December 21, 2023
“It was pure coincidence that I discovered UX…” Sanja Kondic, a former Mission Ready graduate and currently a UX/UI Designer for Vista Entertainment, adds, “… but I still consider myself super lucky that I found it”.
With her previous experience in film production, Sanja always had a keen eye for capturing and communicating human experiences. We caught up with Sanja to learn more about her success story as a student looking for direction and opportunity.
Finding our way to the most beneficial future can be a daunting task at best. Getting to know what we are truly good at and enjoy doing on a day-to-day basis can take some time. Sanja reminisces, “I think at the back of my mind, I knew I always wanted to have a job that allowed me to understand what people are thinking and how I can help them. It took me a while to find my feet and choose what I wanted to strive for career-wise, but when I stumbled across UX Design, I knew it was the right fit for me”.
Lucky coincidences or intentional design, the way to a successful future seems to start with understanding passion and the willingness to learn. We decided to ask Sanja about this and what made her successful at her most recent job interview.
She recalls, “I think what made me a successful candidate is that I was passionate about UX. I genuinely wanted to learn more and push myself to develop my skills. Before the course started, I was already involved with volunteer work and personal projects, and I think that came through in the interview.”
As the world speeds into the future, technology is playing an increasingly integrated role in our daily lives. From smart devices in our vehicles, entertainment consoles, and kitchen appliances to global shipping networks, the Internet of Things (IoT) is already an expansive presence. Making things and experiences more user-friendly is the domain of the UX/UI designer, and this skillset is becoming increasingly sought after.
Most of us use some form of technology—whether digital or analog—every day. Like Sanja, who came from a film production background, most people are familiar with a particular branch of tech. She admits, “I can’t say I was interested in technology per se; it just happened that UX Design falls within the industry. However, since working and exploring more, I love how fast-paced it is and how much potential it offers in terms of assisting human development”.
That fast-paced future offers great potential where tech professionals can create more human-friendly products while solving real-world problems. How we approach learning and how knowledge is imparted is vital to creating successful real-world outcomes. Sanja observes, “I like that as a student you’re given a lot of guidance but also autonomy, plus you’re given the opportunity to work in a real-life scenario, which genuinely gets you workplace ready”.
Pushing limits and pursuing passion precedes success, then. Laying a good foundation by initiating some work on her own and learning the subject of her interest helped Sanja hit the ground running. We wanted to learn about her own experience and gain some insights into how learning happens at Mission Ready.
Sanja recalls, “I think what I enjoyed the most was the fun, support and all-round demeanour of the students and tutors that were involved in my intake; it made me feel like we were in it together.” She also offers some pro tips for anyone wanting to future-proof their career. “You have to be ready for a challenge, and you absolutely have to come in with a growth mindset. You can never do too much of your own research before the course starts, and be ready to push yourself—it’s a lot of work but seriously rewarding”.