5 Year Quantitative UX Researcher Looking For Next FTE Gig

[toxic nexus]

Based in NYC, TC 200k currently working at a bank as a contract Quantitative UX Researcher.

I'm looking for a new FTE gig. I worked at a large bank for a few years as an analyst supporting our digital platform. Did a lot of ethnographic, behavioral research. Biggest project was creating an acquisition database that brought in several million marginal dollars a month as a result of a bunch of changes made after it was implemented. The company went hard on RTO and I left. The market was up at the time, I figured I'd find a job quickly but it turned down quickly at the end of last year.

I ended up taking a contract to FTE quant UXR role at a FAANG after two or three months. Managers had only good things to say in reviews, but the company laid off half the team including me after 8 months there. Skip level manager said if he can get budget in January they'll hire me back fulltime but that seems unlikely.

I took a shit job at another large bank for now while trying to get back to tech. Now I'm trying to get back to tech. I've had a few interviews at orgs like Spotify and Stripe but either the comps were below my expectations for the requirements and amount of effort to get them (think under $150k all in for senior positions and 6+ interviews) or they went with a candidate with a PhD.

I'm struggling to compete with credentials but I'm still trying to find my next full time job, hopefully ASAP. To that end I've made a portfolio and am going to Afrotech at the end of the month. I'm hoping to get a job there and I'll be updating here on my process.

[next scaffold]

What jobs are you targeting MLE?

5 years and NYC with background in statistics and Risk Management I’m surprised you’re having troubles. Are you not open to finance technology?

[toxic nexus]

I'm targeting research at tech orgs right now. I'm open to fintech, but most of what I've seen has been traditional finance and that's really unappealing.

I've done well on the interviews I've had according to recruiters but if I and a person with a PhD have similar performance they'll get picked in most cases

[next scaffold]

I think targeting research without a PhD is what’s holding you back.

Especially if it’s AI/ML research positions.

Have you thought about AI fraud detection positions?

It’s not impossible to get the research positions but it doesn’t help that much. If it’s informative I’ve had the same issue with only a bachelors while having numerous high-impact publications and awards from international competitions.

[toxic nexus]

I agree that it's holding me back, but I'm not in AI. I'm in ethnography.

I was the only one without a PhD when I was at my big n but most of the people that had one had such tangential relationships with what we were working on it seemed like the extra education wasn't relevant.

I definitely can't do one so I'm trying to circumvent the normal applications process.

[next scaffold]

Makes sense especially for a PhD. I do not know ethnography and can’t help you there.

I still think you would be a strong DS MLE candidate.

[toxic nexus]

Thanks. I'll fall back on that if I don't have anything by this time next month.

[toxic nexus]

Update: Google researcher inmailed me on Linkedin asking if I wanted to chat and set up some time. I haven't applied to anything with them but maybe it goes somewhere. Jobs I've actually applied to have been exclusively no response or denials.

[toxic nexus]

Updating a week later: One week from my flight to conference. Spending >$1000 to go for one day so really hoping to get value out of it. I have a meeting with a few companies that make products I'm interested in. Because of what I've heard about the expedited interview processes from being at this event live, my current goal is to have a new job I've signed for by Thanksgiving. Currently I don't have PTO so the holidays will suck if I'm not able to get this done.

Companies I'm currently planning on talking to include. I'll include updates on the process.

Appfolio, Remote
Autodesk, Remote
Apple, NYC
Atlassian, Remote
Adobe, Remote
Airbnb, Remote
Braze, NYC
Chime, Remote
Duolingo, NYC
Google, NYC
IAS, NYC
Linkedin, NYC
Microsoft, Remote
Mozilla, Remote
Meta, NYC
Netflix, Remote
Nike, Remote
Pinterest, ?
Robinhood, NYC
Salesforce, NYC
Sirius, NYC
Shopify, Remote
Sonos, Remote
Snap, NYC
Uber, NYC
Zillow, Remote

[next scaffold]

D1 material.

[toxic nexus]

Have arrived at conference, let's see what I can make of this

[next scaffold]

I like the pikachu hat.

[toxic nexus]

This is a very serious place

As you can see

[next scaffold]

Oh you’re at Afrotech?

[toxic nexus]

Yeah, only for today

It's been a good experience if expensive

[toxic nexus]

Meeting with Atlassian just made me realize how pointless my work at Microsoft was and how much I have a preference for small orgs that are passionate than behemoths. I also realized I need to improve my applicant profile somehow.

Also humbling to be vying for the companies people you chat with are at while at the companies others are trying to get to.

[toxic nexus]

Odd move lol

No problem haha