What is a UX/UI Designer at Unum?

As a UX/UI Designer at Unum, you play a pivotal role in shaping the user experience of our digital products. This position is essential for ensuring that our applications are not only visually appealing but also intuitive and user-friendly, thus enhancing customer satisfaction and engagement. You'll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers and engineers, to deliver solutions that meet user needs while aligning with business objectives.

The impact of your work is significant, as you'll be contributing to products that help individuals manage their health and financial wellbeing. Your role will involve tackling complex design challenges, leveraging research and user feedback to inform your decisions, and ultimately driving the strategic direction of our digital experiences. At Unum, you will have the opportunity to directly influence the design of tools that serve a diverse user base, making your work both rewarding and impactful.

In this fast-paced environment, you will engage in a variety of projects ranging from improving existing applications to developing new ones. The scale and complexity of the tasks you'll face will not only enhance your design skills but will also provide an exciting opportunity to innovate within the insurance space.

Common Interview Questions

In preparing for your interview, expect a variety of questions that assess your technical skills, design thinking, and cultural fit within Unum. The questions listed below are representative and derived from multiple sources, including 1point3acres.com. Remember, these questions illustrate patterns rather than serve as a memorization list.

Design Principles and Process

This category evaluates your understanding of design fundamentals and your approach to the design process.

• Explain your design process from research to implementation.
• How do you incorporate user feedback into your designs?
• Can you describe a project where you had to advocate for user-centered design?
• What design tools do you prefer and why?
• How do you ensure accessibility in your designs?

Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking

Interviewers will assess your ability to tackle design challenges and your creative problem-solving skills.

• Describe a complex problem you solved through design.
• How do you prioritize features when working on a project?
• Can you walk us through a project where you faced significant constraints?
• How do you approach redesigning an existing product?
• What metrics do you use to measure the success of your designs?

Behavioral and Cultural Fit

This section focuses on your interpersonal skills and alignment with Unum’s values.

• Tell us about a time you received constructive criticism on your design work.
• How do you handle disagreements with team members regarding design decisions?
• Describe a situation where you had to work under pressure. How did you manage it?
• What motivates you as a designer?
• How do you keep up with design trends and technologies?

Technical Skills and Knowledge

Expect questions about the technical aspects of your design work and your proficiency with relevant tools.

• Which design software are you most proficient in?
• Can you describe your experience with responsive design?
• How do you implement design systems in your work?
• What is your experience with front-end development technologies?
• How do you ensure consistency across different platforms in your designs?

Case Studies and Portfolio Review

You will likely be asked to discuss examples from your portfolio, highlighting your design process and outcomes.

• Present a project from your portfolio that demonstrates your design thinking.
• How did you measure the impact of your design in that project?
• What challenges did you face during that project, and how did you overcome them?
• Can you discuss a project that didn’t go as planned? What did you learn from it?
• How do you tailor your portfolio to reflect your strengths as a UX/UI designer?

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparation is key to success in your interviews at Unum. Focus not only on your technical skills but also on your approach to teamwork and collaboration. The interviewers will be keen to assess how well you can integrate into their culture and contribute to project outcomes.

Role-related knowledge – This entails a comprehensive understanding of design principles, tools, and methodologies relevant to the UX/UI field. Interviewers will evaluate your ability to apply these concepts effectively in your work.

Problem-solving ability – You should demonstrate how you approach design challenges, including your creative process and critical thinking skills. Highlighting your past experiences where you successfully navigated complex problems will be beneficial.

Leadership – While you may not be in a formal leadership role, showcasing your ability to influence and guide discussions around design will be important. This includes communicating your design rationale and collaborating effectively with stakeholders.

Culture fit / values – Understand and align with Unum’s core values. Your ability to work well within teams and adapt to the company culture will be evaluated throughout the interview process.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process at Unum for the UX/UI Designer role typically involves several stages, starting with a phone screen followed by one or more technical interviews. Candidates can expect a blend of behavioral and technical questions, with an emphasis on collaborative problem-solving and design thinking.

Unum values a thorough assessment of candidates, so be prepared for a rigorous evaluation of both your technical skills and cultural fit. The process is designed to gauge not just your design abilities but also how you work within teams, approach challenges, and contribute to the overall mission of the company.

