These questions are based on real interview experiences from candidates who interviewed at this company. You can practice answering them interactively on Dataford to better prepare for your interview.

Preparation for Workiva requires a shift in mindset from "showing screens" to "explaining decisions." The hiring team is less interested in flashy visuals and more interested in how you untangle complexity. You need to demonstrate that you can take a vague, difficult problem and methodically arrive at a solution that works for power users.

You will be evaluated on the following key criteria:

• Process Articulation – You must be able to explain the why behind your design choices. Interviewers will drill down into your case studies to understand your research methods, how you handled constraints, and how you iterated based on feedback.
• Complexity Management – Workiva’s products are not simple consumer apps. You need to show experience or aptitude for designing for enterprise systems, dashboards, or tools where data density and workflow efficiency are paramount.
• Collaboration & Communication – You will work closely with Product Managers and Engineers. You need to demonstrate that you can defend your design decisions respectfully, accept critique, and navigate technical feasibility discussions.
• Design System Fluency – You should understand how to work within and contribute to a design system, ensuring consistency across a sprawling platform.

The interview process at Workiva is thorough and can be lengthy, often taking several weeks or even months from application to final decision. The company operates with a remote-first mindset, so nearly all interactions will occur via video conference (typically Google Meet). The process is designed to vet not just your craft, but your patience, communication style, and cultural alignment.

Generally, the flow begins with a Recruiter Screen, followed by a Hiring Manager interview, and culminates in a "loop" or panel stage involving portfolio presentations and behavioral interviews. A distinctive feature of Workiva’s process is the rigor of the initial screens; unlike some companies where the first call is a formality, candidates often face challenging questions about their background and gaps early on. You should expect a mix of conversational interviews and structured "deep dives" into your past work.

This timeline illustrates a typical progression for the UX/UI Designer role. While the process usually follows this linear path, scheduling delays can occur, and the time between rounds can vary significantly. Use the gaps between interviews to refine your portfolio presentation, as this is often the pivot point for the final decision.

To succeed, you must prepare for specific evaluation areas that the Workiva team prioritizes. Based on candidate experiences, the focus is heavily on your practical ability to execute and your history of handling professional challenges.

Portfolio Review & Case Studies

This is the most critical part of the loop. You will likely be asked to present 1–2 projects in depth. The interviewers want to see how you think, not just the final high-fidelity mockups.

Be ready to go over:

• The Problem Space – clearly defining the user problem and business goal.
• Exploration – showing sketches, wireframes, and rejected concepts.
• Outcomes – qualitative or quantitative data showing the impact of your work.
• Advanced concepts – handling edge cases, accessibility considerations (WCAG), and responsive behavior in data grids.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk us through a project where you had to simplify a complex workflow."
• "Show us a time you had to compromise on a design due to technical constraints. How did you handle it?"
• "Why did you choose this specific navigation pattern over others?"

Product Thinking & Strategy

Workiva designers are partners in product definition. You will be tested on your ability to think beyond the UI and understand the product lifecycle.

Be ready to go over:

• User Research – how you gather insights and validate assumptions.
• Cross-functional alignment – how you ensure design, product, and engineering are on the same page.
• Prioritization – how you decide what features are essential versus "nice to have."

Example questions or scenarios:

• "What do you think is important when you design a survey or data-entry tool?"
• "How do you measure the success of a design after it launches?"
• "If a PM asks for a feature that you know is bad for the user, how do you handle it?"

Behavioral & Cultural Fit

Workiva places a high value on culture. They look for candidates who are humble, collaborative, and resilient. However, be aware that some candidates have reported rigorous questioning regarding resume gaps or career pivots.

Be ready to go over:

• Conflict resolution – specific examples of disagreements with stakeholders.
• Adaptability – handling changes in project scope or leadership.
• Motivation – genuine reasons for wanting to work in the FinTech/SaaS space.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you received difficult feedback. What did you do with it?"
• "Why are you applying for this specific job at Workiva?"
• "What are your long-term career goals?"

As a UX/UI Designer at Workiva, your day-to-day work revolves around making the complex simple. You will be embedded in a product team, working alongside product managers and developers to deliver features for the Wdesk platform.

Your primary responsibility is to translate requirements into user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity prototypes. You will often be dealing with "dry" or dense data—financial tables, audit logs, and compliance checklists. Your job is to organize this information so that users can perform their tasks efficiently without cognitive overload.

Collaboration is constant. You will participate in stand-ups, design critiques, and sprint planning. You will also be expected to contribute to and utilize the internal design system, ensuring that new features align with the broader platform's visual and interaction language. Occasionally, you may be asked to conduct user research or usability testing to validate your designs before they go to code.