Pro"). Register on Eventbrite 5 - 6:30 PM PST.

Speak up, get involved, and share the love!

• ​Connect with Michele on LinkedIn for more UXR tips and UX discussions

• Read about Curiosity Tank workshops. The next Ask Like A Pro series begins in February!

• Participate as an On-Demand, or as an Observer, for less!​

• Dive into a different UX Research term every week! Sign up for UX Lex weekly emails here.

• Forward this email to someone who you think might enjoy it. Better yet, sign them up here. It will be the gift that keeps on giving.

And that’s a wrap!

We try to alternate between a theme and UX/UXR jobs, events, classes, articles, and other happenings every few weeks. Thank you for all of the feedback. Feedback is a gift, and we continue to receive very actionable input on how to make Fuel Your Curiosity more meaningful to you.

What do you think? We're constantly iterating and would love to hear your input.​

Stay curious,

- Michele and the Curiosity Tank team

PS: We're only offering two public Ask Like A Pro cohorts this year, and the next cohort starts soon! If you’re ready to register click here to grab your spot! Need a little more info? Join our Live Info Session with Alumni on February 21st.