How to Show Impact on a UX Research Resume (Without Fake Metrics)

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader

When I first started crafting my UX research resume, I struggled with one big question: how do I show real impact without resorting to inflated or fake numbers? Many job seekers feel pressured to add flashy metrics that don’t truly reflect their work. But in UX research, genuine impact often comes from insights, decisions influenced, and user experience improvements that don’t always translate into neat percentages or dollar signs. I learned that telling a clear story about my contributions, backed by concrete examples, made my resume stand out far more than any exaggerated metric.

If you want to highlight your impact honestly and effectively, this post will guide you through practical ways to do just that.

UX Research Resume: Focus on Outcomes, Not Just Numbers

Numbers can be powerful, but they don’t tell the whole story. Instead of trying to invent metrics, focus on the outcomes your research influenced. For example:

• Did your research lead to a redesign that improved user satisfaction?

• Did you identify a key pain point that saved development time or costs?

• Did your findings help prioritize features that users really needed?

  
  

When I updated my resume, I replaced vague claims like “Improved user engagement by 30%” with statements such as:

• “Led usability testing that uncovered critical navigation issues, resulting in a redesign that reduced user errors by 25%.”

• “Collaborated with product team to prioritize features based on user feedback, accelerating time to market by two weeks.”

  
  

These examples show clear impact without relying on unverifiable or inflated numbers.

A UX researcher reviewing detailed user feedback notes

Image caption: Reviewing user feedback notes to identify key pain points that shaped product improvements.

Use Qualitative Evidence to Support Your Impact

UX research often involves qualitative data. Don’t shy away from using this to show your value. You can describe:

• How your interviews revealed unexpected user needs

• How your ethnographic studies influenced design decisions

• How your journey maps helped teams understand user behavior

  
  

For example, instead of a generic bullet like “Conducted user interviews,” say:

• “Conducted 15 in-depth user interviews that revealed a major workflow bottleneck, leading to a redesign that improved task completion time.”

  
  

This approach shows you understand the research’s purpose and its effect on the product.

Highlight Collaboration and Influence

Your impact isn’t just about what you discover but how you communicate and influence others. UX research is a team effort, and your ability to work with designers, developers, and product managers matters.

On my resume, I added points like:

• “Presented research findings to cross-functional teams, resulting in adoption of new design guidelines.”

• “Partnered with product managers to integrate user insights into the roadmap.”

  
  

These statements show you don’t just gather data—you help teams make better decisions.

Tell Stories with Your Projects

When possible, briefly describe the context of your projects. This helps hiring managers understand the challenges you faced and the value you added.

For example:

• “At a fintech startup, led research on mobile app onboarding that uncovered confusion around security features. Recommendations led to a simplified onboarding flow, reducing drop-off rates.”

  
  

This kind of storytelling makes your impact tangible and memorable.

Close-up of a UX research report showing charts and user quotes

Image caption: Detailed UX research report combining quantitative charts and qualitative user quotes.

Use Action Verbs and Specific Language

Strong verbs help convey your role and impact clearly. Use words like:

• Led

• Designed

• Analyzed

• Influenced

• Collaborated

• Delivered

  
  

Avoid vague phrases like “responsible for” or “involved in.” Be specific about what you did and the results.

Avoid Common Pitfalls with Metrics

Many UX researchers feel pressured to add metrics like “increased conversion by 50%” without direct evidence. This can backfire if you’re asked to explain or prove it.

Instead:

• Use metrics only if you directly measured or influenced them.

• If you don’t have exact numbers, describe the impact qualitatively.

• Focus on how your research shaped decisions, not just outcomes that may have multiple causes.

  
  
  
  

Final Thoughts

Showing impact on your UX research resume doesn’t require fake metrics or exaggeration. By focusing on clear outcomes, using qualitative evidence, highlighting collaboration, and telling concise project stories, you can present your work honestly and powerfully.

Next time you update your resume, ask yourself: what did I change, influence, or improve? How did my research help the team or product? Answering these questions will help you craft a resume that truly reflects your value as a UX researcher.

Start by revisiting your past projects and writing down specific examples of your impact. Then, turn those into clear, concise bullet points that show your unique contributions.