Imagine transforming your career—remote work, a higher salary, and more time at home. Sounds ideal, doesn’t it? It’s what many professionals strive for, yet it often feels out of reach.
For Stephanie, a burned-out teacher, the desire to break free from the monotony of her career was constant, but her options seemed limited. She explored multiple tech bootcamps, only to find them expensive, rigid, or requiring prior experience she didn’t have. Then she discovered Merit America—a program designed for career changers like her, requiring no degree or previous experience.
What surprised her most was how well her existing skills translated into UX design—communication, empathy, collaboration, and adaptability—all valuable assets in a career focused on problem-solving and user-centered thinking. Without realizing it, she had already been building the foundation for her new career.
Let’s dive into Stephanie’s story to see how she pivoted away from teaching, gained her Professional UX Design Certificate, achieved a $67K salary increase, and built a fulfilling career through Merit America.
Burned Out and Searching for More
Stephanie’s career started in education, where she worked as both a teacher and an administrator. While she valued her role, she often felt constrained by the system and knew there was more she wanted to explore. Creativity was a huge part of her background—she had experience in the music industry and always dreamed of combining her artistic mindset with technology.
“I knew there was more out there for me,” Stephanie shared. But making a career change wasn’t simple.
She researched different tech programs but found that most didn’t fit her needs. She couldn’t afford to put her life on hold for years to pursue a traditional degree, and many fast-track programs seemed inaccessible or unrealistic. It wasn’t until a friend mentioned Merit America that she finally saw a clear path forward.
Finding the Perfect Fit
After learning about Merit America, Stephanie decided to apply to the UX Design Career Track.
“Merit America fit perfectly for who I am, the background I come from, and what I was looking for,” she said.
The program’s flexibility allowed her to upskill without stepping away from her responsibilities. With a structured curriculum, hands-on projects, and career coaching, she built confidence in her technical and professional skills. Her career coach, Jeremiah, played a pivotal role in guiding her through the transition, helping her fine-tune her resume, prepare for interviews, and navigate the job search process.
Through the program, she gained:
Technical Skills & UX Tools
- UX/UI Design – Learning Figma and Adobe for wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.
- UX Research & Design Processes – Mastering user-centered design, design sprints, empathy mapping, persona building, problem definition, ideation strategies, competitive analysis, and accessibility best practices.
- Prototyping & Interaction Design – Creating storyboards, wireframes, and low/high-fidelity prototypes to test and iterate designs.
- Information Architecture & Visual Design – Understanding typography, color theory, iconography, Gestalt principles, layout structures (grids, hierarchy, scale & proportion), and design systems.
- Usability Testing & Research Methods – Conducting user interviews, usability studies, and synthesizing research findings.
Career Coaching & Professional Development
- Resume & Portfolio Building – Showcasing projects and articulating transferable skills.
- Mock Interviews & Job Search Strategy – Preparing for behavioral and technical interviews.
- Networking & Personal Branding – Connecting with UX professionals and recruiters.
📌 Related: Is A Career In UX Design Right For You? 10 Considerations
Projects: Applying Her UX Design Skills
Stream Around (Jan 2024 – Feb 2024)
- Product: A subscription management app that helps users track streaming services and payment due dates.
- Problem Statement: Becca, a full-time graduate student, struggles to manage her streaming subscriptions while juggling work and school.
- Goals & Tools: Designed to consolidate all active subscriptions, helping users stay on top of payments using Figma for wireframing and prototyping.
Early Bird – Mobile App (Oct 2023 – Jan 2024)
- Product: A mobile app providing early pre-order access to gaming equipment for college students.
- Problem Statement: Brandon, a student in NYC without a car, wants an easy way to buy gaming gear without waiting in long store lines.
- Goals & Learnings: Focused on reducing checkout time and improving user engagement, integrating UX research techniques like persona building and usability testing.
Landing The Job
Stephanie’s hard work paid off. Shortly after completing the Google UX Design Certificate, she secured a role as a Program Assistant at WestEd, where she applied her UX skills daily to improve internal systems and processes.
At WestEd, Stephanie:
- Oversees the technological dimensions of the educational leadership and systems design team, navigating virtual service delivery with expertise while supporting project leadership.
- Manages production coordination intricacies, including timeline creation, oversight, proofing, and formatting using MS Word tools.
- Ensures accessibility compliance by conducting rigorous Section 508 checks, improving usability for all users.
- Maintains and updates the internal team-facing website, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality of critical information.
- Facilitates operations and logistics for project-specific meetings, contributing to documentation, knowledge-sharing, and meeting material preparation.
Her transition into her new role not only gave her a role she’s passionate about, but it also resulted in a $67,000 salary increase—a life-changing financial boost that provided her with stability and growth opportunities.
Reflecting on her journey, she credits the program with giving her the confidence to make the leap. “The support I received, especially from my career coach, made all the difference,” she said.
📌 Related Reading: Do I Really Need A Career Coach? What You Should Know
Key Takeaways: Stephanie’s Advice for Career Changers
- Find the right program – Look for career training that aligns with your background, schedule, and goals.
- Leverage transferable skills – Soft skills like communication and problem-solving are valuable in tech roles.
- Take career coaching seriously – Resume building, networking, and interview prep are essential for landing your first job.
- Trust the process – The transition to tech can feel overwhelming, but with the right support, it’s possible.
- Keep learning – UX design requires constant iteration and growth, so always look for opportunities to improve.
Ready to Start Your Own Journey?
Stephanie’s story is just one of many. If you’re ready to transition into UX Design or another high-growth tech field without a four-year degree, Merit America can help you get there.
Take our ‘Which Program Is Right for Me?’ quiz to explore your options. If you’re not quite ready to apply, check out our blog on How to Get Into UX Design for more insights.