Why You Really Need to Hire a UX Researcher
Instead of hiring a do-it-all unicorn, find someone who’s actually trained in research
There’s an active debate within the UX field on the merits of specialists versus generalists because many companies are small and feel they can only afford to hire one UX person. These financial constraints lead them to seek out a jack-of-all-trades, or a “unicorn” who can design, code, conduct user research, write copy, and contribute to business strategies.
While there certainly are professionals out there who have diverse training, well-rounded experience, and can thrive in these roles, I believe the demand for these individuals is misplaced. Depending on your product, you likely need someone trained and well-versed in research, not just design. Many companies want a silver bullet to solve their UX problems — but like unicorns, silver bullets don’t really exist.
What not to do
This job posting from a customer electronic robotics company is a great example of what not to do when hiring a UX person for your team:
