Being a self-taught designer can be challenging at the beginning. You don’t know what to do after you finish a UX course, how to find your first job or you don’t have any ideas of how to make your design skills stronger.

I wrote down some tips that I think might help you.

Get an internship

In my opinion, the best way to get experience in UX design is to find an internship in a company. You will have the chance to work on real projects, be part of a team and have a mentor or two by your side all the time.

Linkedin and Indeed

Search for internship UX positions on Linkedin or Indeed.

Contact your favorite companies

You probably have a list of companies that you would like to work at someday. Send them an email and explain who you are and why you would like to have your internship there. There is nothing to lose if you try this. Someone will contact you sooner or later.

Practice your skills with daily or weekly design challenges

Make your design skills even stronger while you are waiting for your first job or internship. Receive daily or weekly challenges by subscribing for free on some of these websites. You can show your solved challenges in your portfolio.

UX Communities and events

Networking is the process of making connections and sometimes can be the best way to find a job or internship. Join design communities to engage with other designers, ask for possible solutions or even find design mentors. Find online events and learn about the latest design trends.

Become a freelancer

At the beginning of my career, I wanted to gain more experience and to have diverse range of project in my portfolio. I decided to create an account at Upwork and to sign up as a freelancer. I had different clients and different projects every one month.

Starting a new career is difficult, but it’s fun at the same time. Understanding what your straights are and what you would like to work with can help you get better and gain confidence. In a few years you will be so proud of what you’ve accomplished.

Listen, learn and ask questions.