UX Intern

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Intern

Company: Western National Group & Umialik Insurance

Location: Edina, Minnesota, United States

Job Type: Internship

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-10-02

Experience Level: Entry Level (0-2 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on supporting the Product Engineering team by contributing to user experience (UX) design, user research, and product design initiatives, particularly for the agent portal.

• The intern will gain hands-on experience in evaluating existing workflows, identifying opportunities for improved user journeys, and developing UX artifacts.

• This position offers exposure to cross-functional collaboration with product, engineering, QA, and business stakeholders within the insurance industry.

• The role is part of a structured internship program designed for professional development, relationship building, and community engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "UX Intern," the responsibilities and team context place this role within a broader operational framework of product development and customer experience enhancement within the insurance sector. The emphasis on agent portals and workflow evaluation aligns with operations goals of improving efficiency and user satisfaction.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct user research activities, including interviews, usability testing, and surveys, to gather insights into agent needs and pain points.

• Perform comprehensive evaluations of current agent portals, assessing workflows, navigation, content, accessibility, responsive design, and overall visual consistency.

• Identify and propose opportunities to create a more unified and streamlined user experience across various agent portals and connected applications.

• Develop key UX artifacts such as user flows, journey maps, wireframes, and interactive prototypes to visualize and communicate design concepts.

• Collaborate effectively with product managers, engineers, quality assurance testers, and business stakeholders to translate user feedback into actionable design recommendations and product improvements.

• Present research findings, design solutions, and documented reusable UX patterns to relevant teams, contributing to the development of a future unified agent portal experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are highly tactical and focused on the early stages of the UX design process, from research and analysis to conceptualization and artifact creation. This aligns with an intern's role in supporting more senior team members and contributing to defined project tasks.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Currently enrolled as a senior-level undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Information Architecture, Psychology, or a closely related field. Experience:

• Demonstrated prior experience in UX design, user research, product design, or interaction design through academic projects, internships, or personal work.

• Proven ability to create essential UX artifacts, including wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and journey maps. Required Skills:

• Proficiency in UX design principles and methodologies.

• Experience with user research techniques such as interviews, usability testing, and surveys.

• Familiarity with design and prototyping tools, with specific experience in Figma or comparable software (e.g., Sketch, Adobe XD).

• Understanding of evaluating and improving workflows, navigation, and content for digital products.

• Basic knowledge of accessibility standards and responsive design principles.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting findings and collaborating with teams.

• Excellent collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment.

• A portfolio showcasing UX thinking, research methodologies, or design work is essential. Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the insurance industry or understanding of financial services user needs.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

• Knowledge of information architecture best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize foundational UX skills and academic background, typical for an internship. The portfolio requirement is critical for demonstrating practical application of these skills. The mention of Figma or comparable tools is a key technical requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio that clearly demonstrates your UX thinking, research processes, and design outcomes.

• Examples of projects that showcase your ability to translate user needs into tangible design solutions.

• Demonstrations of your proficiency with UX artifacts such as user flows, journey maps, wireframes, and prototypes.

• Evidence of your experience with research methodologies (interviews, usability testing) and how you integrated findings into your designs. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples within your portfolio that illustrate your approach to evaluating existing workflows and identifying areas for process optimization.

• Showcase how you documented design decisions and rationale, particularly in relation to improving user journeys or system interactions.

• Include any instances where you contributed to the documentation of reusable UX patterns or design system components.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an internship role, the portfolio is the primary mechanism for assessing practical skills. The emphasis should be on showing a clear process from problem identification to solution, even if the projects are academic or personal in nature.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• $20.00 per hour. Benefits:

• Paid Internship: Opportunity to earn while gaining valuable professional experience.

• Professional Development: Access to a range of professional development activities as part of the internship program.

• Networking Opportunities: Cultivate relationships with employees and fellow interns.

• Community Involvement: Participate in impactful volunteer initiatives.

• Exposure to Insurance Industry: Gain insights into the operations and customer experience within the insurance sector. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, likely 40 hours per week, typical for an internship program during the summer.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary is an hourly rate, common for internships. Benefits are program-specific, focusing on development and networking rather than traditional full-time employee benefits. The expected working hours are inferred from the typical duration and intensity of summer internships.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Insurance (Property and Casualty)

Company Size: Ranked as the 41st largest private company by revenue in Minnesota, indicating a significant regional presence and established operations. The company is described as having over 120 years of experience, suggesting stability and a deep understanding of its market.

