In today’s fast-moving digital world, guessing what your users want just doesn’t cut it anymore. Whether you’re building a mobile app, launching a SaaS platform, or redesigning your company’s website, user experience (UX) can make or break your success.
And behind every great experience is someone asking the right questions, gathering insights, and turning complex data into clear design decisions; that someone is your UX researcher.
UX research is a must-have for design-driven companies. Why? Because when you understand your users, how they think, behave, and feel, you can build better products, reduce costly mistakes, and increase customer loyalty.
The best UX researchers act as the voice of the user, helping product and design teams make smarter, data-backed decisions that actually work in the real world.
As companies compete for user attention and satisfaction, hiring the right UX researcher has become critical. But what makes a standout UX researcher? What skills should you look for if you're hiring for this role, especially in a remote or nearshore setup?
In this article, we’ll break down the 10 essential UX researcher skills, both hard and soft, that every hiring manager should know.
Whether you're hiring locally or looking to tap into top-tier Latin American UX talent, this guide will help you find the right person to uncover insights and elevate your user experience.
What Does a UX Researcher Do?
A UX researcher is the person who uncovers the “why” behind your users’ behavior. While designers may sketch wireframes and product managers define features, UX researchers dive deep into user psychology, data, and patterns to understand what people actually need, not just what they say they want.
In practical terms, a UX researcher is responsible for planning and executing research strategies that inform product design and development. This includes conducting user interviews, running usability tests, analyzing surveys, and working with analytics tools to uncover pain points and opportunities. They're not just collecting feedback; they're interpreting human behavior to improve digital experiences.
Here’s how a great UX researcher typically contributes to a product team:
- Identifies user problems before they become costly product mistakes.
- Validates product concepts through real user input, reducing guesswork.
- Collaborates with designers to ensure user-friendly interfaces.
- Advises product managers with research-backed recommendations.
- Bridges the gap between qualitative insights (e.g., interviews) and quantitative data (e.g., usage analytics).
The role requires a unique blend of curiosity, analytical thinking, empathy, and storytelling. A UX researcher has to ask the right questions, uncover what users aren’t saying, and present findings in a way that drives action across the company.
Top 10 Essential Skills of a Great UX Researcher
Hiring a standout UX researcher means looking beyond resumes and portfolios; it’s about identifying the right mix of technical know-how and human-centered thinking. The best UX researchers combine analytical precision with genuine curiosity about people, translating user insights into actionable product improvements.
Let’s break down the 10 essential UX researcher skills into two core categories: hard skills (the technical toolkit) and soft skills (the human strengths that make research impactful).
Hard Skills
- User Interview Techniques
Great UX researchers know how to ask the right questions. They’re skilled at running one-on-one interviews that surface motivations, frustrations, and behaviors, without leading the user or biasing responses. - Usability Testing
From remote testing tools to live sessions, usability testing helps researchers evaluate how intuitive and effective a product is. Knowing how to structure tests, recruit participants, and analyze results is foundational. - Survey Design and Analysis
Crafting clear, unbiased surveys and knowing how to interpret the results is a must. UX researchers should understand how to use tools like Typeform, Google Forms, or Qualtrics to gather structured insights at scale. - Quantitative Data Literacy
While they don’t need to be data scientists, great UX researchers should be comfortable analyzing metrics like completion rates, task times, and NPS. Familiarity with platforms like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Hotjar adds extra value. - Familiarity with Research Tools
A solid researcher knows their way around tools like Maze, UserTesting, Optimal Workshop, Dovetail, or Lookback. These platforms streamline everything from planning to synthesis and make research insights more accessible across teams.
Soft Skills
- Empathy
Empathy is at the heart of UX research. Understanding user emotions, needs, and challenges and advocating for them within a product team is what elevates good research to great. - Communication Skills
Research means nothing if it isn’t communicated well. A standout researcher can translate raw findings into clear, compelling narratives that influence product decisions and inspire teams. - Curiosity and Critical Thinking
The best UX researchers are endlessly curious. They dig deeper, ask better questions, and challenge assumptions to uncover insights others might miss. - Collaboration Across Teams
UX researchers work across departments—product, design, engineering, and marketing. Being able to speak their language and align research goals with business goals is key. - Strategic Insight
Beyond execution, top researchers think big picture. They help teams prioritize research efforts that will have the most impact on business goals and product growth.
