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Some
Thoughts on Usability and the Economy
by John
S. Rhodes
Summary
This short article
answers a few questions about entering a career in usability given the poor
market conditions, and it offers some general career advice.
A Lost Soul
A WebWord reader
sent me these questions regarding usability and the economy:
-
Do you think
it is still a smart move to try to get more focused on this career path,
given that so many of the usability engineering and information
architecture firms are folding and the jobs in the field so scarce?
-
Is the
situation going to turn around soon?
-
Will the
demand for usability professionals and information architects rebound
and even grow?
My Quick and Dirty Answers
-
It is a smart
move to get into usability. It pays
well and it is rewarding. It isn't going away! There are jobs, you
just need to know where
to look, you need to be patient, and you need to be focused on
finding the right match.
-
I don't have a
crystal ball. However, I don't think things are going to turn around
soon. Worse, you need to remember that usability is easy to cut. Despite
what folks will tell you, it is not critical to short term survival.
Perhaps long term survival, but not short term survival. Above
everything, remember that the economy runs
in cycles. Be prepared!
-
Things will
rebound and yes, I think usability and information architecture will
continue to grow in the long term. Usability offers a strategic
advantage. It is a powerful weapon.
-
There is
nothing wrong with failure. We live and we learn. Also, the strong
survive and move on, based on what the market demands. The system is
moving forward, like it or not. It isn't personal.
Some General Advice
I don't have all the answers. In fact, I might not have any of the answers. However, I know
what I think and I'll just pass my thoughts along to you. If they work for you, that is great. If not, that is fine
too. Take what you need and pass the rest.
1. You better love what you
do. Work on what you want to work on, or you will be miserable. You know what I mean. You
see the zombies all around you. You see people driving their coffins to work each
day. Don't let it happen.
2. Usability and
information architecture it will definitely make a come back. Technology will come back.
The economy will come back. Don't worry about that. Instead, worry about what form
it will take when it comes back. Know what usability is for, know what
information architecture is for. Know the tools, know the theories, know the
methods. Be ready to apply them. You don't need to be in a usability company or
usability department to utilize the tools and methods. It is very likely that what you learned will
be built into the company (i.e., the culture) versus being a separate part of the company
(e.g., a department).
3. Think diversity and shoot for the long
term. Just like you finances, you need to work on your personal investments. Learn
to program, learn photography, follow your hobbies, learn a new language. This
will help you stay mobile; it will keep you flexible. Change will always happen and
you need to bend with the wind. Also, keep investing in things that work. Again,
focus on educating yourself with the right usability and IA methods. Skills and
knowledge count. We are all in this thing for the long term.
4. Don't drink all of the
usability Kool
Aid. You can't always just focus on humans. You need to learn as much as you can about
technology. And, you need to learn how businesses work. Don't think you can hide from profits, invoices,
purchase orders, and all that jazz. Companies live and die and grow and shrink. Keep your
ear to the floor. This is another way to think about diversity. Usability is not everything.
5. Be sure to network, write, and grow. Talk
to people. Write them. Email them. Call them. Just talk. Your social network is
important.
6. Take a stand! Watch out for groupthink and
decision making by consensus. The world does not know you as well as you know you.
Understand what you want, and focus on it.
7. If you are
coping with a layoff, you
are not alone. There are ways to cope.
What next?
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