Founded: Over 120 years ago, highlighting a long-standing history and established market position.

Team Structure:

• The UX Intern will be part of the Product Engineering team, which is a key component of the company's innovation and transformation efforts.

• This team likely works closely with product management, software development, and quality assurance to deliver digital solutions.

• Collaboration is expected with various business stakeholders to ensure alignment between user needs and business objectives. Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a "Relationship Company®" ethos, prioritizing friendly and helpful interactions. This suggests a culture that values strong interpersonal connections and customer-centricity.

• The Product Engineering team is focused on innovation, transformation, and investments in customer experience, indicating a forward-thinking approach to technology and product development.

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the need for user research and evaluation of workflows to inform design.

Company Website: wnins.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Western National Group positions itself as a stable, experienced, and relationship-focused insurance provider. The Product Engineering team is likely at the forefront of digital transformation efforts, aiming to enhance the customer and agent experience through technology.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level internship position, designed to provide foundational experience in UX design within an operational context. It serves as a stepping stone for individuals looking to build a career in product development and design.

Reporting Structure: The intern will report to a manager or lead within the Product Engineering team, receiving guidance and mentorship on projects and professional development.

Operations Impact: While an intern's direct impact may be limited, their contributions to user research, design artifact creation, and workflow evaluation can directly influence the usability and efficiency of agent portals, thereby indirectly impacting agent productivity and customer satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Gain hands-on experience in UX design methodologies, research techniques, and industry-standard tools like Figma.

• Industry Exposure: Learn about the intricacies of the insurance industry and the role of technology in supporting its operations and customer relationships.

• Networking: Build professional connections within the Product Engineering team and across the organization, potentially leading to future opportunities.

• Career Exploration: Determine if a career path in UX design, product management, or operations within the insurance sector is a good fit.

📝 Enhancement Note: This internship is positioned as a learning and development opportunity rather than a role with immediate, significant operational impact. Growth is defined by skill acquisition, industry exposure, and professional networking.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site, suggesting a traditional office environment where face-to-face collaboration and team interaction are valued. This setting is typical for companies emphasizing relationship-building.

Office Location(s): 4700 77th St W, Edina, MN 55435. This location is within the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, a hub for various industries in Minnesota.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, fostering interaction with the Product Engineering team and other departments.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology, including Figma, will be provided.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with experienced professionals will be available, facilitating learning and mentorship.

Work Schedule: The internship is likely a full-time, fixed-term engagement, with standard business hours (e.g., Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM), aligning with the 40-hour work week estimate.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests a company culture that values in-person collaboration and team cohesion, aligning with their "Relationship Company®" branding.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application materials, focusing on academic background, relevant coursework, and initial indication of UX interest.

• Portfolio Review: A critical step where candidates will present their portfolio to showcase their UX thinking, research abilities, and design skills. Be prepared to walk through specific projects and explain your process.

• Interviews: Likely include behavioral questions to assess communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, as well as technical questions related to UX methodologies and tools. You may be asked to discuss your approach to specific design challenges.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: Final interviews to assess cultural fit, enthusiasm for the company and the insurance industry, and overall potential for growth within the program.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 strong projects that best represent your skills in research, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the tools you used, your design decisions, and the outcomes or learnings.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your UX methodology and how you translated research insights into design solutions.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. Use clear visuals for wireframes, user flows, and prototypes.

• Figma/Tools: Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma and other relevant design tools.

Challenge Preparation:

• While specific challenges aren't detailed, be prepared for potential design exercises or case studies that assess your problem-solving abilities and UX approach under time constraints.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for an internship will heavily rely on the candidate's portfolio as evidence of their foundational UX skills. Preparation should focus on demonstrating a clear understanding of the UX process and the ability to apply it.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required tool for creating wireframes, prototypes, and potentially design system components. Proficiency here is key.

