Finding Jobs in UX: What I Learned from Five Months of Unemployment

In a world where remote work is the norm and AI is transforming the landscape, finding the perfect UX job—or even a job—can feel overwhelming. That was certainly the case for our June speaker, Josh Salmon. When he found himself suddenly unemployed, it seemed like even a decade of experience didn’t count for much.

In this talk, Josh will share what he learned during five months of job hunting: how he rediscovered skills he’d forgotten, made use of new tools (like AI), and stayed grounded through an uncertain chapter. He’ll talk about his journey from academia to the video game industry, to being laid off, and eventually finding a new home in healthcare UX.

Along the way, Josh will cover practical tips on job searching, refining resumes (or portfolios), preparing for interviews, and staying sane throughout the process. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a career change, we hope you’ll find something useful—and maybe even reassuring—in his story. Hope to see you there! 😊

> Agenda
7:00 PM Doors open, networking time
7:15 PM Introductions from the event hosts, Nata and Ruby
7:20 PM Finding Jobs in UX: What I Learned from Five Months of Unemployment with Josh Salmon
7:50 PM Q&A
8:15 PM Networking and wrap-up
8:30 PM Doors close

> Speaker Bio
Josh Salmon earned his PhD in Cognitive Psychology from Dalhousie University in 2013. While at Dalhousie, he worked on rehabilitation research at the Brain Repair Centre and later joined Dr. Stewart’s Interdisciplinary Addictions Lab. He then made a sharp pivot into the video game industry, holding various UX research roles at Ubisoft, Kabam, and Alpha Dog Games.

In May of 2024, Josh found himself suddenly unemployed when Microsoft closed several of its gaming studios, including where he worked. It was an ~~exciting~~ scary five months where he relearned how to tailor his resume, represent himself in interviews, and make the most of new AI tools.

Josh is now in a new role at Varian, where he works as a UX Researcher supporting the development of healthcare software. He’s thrilled to be part of a team advancing oncology care right here in Nova Scotia — and especially grateful to be working alongside talented teammates.

You can find Josh on LinkedIn here.

> How to find us at Volta (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Enter at 1800 Argyle St. Proceed up the stairs or use the accessible ramp to the left of the stairs. Take elevators to the 8th floor. Go through the doors ahead. Volta is on your right. Proceed across the space. Take a left down the hallway after the projection wall. The room is ahead, to the right.

> Acknowledgements
Thank you enormously to Volta for sharing their space with us. With this venue, we can continue to grow and scale our meetups for larger audiences.

> Support us
We are solely volunteer-run and always looking for sponsors. Besides, if you liked the event, please spread the word on social media and bring a friend next time!