Understanding the Question

When asked to explain a research project where you had to pivot your strategy, interviewers are probing for several key insights into your problem-solving and adaptability skills. This question is aimed at uncovering your ability to recognize when a research approach isn't yielding the expected outcomes, your creativity in developing new strategies, and your resilience in the face of challenges. It's also a way to gauge your process-oriented thinking and how you manage change within the scope of UX research projects.

Interviewer's Goals

The interviewer's primary objectives with this question are to:

1. Assess Problem-Solving Skills: How do you identify when a strategy isn't working, and what steps do you take to address the issue?
2. Evaluate Flexibility and Adaptability: Can you adjust your plans in response to new information or unexpected obstacles?
3. Understand Decision-Making Processes: What criteria do you use to decide that a pivot is necessary, and how do you choose a new direction?
4. Examine Your Ability to Implement Change: How effectively can you execute a new strategy, particularly under constraints such as time, budget, or resources?
5. Gauge Impact on Project Outcomes: What were the results of your pivot, and how did it contribute to the project's success?

How to Approach Your Answer

Your response should be structured to take the interviewer on a journey through a specific project where you successfully navigated a strategic pivot. Here’s how to approach your answer:

1. Set the Scene: Briefly describe the initial project, including its goals and the original strategy you chose.
2. Identify the Challenge: Explain the point at which you realized the initial approach was not working. Be specific about what indicators or feedback led to this realization.
3. Describe the Pivot: Detail the new strategy you implemented. Highlight how you came up with this solution and any alternative options you considered.
4. Implement the Change: Share how you executed the pivot, including any obstacles you faced and how you overcame them.
5. Reflect on the Outcome: Discuss the results of the pivot. Focus on both the project outcomes and any learnings or personal growth you experienced.

Example Responses Relevant to UX Researcher

Example 1: "In a project aimed at redesigning a mobile application for a retail client, initial user tests based on our prototypes did not reveal the depth of insights we expected. Recognizing this, I proposed pivoting from moderated to unmoderated remote usability testing, allowing us to gather data from a broader and more diverse user base. The pivot not only yielded richer insights into user behavior and preferences but also highlighted accessibility issues we had not initially considered. This led to a more inclusive design that significantly improved user satisfaction scores in subsequent tests."

Example 2: "While leading a UX research project focused on improving an e-commerce site's checkout process, early findings suggested that our initial hypothesis about user drop-off points was incorrect. I decided to pivot our strategy towards a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative data from analytics with qualitative insights from follow-up interviews. This pivot revealed unexpected pain points related to payment options and trust signals, which informed a redesign that resulted in a 20% decrease in cart abandonment rates."

Tips for Success

• Be Specific: Provide detailed information about the project and the pivot to demonstrate your hands-on experience and critical thinking skills.
• Show Resilience: Highlight your ability to stay optimistic and resourceful in the face of challenges.
• Reflect on Learnings: Demonstrating what you learned from the experience shows growth and an openness to continuous improvement.
• Focus on Results: Quantify the outcomes of your pivot wherever possible, as this adds credibility to your story.
• Practice Storytelling: A well-told story will make your response more memorable and engaging for the interviewer.

By thoughtfully preparing your answer to this question, you'll be able to showcase your adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and the strategic thinking essential for a successful career in UX research.