• Other Design/Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with comparable tools (e.g., Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision) is beneficial and demonstrates adaptability.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated for the intern, the Product Engineering team likely uses analytics tools to track user behavior on the agent portal. Exposure to or understanding of these concepts would be a plus. CRM & Automation:

• The "agent portal" suggests integration with or interaction with CRM functionalities. Understanding how UX design impacts user interaction with such systems is relevant.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary technical requirement is proficiency in Figma. The role implies working within a product development lifecycle that utilizes various digital tools for design, development, and potentially analytics.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Relationship-Focused: The company's core value, "The Relationship Company®," implies a strong emphasis on building and maintaining positive connections with customers, agents, and colleagues.

• Customer-Centricity: A focus on "delivering a friendly and helpful interaction" suggests a culture that prioritizes the user experience for both external (agents) and internal users.

• Innovation & Transformation: The Product Engineering team's focus indicates a value placed on forward-thinking, adopting new technologies, and improving existing processes.

• Accountability: As mentioned in the company description, accountability is a key value, suggesting a culture where individuals take ownership of their work and contribute to team success.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional: The role requires collaboration with product, engineering, QA, and business stakeholders, indicating a highly integrated and cooperative work environment.

• Feedback-Oriented: The process of translating feedback into actionable designs suggests an openness to constructive criticism and iterative improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Presenting findings and documenting patterns implies a culture that values sharing insights and best practices to benefit the broader team and future projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to blend traditional values of relationship building and service with a modern drive for innovation and digital transformation, particularly within the Product Engineering team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Academia and Industry: Translating academic UX knowledge into practical, business-oriented solutions for a specific industry like insurance.

• Understanding Complex Workflows: Grasping the intricacies of agent workflows and the insurance business to design effective solutions.

• Cross-Functional Communication: Effectively communicating UX concepts and research findings to diverse stakeholders with varying technical backgrounds.

• Portfolio Development: Creating compelling portfolio pieces that accurately reflect the intern's skills and potential within a limited timeframe.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mentorship: Direct guidance from experienced UX designers and product engineers.

• Practical Application: Applying UX principles to real-world business problems and contributing to actual product development.

• Industry Insight: Gaining a deep understanding of the insurance sector's operational needs and user requirements.

• Professional Skills: Enhancing communication, collaboration, and presentation skills through program activities and project work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for interns transitioning into a professional setting, focusing on practical application and industry-specific learning. The growth opportunities are strongly tied to the structured internship program.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• UX Process: "Walk me through a project in your portfolio. What was the problem, your role, your process, and the outcome?" Focus on articulating your research methods and design decisions.

• Problem-Solving: "How would you approach understanding the needs of insurance agents using our portal?" Be ready to outline your research plan.

• Collaboration: "Describe a time you had to work with others on a design project. How did you handle disagreements or differing opinions?" Highlight your teamwork and communication skills.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Western National Insurance Group and the insurance industry?" Research the company's "Relationship Company®" ethos and its market position.

• "How do you see yourself contributing to our Product Engineering team as a UX Intern?" Connect your skills to the team's goals of innovation and customer experience.

• "What are your career aspirations after completing this internship?" Show enthusiasm for building a career in UX or a related field. Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Concise Storytelling: Prepare a brief, engaging narrative for each project, highlighting key challenges and solutions.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize how you arrived at your designs, not just the final visual output. Show your research and iteration.

• Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma and how you leverage its features.

• Impact and Learnings: Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "identified X usability issues that could be addressed") and clearly state what you learned.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should strongly emphasize the portfolio and the ability to articulate the UX process. Understanding the company's values and industry context is also crucial for demonstrating genuine interest.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Intern position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on recruiting.paylocity.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and cover letter (if applicable) highlight your academic background and any relevant UX experience. Tailor your portfolio to showcase projects that align with the responsibilities outlined, particularly those involving user research, workflow evaluation, and digital product design.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly list your educational background, relevant coursework, and any internships or projects related to UX, design, or human-computer interaction. Use keywords from the job description such as "UX Design," "User Research," "Figma," and "Wireframing."

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on your UX process, research methodologies, and design rationale. Prepare to discuss your understanding of user-centered design principles and your interest in the insurance industry.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Western National Group's "The Relationship Company®" philosophy, its history, and its market position. Understand how UX design contributes to their operational goals and customer experience.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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