Anthony Conta

Anthony Conta was an interactive producer at Nickelodeon, and there, he developed an interest in user experience (UX) design. There was just one problem. Although he was already familiar with UX fundamentals, he needed proper training to gain industry-level experience. So he turned to tech bootcamps. After scouting his options, Anthony eventually chose General Assembly and enrolled in its UX Design Immersive Bootcamp.

Now, he works for Vimeo as a senior product designer. In his words, “I do not just have a job; I also now have a career.”

Here’s his story.

Tell us about your background. What were you doing before attending the program?

Before attending General Assembly, I was an Interactive Producer at Nickelodeon. I was responsible for creating interactive video content for children’s television shows like Blue’s Clues, Bubble Guppies, and Team Umizoomi. I would take linear TV episodes, find potential moments of interactivity, and create brand new scenes in those episodes for children to interact with the show.

Interactions could be putting together a broken dog house as a puzzle, tracing a path through a forest for the characters to escape, or hitting a bunch of hot dogs with a pair of hot dog bun nunchucks. I was responsible for the initial UX design of these experiences, and I worked with animators, voice actors, and engineers to see them through the creation process.

What motivated you to explore a new career or upskill in your existing field, and why did you decide to pick General Assembly?

I got a taste of UX during Nickelodeon and wanted to pursue that opportunity… I felt I had the fundamental knowledge of UX but needed additional software training.

I chose General Assembly because it is a leading bootcamp in the industry. Additionally, it would allow me to learn aside peers, setting myself up with a potential network years later in my career (which it has). Furthermore, it allowed me to learn directly from instructors within a physical location and a short period. It made the most sense, given all of my goals.

What did you like about the program? Are there any highlights that stood out to you?

General Assembly gave me the opportunity to enhance my design thinking process regarding various projects, which was crucial. Practicing the ideal technique on multiple projects allowed me to see what works and what doesn’t. I gained a good sense of UX and UI and had the chance to collaborate with other designers.

Furthermore, General Assembly significantly emphasizes cultivating a growth mindset. I have taken that with me in my career and in life itself. General Assembly changed how I think for the better across all aspects of my life.

How did you fit the program into your schedule?

I was between freelance contracts, so I decided to pause and upskill at General Assembly before looking for a job. I was confident I would find more and better jobs with a new set of skills, so I took the bootcamp full time. I also recommend that other prospective students spend three months on the program to fully immerse themselves in the material.

Can you give us any examples of projects that you worked on during the program?

Sure. I worked on a solo traveler app with several designers where we had to come up with a new product in two weeks. You can read more about that project here.

Do you have any advice for someone considering this program?

I can truly say that my life has changed significantly for the better despite the initial investment of time and money. Now, I have a job that is more rewarding, lucrative, and fun. I do not just have a job; I also now have a career.

If you’re thinking of joining a bootcamp, talk to some alumni and your potential instructors, where possible. That way, you will have an idea about what you’ll be learning from them. Also, ask yourself if you’re prepared to do the work as there’s a lot of work to do during the program and when making your transition.

Did you find a new position after the program?

I was a freelance for a design startup, but then I found a new job as a product designer at an education company called Kaplan. A few years later, I’m now working at Vimeo.

How did the program support you in finding a job?

My career coach was amazing. He worked with me almost daily, providing all-around job support. He helped me build a portfolio, write cover letters, prepare for interviews, and negotiate salaries. I don’t know where I’d be without him.

Was the job search process different from what you expected?

It was what I expected. I sent out many applications, worked on my portfolio constantly, and networked as much as I could until I found a job that stuck. I didn’t expect to go as hard as I did. I traveled the tri-state area to find work, from New York to New Jersey, Philadelphia, and even Baltimore to go to job interviews. Making the transition is hard, but once you’re in the industry, you’re in.

How many companies did you interview at? How did you choose which one to work with?

I sent out around 200 applications and interviewed at about 30. That is a 15 percent success rate, which isn’t too bad considering how many applicants apply to jobs. Choosing who to work with was easy as I only got one offer, so I took it. I knew that once I was in the industry, I would learn on the job and pivot to my preferred outcome later on.

My first job was freelancing at a startup design agency. It turns out it had a lot of problems. I was lucky that another recruiter I had talked to before accepting that job offered me a much more stable position three months later.

How are the skills you gained from the course useful in your current career?

I constantly use techniques from my bootcamp in my daily profession. Things like interviewing users, sharing research results, making wireframes, or even presenting work to stakeholders are things I learned and honed during my time at General Assembly.

The skills I learned at General Assembly are like tools in a toolbox. I pull out the one I want for the problem I need to solve. General Assembly gave me tons of tools to use.

What do you think is different about your life now versus before the program?

My quality of life is significantly better, considering my earnings, type of work, and work-life balance. I have more time, do a more significant and enjoyable job, and make more money from it. I have friends in the industry that I met through General Assembly. We all get to grow together as well.

What do you find fulfilling about your current line of work?

It’s really fulfilling to work on complex problems and solve them for people who want simple, easy-to-use solutions that work. I’m sure everyone has been frustrated with technology at some point. So, it’s my job to fix these problems and make technology easier to use for everyone. Senior-level designers are expected to own all parts of the process. So, I need to be able to talk to users, design solutions, visually create those solutions, and test them again with users.

The problems are interesting, the work’s rewarding, and I get to be both creative and analytical.

What do you enjoy about working at your current company?

Vimeo is amazing. There are a lot of perks, such as a fully remote option, excellent benefits, and unlimited paid time off. The design team is incredible and growing.

The work is great, too. We are a B2B product trying to solve video needs for all sorts of customers, from creating those videos to storing them, live streaming video to an audience, and more.

Do you have any job search advice for someone considering a career in your field?

There’s this giant barrier to entry for people trying to transition. Employers want people who have experience working in the field so that whomever they hire can handle the entire process without much oversight. That puts a tremendous burden on the industry for senior-level talent, so it’s hard for juniors to make it in.

As a result, getting the first job is extremely difficult. You have to demonstrate you can own the whole process and convince someone to take a gamble on you, all while creating a portfolio that demonstrates your capacity. However, there’s a wide field of opportunity once you’re in. That’s because everyone wants senior-level talent, so you’ll have a ton of flexibility to move around.

Due to this dynamic, I recommend casting a wide net for your first job and targeting a more specific outcome afterward. Your first job doesn’t have to be your “outcome”, and that’s something you can continue to work on as you gain industry experience and level up as a designer.