This visual timeline outlines the stages of the interview process, giving you an overview of what to expect. Use it to plan your preparation effectively and manage your energy throughout the different phases. Consider any nuances that may vary by team or role level as you prepare.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Design Process and Methodology

Your understanding of design methodologies is crucial. Interviewers will evaluate your process for creating user-centered designs, including how you incorporate user research and iterate based on feedback.

• User Research – Discuss how you gather user insights and apply them to your designs.
• Prototyping – Explain your prototyping process and how it informs your final design decisions.
• User Testing – Describe your approach to testing designs with users and incorporating feedback.

Example questions:

• "How do you validate your design choices with users?"
• "What tools do you use for prototyping and why?"

Collaboration and Communication

Your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams will be assessed heavily. Unum thrives on teamwork, so showing your collaborative spirit is essential.

• Team Dynamics – Discuss how you work with product managers and developers.
• Feedback Loops – Explain how you handle feedback from peers and stakeholders.
• Presenting Ideas – Describe how you present your work and rationale to teams.

Example questions:

• "How do you ensure that all stakeholders are aligned during the design process?"
• "Can you give an example of how you handled a disagreement with a team member?"

Technical Proficiency

Your technical skills in design software and tools will be evaluated. Be prepared to discuss your experience and proficiency levels with various design tools and methodologies.

• Design Software – Detail your experience with tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite.
• Responsive Design – Explain your approach to designing for different devices and platforms.
• Understanding of Front-end Technologies – Discuss how your knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript informs your design process.

Example questions:

• "What design tools do you use for collaboration?"
• "How do you ensure designs are feasible from a technical perspective?"

Key Responsibilities

In the UX/UI Designer role at Unum, your day-to-day responsibilities will revolve around creating engaging user experiences that meet both user needs and business objectives. You will be involved in:

• Conducting user research to inform design decisions.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop user-friendly interfaces.
• Creating wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs.
• Iterating on designs based on user testing and feedback.
• Ensuring consistency across various products and platforms.

Your work will require effective collaboration with product managers, engineers, and other designers to ensure a cohesive user experience. You will also be accountable for understanding user needs and translating them into functional and appealing designs, influencing both the product strategy and overall user satisfaction.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be successful in the UX/UI Designer position at Unum, candidates should possess a blend of technical skills, experience, and personal attributes.

• Must-have skills:

  • Proficiency in design software such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Strong understanding of user-centered design principles.
  • Experience with responsive design and usability testing.

• Nice-to-have skills:

  • Basic knowledge of front-end development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
  • Experience in working within Agile frameworks.
  • Familiarity with accessibility standards and best practices.

A strong candidate will typically have a portfolio showcasing their design process and outcomes, ideally with 3-5 years of relevant experience in UX/UI design.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the typical interview difficulty and how much preparation time should I allocate?
The interview difficulty for the UX/UI Designer role at Unum is moderate to high, with candidates typically preparing for 2-4 weeks. Focus on understanding design principles and your portfolio projects.

Q: What differentiates successful candidates?
Successful candidates demonstrate a solid design process, effective communication skills, and a collaborative mindset. They also show a strong alignment with Unum’s values and culture.

Q: What is the culture and working style like at Unum?
Unum promotes a collaborative environment that values diversity and inclusion. Team members are encouraged to share ideas and work together to solve complex design challenges.

Q: What is the typical timeline from the initial screen to an offer?
The timeline can vary but generally takes 3-5 weeks. Candidates can expect initial screening, followed by multiple rounds of interviews assessing both technical and cultural fit.

Q: Are there remote work or hybrid expectations for this role?
Unum offers flexible work arrangements, including remote and hybrid options, depending on team needs and individual circumstances.

Other General Tips

• Showcase Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio highlights your design process and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss specific projects in detail.
• Practice Behavioral Questions: Anticipate questions about past experiences and prepare structured responses that showcase your skills and adaptability.
• Align with Company Values: Familiarize yourself with Unum’s core values and be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with them.
• Engage with Your Interviewers: Show genuine interest in the team and projects at Unum. Ask insightful questions to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role.

Summary & Next Steps

The UX/UI Designer position at Unum offers a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful products that enhance users' lives. Your impact on design and user experience is crucial to our mission. Focus your preparation on the evaluation themes discussed, including design process, collaboration, and technical skills.

As you prepare, remember that in-depth understanding and practice can significantly improve your interview performance. Explore additional resources and insights on Dataford to further your preparation.

Your potential to succeed at Unum is within reach, and with dedicated effort, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for this exciting role.