Career paths are rarely straight lines. For me, the journey from working in the hospitality industry to becoming a UX design student was full of pauses, challenges, and new beginnings. After several years in hotels and five years at home during the pandemic and while raising my family, I chose to start over—with the CAWEB Master’s program in UX Design.
The Starting Point: Hospitality
Hospitality was my first career home. I loved the energy, the people, and the sense of creating experiences. But the work was also demanding, with long hours and little room to grow into something more creative or digital.
When the pandemic hit, the entire hospitality sector was shaken. Like many others, I stepped back—this time, not just because of COVID-19, but also because I was starting a family.
Five Years at Home: Not Just a Pause
Those years at home were both rewarding and difficult. I was focused on raising my children and adapting to a new life abroad, but I also felt the anxiety of a career on hold. Watching technology and design evolve so quickly, I knew I didn’t want to return to hospitality. I wanted a fresh start in a field where empathy, communication, and creativity mattered—skills I had already developed in hospitality.
The Turning Point: CAWEB Master’s in UX Design
That’s when I discovered the CAWEB program. It gave me the structure and confidence to pivot into UX design. The curriculum combined research, design, accessibility, and real-world projects, helping me reconnect with professional growth after years away.
The transition wasn’t easy—learning technical tools, adapting to an academic environment again, and balancing family life often felt overwhelming. But every small success reminded me that I was building a new future.
Hardships Along the Way
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- Imposter syndrome: After years out of the workforce, I often doubted my ability to compete.
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- Learning curve: Tools like Figma, usability testing methods, and coding basics were all new to me.
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- Time management: Juggling studies, parenting, and personal life required resilience.
But these struggles also gave me perspective: if I could manage a busy hotel front desk during high season, and later handle family life in a new country, I could learn UX too.
The Prospects Ahead
Today, I see UX design not just as a career, but as a second chance. It allows me to blend my hospitality experience (understanding people, anticipating needs, creating meaningful experiences) with new digital skills. UX is, at its heart, about people—and that’s something I’ve always cared about.
Looking ahead, I feel hopeful. Reconversion is not about erasing the past; it’s about transforming it into something new. My hospitality background and my family years are part of what make me a human-centered designer today.
Closing
If you’re considering a career change, know that it’s possible—even if it feels late, complicated, or risky. Reconversion is never simple, but with resilience, curiosity, and the right support, it can open doors you never imagined. For me, moving from hospitality to UX design is more than a career pivot—it’s a story of starting over, with both hardship and hope.
If you think about changing your career to UX design, you may want to check my blog about how CAWEB Master’s program can guide your UX journey.
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