Masters in the US vs. Switching Jobs – Need Advice
YOE: 4 (2 in Frontend Dev, 2 in UX/Product Design) Current Role: Accenture Looking for: Product Design / UX Design Roles
Hey folks, I’m currently stuck at a crossroads and could really use some perspective.
I’ve been trying to transition into UX/Product Design from a frontend dev background. I technically have 2 years of YOE in UX, but I haven’t been able to work on solid, real-world design projects. My team at Accenture barely gets design-focused work, so I often end up getting pushed into random support roles—mostly Excel-based tasks just so it doesn't look like I’m on the bench. It's frustrating and honestly demotivating.
My current monthly takeaway is a little less than 45k, which feels too low for my experience and skillset. I’m grateful to be employed, but I’m not growing in the direction I want.
I recently got admitted to UT Austin for Fall ‘25. UTA is known to be a really good uni and a little easy on the pockets as their RA/TA postions are known to waive off full/partial tuition for the semester. I know the job market isn’t great globally, and going for a master’s is a huge financial and life decision. But I’m also tired of being stuck.
I’m weighing two options:
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Try switching jobs now and hope to land something in UX/Product Design
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Go for the master’s and try to fully pivot into UX in the US (and other places, I'll be applying everywhere lol) , hopefully the market has course corrected or atleast become a little better than now
Would love to hear from anyone who’s been in a similar spot. Is it worth holding out for a better role here, or should I go all-in on the master's?
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the US dream is over, I read the news , historical event is happening so going usa for study its your wish but getting job there is risky. I don’t want to demotivate you but getting job there will be impossible for non americans especially their millions of govt workers will be laid off. They will pick this ux thing and companies will choose american not you. Better swallow hard pill and go to coding in frontend. Try making things interesting but ux and design career is also good. Do whatever but going to USA is risky
i wanted to go to usa too but reading since 3 years and i changed my mind. This tarrif and all thing I aas made aware last year itself by reading books in certain domain.
Remember, don’t go for Masters or switch JUST because you want to escape from Accenture. Imagine going for Masters for ‘education’ or ‘the foreign uni experience’ and not getting a job later. Also, applying everywhere may not help either.
Been in a similar situation, still am, honestly. But I have decided not to go for masters. Currently working on switching to a better company.
Seek all the help you can. Try finding good mentors on ADPList for free. You might end up getting a better direction through a mentor at Google, Microsoft etc through ADPList as compared to just wasting 2 years on masters and not getting a job later.
Summarising, upskill while at Accenture and switch to a different company :)
Thankyou so much for your insights, it makes a lot of sense! Currently doing that and updating my portfolio haha, let's see how it goes 🙌🏻
