At Appfolio, a User Experience Researcher is a strategic partner tasked with uncovering the "why" behind user behavior to drive product innovation. You are not just a data gatherer; you are a catalyst for empathy within the product organization. By deeply understanding the complex workflows of property managers, owners, and renters, you ensure that our software remains intuitive, efficient, and essential to our customers' daily operations.

This role is critical because Appfolio operates in a high-stakes B2B ecosystem where small frictions can lead to significant business impacts. You will work within a "Design Studio" model, providing research support that scales across multiple product teams. Your insights will directly influence the roadmap of products that manage millions of units across the United States, making your work both highly visible and strategically significant.

You will join a collaborative environment where research is integrated into the very fabric of the design process. Whether you are conducting deep-dive ethnographic studies or facilitating design thinking workshops, your goal is to bridge the gap between technical constraints and human needs. For a User Experience Researcher, Appfolio offers the unique challenge of solving intricate logistical problems while maintaining a human-centric approach to software development.

Preparation should focus on demonstrating your ability to provide value to the team and your mastery of the research craft. The following categories represent the most common themes encountered during the Appfolio interview process.

Research Methodology & Process

These questions test your technical knowledge and your ability to apply it to real-world problems.

• How do you decide which research method to use for a new project?
• Describe your process for conducting a heuristic evaluation of a complex feature.

Success in the Appfolio interview process requires a blend of methodological expertise and the ability to thrive in a collaborative, workshop-driven culture. We look for researchers who can not only execute studies but also champion the user's voice in a way that aligns with business objectives.

Methodological Rigor – You must demonstrate a mastery of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Interviewers evaluate your ability to select the right tool for the specific problem, whether it is a heuristic evaluation, a longitudinal study, or a rapid usability test.

Collaborative Facilitation – At Appfolio, research is a team sport. You will be assessed on your ability to lead "Design Studio" style workshops and facilitate exercises that bring designers, product managers, and engineers together to solve problems.

Strategic Impact – We look for candidates who can translate raw data into actionable product recommendations. You should be prepared to discuss how your research has influenced product roadmaps or shifted company strategy in previous roles.

Communication & Storytelling – Beyond the data, you must be an effective storyteller. Your ability to present a portfolio and explain your process clearly is a key indicator of how you will influence stakeholders within the company.

The interview process for a User Experience Researcher at Appfolio is designed to be a transparent, two-way conversation. It balances a deep dive into your technical capabilities with an exploration of how you will integrate into our unique team structure. We prioritize a candidate experience that is friendly and casual yet intellectually challenging, ensuring that both you and the team can assess the potential for a long-term fit.

The journey typically begins with a focused conversation about your background and what you can specifically contribute to the Appfolio ecosystem. Following the initial stages, the process becomes more practical, involving a portfolio presentation and hands-on exercises that mirror the actual work you will perform. This approach allows us to see your research philosophy in action and evaluate your ability to facilitate collaborative problem-solving.

This timeline illustrates the progression from initial screening to the final onsite evaluation. Candidates should use this to pace their preparation, focusing heavily on the portfolio and facilitation components which occur in the later stages. While the process is rigorous, it is structured to give you ample opportunity to meet the researchers and designers you will be working with daily.

Portfolio and Case Study Presentation

The portfolio review is the cornerstone of the Appfolio interview process. It is here that you demonstrate your end-to-end research process, from initial problem definition to final impact. We are looking for depth over breadth; we want to see how you handled ambiguity, navigated constraints, and ultimately delivered value to the user and the business.

Be ready to go over:

• Problem Framing – How you identified the core research questions and why they mattered.
• Method Selection – The rationale behind choosing specific research methods over others.
• Stakeholder Management – How you involved cross-functional partners throughout the research lifecycle.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk us through a project where the research findings contradicted the product team's initial assumptions."
• "How did you ensure your insights were integrated into the final design or product roadmap?"
• "Describe a time you had to conduct research with limited time or resources."

Heuristic and Design Review

As part of the evaluation, you may be asked to complete a homework assignment involving a heuristic review or a design critique. This exercise tests your ability to apply established usability principles to real-world interfaces. We look for your ability to identify friction points and provide constructive, evidence-based suggestions for improvement.

Be ready to go over:

• Usability Principles – Applying Nielsen’s heuristics or similar frameworks to an existing product.
• Critical Thinking – Identifying not just what is wrong, but why it is a problem for the user.
• Prioritization – Ranking issues based on their severity and impact on the user experience.

Advanced concepts (less common):

• Accessibility (WCAG) compliance audits.
• Cognitive walkthroughs for complex B2B workflows.
• Competitive UX benchmarking.

Workshop Facilitation Exercise

A unique aspect of the Appfolio process is the onsite facilitation exercise. This mirrors our "Design Studio" culture, where researchers lead teams through collaborative exercises. You will be evaluated on your ability to command a room, manage different personalities, and guide a group toward a shared understanding or solution.

Be ready to go over:

• Exercise Design – How you structure a workshop to achieve a specific outcome.
• Group Dynamics – Techniques for ensuring all voices are heard, including quieter team members.
• Synthesis – How you summarize the output of a workshop into actionable next steps.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Lead a 20-minute exercise to brainstorm solutions for a specific user pain point."
• "How do you handle a stakeholder who is skeptical of the research or the workshop process?"