What Does a Google UX Writer Do?

What is a Google UX Writer?

A Google UX writer continuously helps shape product experiences by developing microcopy to complement Google Design.

If you’re wondering what Google Design is, it’s a massive cooperative effort led by writers, developers, and designers at Google. They are responsible for publishing original content, maintaining creative educational partnerships, and producing events that push the boundaries of design and technology while enhancing the Google user experience.

The idea is to educate cross-functional partners on style guidelines, work on multidisciplinary projects, and solve complex challenges while adhering to Google’s philosophy.

Among the Google Design team, UX writing is about setting the tone for content. It helps drive cohesive product narratives across all user touchpoints and various platforms.

Working with multiple UX design-related jobs helps Google’s UX writers develop the right microcopy. They actively work with UX researchers, product managers, UX engineers, UX designers, marketing teams, and customer operations.

The collective effort of UX writers, designers, engineering and product management helps establish connective language and a singular tone. That leads to a unified voice across all Google platforms and channels.

Furthermore, since Google UX writers have to develop human-centered user experiences, they need to tell stories in relatable contexts. Using a simple but vital premise, a positive and engaging tone, and easy-to-read copy, UX writers tend to provide a unique experience.

On top of that, Google advises its UX writers to learn the basics of information architecture, design, and frontend development. It helps them create intuitive copy using user-centered design methods that complement the content strategy across multiple platforms.

If you’re looking to apply to a Google UX writer job role, then our UX writing certification course is a perfect choice for you to nourish your skills in a way Google recruiters require them. Don’t forget to check out the detailed course contents:

What Does the Google UX Writer Job Entail?

Every job at Google follows one key principle, “Focus on the user and all else will follow.”

UX writing at Google is about utilizing user experience research principles to provide informed user insights. Then, using those insights, UX writers design and create intuitive product experiences.

The entire UX team at Google consists of UX writers, engineers, designers, researchers, content strategists, and program managers. Each person in the UX team plays an integral role to create industry-leading products and experiences.

The idea is to create value for the users and Google’s businesses because both achieve the same results.

They write user interface text, error messages, influence product vision, gather insights, manage cross-functional projects, and inform product strategy. UX writers ensure cohesive product narratives and develop complex documentation sets. The UX writer also facilitates user navigation and the product development process.

UX writers have to regularly utilize data, logic, empathy, and writing skills to facilitate design and writing choices. That includes creating frameworks, designing solutions, driving guidelines, influencing product vision, and working with collaborative teams.

Some qualities of a Google UX writer include a focus on coherence, quality, accessibility, clarity, and global relevance. They have to do usability testing, log user data, concept and deliver user experiences around all Google products. All UX articles, copy, and content should be inclusive, useful, trustworthy, and helpful.

According to Google, a positive user experience is how they showcase their products. That’s why UX writers have to make an extra effort to understand user behaviors, emotions, and needs.

A mix of excellent product management teams, simplicity, usability, and quality ensures they have industry-leading products. And Google UX writers are the ones that introduce these products to the users.

Google UX Writer Job Responsibilities

Now that you have a good idea of what the Google UX writer job entails holistically, you can check out what their daily and quarterly responsibilities and tasks look like.

The following are some typical Google UX writer responsibilities. However, keep in mind that there may be additional tasks and assignments, especially depending on your preferred working location.

• Use technical writing, proofreading, and editing skills to write user interface text.
• Help facilitate user navigation, promos, error messages, onboarding, instruction materials, and other components that contribute to the end-user experience.
• Manage projects by identifying opportunities, establishing priorities, and securing resources.
• Develop the needs assessment of various projects, manage stakeholders, and work on the implementation.
• Be the driving factor for content and product language across multiple subject-matter domains.
• Ensure cohesive product narratives using online technology and uniform efforts through good UX writing.
• Establish best practices and strategy principles by documenting your strategies with clear-cut guidelines.
• Communicate and collaborate with product managers, designers, researchers, engineers, marketing teams, and the legal department.
• Use stakeholder feedback to adapt and influence product strategy and development.
• Provide consistent leadership and mentorship to junior UX writers, designers, and researchers.
• Provide direction to junior staff and educate cross-functional partners on the essence and importance of UX writing.
• Play a role in developing and deploying the content strategy during the product development process for multiple Google products.
• Regularly check and go over usability data to determine if any digital interface needs an adjustment.
• Provide senior management with potential ideas to improve the UX and UI across multiple platforms.

The above responsibilities and tasks are what the average Google UX writer has to do regularly. However, additional tasks may come into the fold, especially for employees leaning towards a promotion.

What are the Average Google UX Writer’s Qualifications?

Looking at a typical Google UX writer’s responsibilities might overwhelm you. However, the truth is that all UX writers have the same responsibilities, for the most part. The only difference is that Google has an extremely streamlined process for everything.

That’s why the average qualifications for a Google UX writer are relatively higher than others. Here’s how the minimum qualifications look like.

• Bachelor’s degree in UX, technical writing, English, journalism, HCI, communications, or any equivalent practical experience.
• Proven experience in shaping content for various projects in different disciplines.
• Prior experience with user-focused product writing. The experience can be through work in a digital agency, software, hardware, or any relevant product area.
• A well-drafted online portfolio of UX writing samples, style guidelines, and case studies of previous projects.

If you pass the minimum qualifications, take a gander at the preferred qualifications to measure your chances of working at Google.

• At least 7-9 years of relevant industry experience in UX writing or another UX field.
• Complete knowledge of relevant online technology and related products.
• Understanding of mobile and web UI and tools.
• Experience developing information architecture for product suites and complex documentation sets.
• Some experience with accessibility best practices and localization also plays an integral role.
• Excellent leadership and collaboration skills to communicate and influence engineering, design, and product management teams. However, with no formal authority whatsoever.
• Robust understanding of user experience research principles, practices, and best practices.
• Ability to utilize user data and trends to regularly provide informed user insights.

You don’t necessarily have to pass on all the preferred qualifications. However, the more ticks you have, the higher your chances of becoming a Google UX writer.

How Do I Apply to Become a Google UX Writer?

If you have any reservations about applying to Google, set them aside. Keep in mind that you get an equal employment opportunity when you apply to Google. That’s because they pride themselves as an equal opportunity workplace.

Furthermore, they’re legally bound to avoid considering anyone’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and are an affirmative action employer. Besides that, qualified applicants can come from any background and can have experience in various fields.

As long as you can show a strong understanding of UX, have a robust online portfolio, and can adhere to Google’s philosophy and guidelines, you can be a fit.

You can check out the current Google UX writer job openings on their careers page. You can go here and search for UX writing jobs.

Alternatively, you can check job boards for openings. Furthermore, you can connect with Google employees on LinkedIn and attend Google workshops to build relevant connections and attempt to secure a job.

Wrapping It Up

A Google UX writer is not dissimilar from other UX writers when it comes to skills and creativity. However, they tend to have a more holistic understanding of how UX impacts multi-disciplinary products and projects across different platforms.

That gives them a unique perspective on the implications of UX in global product companies.

If you are new to UX writing and are looking to join the professional UX writer community, we recommend taking our UX Writing Certification Course, where you will learn the fundamental skills for UX writing, how to successfully land UX writer interviews, and how to stand out from the rest of the crowd as an expert UX writing candidate.