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content strategy

What the heck is content ecosystem mapping?

Good question. To fully answer it, we have to explore a few related, but distinct, terms: Content ecosystem mapping is a sensemaking activity for digital strategy. Digital strategy projects could include: and so on. In a design and strategy context, sensemaking is something we do in order to better understand an environment, problem, or situation. … continue

I still care about content.

A few years back, a local reporter and columnist attended a content strategy conference at which I was a presenter. I had the impression he got sent there for his own professional development reasons. But he might have attended out of genuine curiosity, or for the purposes of the write-up he eventually published in a … continue

Do you need a portfolio to apply for UX content roles?

Transcript

Do I need a portfolio to apply for UX content roles?

Yes, but possibly also no.

I recommend to my coaching clients to create a portfolio if you can. And I think that most people can, because portfolios don’t have to be these super glossy case studies of high fidelity prototypes.

The portfolio is showing how you think and how you work. So if you have some stories about your work, and you can come up with visuals to accompany them screenshots, sure, but also diagrams, photos, you can put a little work story together, put a few work stories back to back, package them up in a presentation format — that’s also my recommendation. And now you have a portfolio.

So you could be applying to an enterprise content role where a portfolio is not required, you could be applying for a product marketing or marketing role, where your portfolio is not required. But if you have one that’s going to help set you above other candidates, it’s going to give you something to talk about with a hiring manager, especially if the organization is new to UX content. They might not even know what questions to ask, they might not know what the work could look like. So it’s an opportunity to lead.

So yeah, there’s plenty of jobs out there. If there’s a match where you don’t have a portfolio yet and they’re not asking for one? Great! Go ahead and apply. But I would encourage you to take the time to start building one regardless.

Ask Scott: Tools for content migration planning?

I’ve lost track of where this question came from. Based on my writing workflows and where I found this long-neglected draft, I’m ~80% sure this is an expanded and clarified version of an answer I gave extemporaneously during an event Q&A. Regardless, while content audits and migrations are not my unique area of expertise, I’ve … continue

To respond or not to respond? Tactics for responding to UX job recruiters

I’ve seen some recent discussion about whether and how to reply to messages from recruiters, especially if you’re not actively unemployed, not looking, or otherwise not all that interested.  Me, I respond to almost everyone on LinkedIn who has a profile picture of a human being and sends a reasonably coherent message. I don’t think … continue

Where and How to Find UX Writing, Content Design, and Content Strategy Jobs

Your search for a UX content job may not resemble any of your prior job searches, especially if you are trying to transition from a professional background outside of product and UX. You’ll need to look and read more carefully, search more deeply and creatively, and, in some cases, work quite a bit harder than you might have to work for another kind of job.

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