Together, these 10 skills create a well-rounded, high-impact UX researcher; someone who doesn’t just collect data, but transforms it into better experiences.
Emerging Skills That Give UX Researchers an Edge
The core skills of UX research remain timeless, but as tools, technologies, and user expectations evolve, so do the traits that set top researchers apart. If you’re hiring for a forward-thinking team or working on innovative products, it’s worth keeping an eye out for candidates with emerging skills that add real strategic value.
Here are a few bonus capabilities that can elevate a good UX researcher to a great one:
AI-Assisted Research Proficiency
Understanding how to use AI tools like ChatGPT or automated transcription and tagging software (e.g., Dovetail AI, Notably, or Rewind AI) can streamline data analysis and accelerate synthesis without sacrificing quality.
Accessibility and Inclusive Design Awareness
Researchers who actively consider users with disabilities, through screen readers, keyboard navigation, or color contrast issues, help ensure that the products you build are inclusive and compliant with global standards like WCAG.
Journey Mapping and Service Design Experience
These researchers go beyond user tasks to visualize the entire user journey. They understand how each interaction fits into a larger ecosystem and can guide product decisions that improve the end-to-end experience.
Mixed Methods Research Expertise
Researchers who can confidently switch between qualitative and quantitative methods, blending interviews with data analytics, offer a fuller picture of user behavior and motivations.
Remote Research Mastery
As remote work continues to thrive, researchers who know how to run remote testing, recruit international participants, and manage timezone-sensitive sessions add flexibility and scale to your research operations.
Industry-Specific Knowledge
Whether it’s fintech, healthcare, e-commerce, or SaaS, hiring a UX researcher who understands your vertical’s terminology, regulations, and user behaviors can dramatically shorten the learning curve and increase relevance.
While these skills may not be essential for every role, they’re powerful differentiators, especially when you’re hiring in competitive markets or looking to build a research-forward team. Candidates who bring these extra capabilities often signal not only technical fluency but also a growth mindset and a passion for evolving with the field.
Where to Find Top UX Researchers
From remote-friendly job boards to specialized recruitment agencies, here are the top ways to source high-quality UX researchers, whether you're hiring in the U.S. or looking to nearshore talent from Latin America.
Remote Hiring Platforms
These platforms are tailor-made for companies looking to hire vetted remote professionals across the globe:
- South – Specializes in connecting U.S. companies with top-tier UX researchers and designers across Latin America. Time zone-aligned, cost-effective, and culturally compatible.
- Toptal – Offers a curated network of UX researchers with strong portfolios, but at premium rates.
- We Work Remotely – A widely used platform for remote job listings, especially popular among independent UX professionals.
- Arc.dev – Focused on remote developers and product roles, with UX research candidates available as well.
Niche UX & Design Communities
These communities often feature job boards or talent directories that are more targeted than generic platforms:
- Rosenfeld Media’s Advancing Research community
- Ladies that UX
- DesignX Community
- Interaction Design Foundation (IDF)
Many of these groups host Slack channels or forums where you can post roles or connect directly with professionals.
Nearshore Talent Pools in Latin America
If you're looking to balance quality, cost, and collaboration, hiring UX researchers from Latin America is a smart move. Countries like Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil are home to highly skilled researchers who are fluent in English, culturally aligned with U.S. teams, and available in your working hours.
Partnering with agencies like South can streamline the process, handling everything from sourcing and vetting to payroll and onboarding, so you focus on finding the right fit without the hiring headache.
The Takeaway
UX research is the foundation for creating experiences people actually want to use. And when you find the right researcher, you’re not just hiring someone to run surveys or interviews. You’re bringing in a strategic partner who can uncover deep insights, validate big decisions, and help your product truly resonate with users.
Whether you’re hiring in-house or exploring nearshore talent in Latin America, knowing what skills to prioritize, from user testing to empathy to strategic thinking, will help you make a confident, informed decision. A standout UX researcher doesn’t just study users; they help shape products that drive retention, loyalty, and long-term success.
Ready to hire a UX researcher who brings clarity, strategy, and insight?
At South, we connect U.S. companies with pre-vetted UX researchers across Latin America; professionals who speak your language, share your time zone, and deliver exceptional results.
Schedule a free call with our team and let us help you find the perfect match!
