Meet Priya learn about her career in tech as Senior User Experience Specialist at Northrop Grumman.
How did you start your career in tech?
At high school, Maths and Computing were my favourite subjects. I decided that I wanted to pursue a career that encompassed both, so I joined university to complete a course in Computer Science which prepared me for a career in the tech sector through a mix of academic and practical studies.
I originally heard about user experience design through the course and learning about the importance of creating positive experiences for users. I remember being fascinated by how a simple design mistake could lead to unsatisfactory user experiences. I decided to do an extended course in user experience where I learned about both design and research and it was the research part that really clicked for me. I decided that’s the route I was going to pursue and I’ve been a UX Researcher now for the past two years.
What do you love about your career?
As a User Researcher interacting with users and finding out their thoughts, motivations and behaviours has always been fascinating to me. It’s rewarding to see the impact research has made on end users' lives. User experience is niche but it’s a growing field and is always evolving as technology advances. Therefore, it’s challenging to keep up with the changes but equally exciting.
What would you say to your younger self about your career now?
The advice I would give my younger self is not to be afraid to try new things, take risks and put yourself out there for opportunities. If things don’t work out, don’t stay down, ask yourself what lessons you can learn from the experience and move on. When you join the tech industry, it’s perfectly normal to think you lack experience. Experience can be built and your differences is what makes you an interesting candidate.
What do you enjoy the most about coming to work?
What gets me up in the morning is the opportunity to learn something new. I really appreciate how open we are about what we learn and how we try to push our knowledge out beyond the team.
Does the culture of a company matter and what is NGUK’s culture like?
At the beginning of my career, I overlooked company culture but then soon came to realise that it is the most important criteria when evaluating a job. It impacts everything – including your happiness and development. At Northrop Grumman, I work with great colleagues who not only inspire me but provide me with an environment to try new things and not be afraid of failures.
Also, I’m the co-lead of the employee resource group REACH, which stands for Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage. It’s important to have a diverse and inclusive workforce which ensures that all our colleagues are able to work in a safe and supportive environment enabling them to achieve their full potential.
Do you see any barriers to getting into tech careers and how would you break them down?
Women are vastly underrepresented in the tech sector. Where you come from shouldn’t stop you from seeking out opportunities. We should continue to break down barriers for women in technology. Here at Northrop Grumman, we have partnered up with Black Codher, an organisation with an aim to provide opportunities for Black female developers who are heavily underrepresented in technology. We are looking forward to welcoming the talented individuals to our team.
What changes or trends have you seen over recent years that are making the UK tech industry better?
When we think about tech presence in the UK few years ago, London was a significant location for large tech companies. However, now there are other cities that are thriving such as Manchester, Bristol and Cambridge. Even pre-pandemic tech companies have adapted to remote working. This has allowed the opportunity to hire skilled professionals from a larger talent pool.
If you're interested in fulfilling a mission, not just doing a job, search the Northrop Grumman UK website for opportunities for your next career move.
