Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior UX Researcher

at Workiva

🏢 About Workiva

Workiva is a leader in integrated ESG reporting, helping organizations streamline climate impact disclosures and regulatory compliance. Their mission-driven focus on transparency and sustainability sets them apart, and they offer a remote-first culture with a strong emphasis on innovation, particularly in AI-powered experiences.

About This Role

As a Senior UX Researcher, you'll lead end-to-end research for Workiva's Financial Reporting product portfolio, shaping product direction and customer value. Your work will directly influence AI-powered features, making you a critical bridge between user needs and cutting-edge technology.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with a cross-functional sync to align on research priorities, followed by conducting user interviews remotely or analyzing survey data. Afternoons could involve synthesizing findings into actionable recommendations for product teams, and you might end the day iterating on research plans for upcoming AI features.

🎯 Who Workiva Is Looking For

  • A seasoned researcher with 5+ years in product-driven environments, adept at both qualitative and quantitative methods.
  • Proven experience researching AI or GenAI products, especially in evaluating trust, usability, and human-AI interaction.
  • Strong collaborator who partners effectively with Product, Design, and Engineering teams to drive actionable insights.
  • Passionate about sustainability and ESG, with the ability to translate research into impact for climate reporting.

📝 Tips for Applying to Workiva

1

Highlight specific projects where you researched AI-powered experiences, detailing methods used and impact on product decisions.

2

Tailor your portfolio to show end-to-end research examples, from discovery to evaluative studies, preferably in financial or compliance domains.

3

Emphasize your experience with quantitative methods (e.g., surveys, A/B testing) as Workiva values mixed-methods research.

4

Showcase your ability to influence roadmap decisions by including examples of how your research shaped product strategy.

5

Mention any familiarity with ESG reporting or financial software to demonstrate domain interest.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your experience with AI-powered product research and how you've evaluated trust and usability in such contexts.", 'Your ability to lead research that directly impacts product roadmap and customer value.', 'Your collaborative approach with cross-functional teams, especially in a remote setting.', "Your passion for Workiva's mission of transparency in ESG reporting and how your work aligns with that."]

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • Understand Workiva's product suite, especially Wdesk for financial reporting and their ESG solutions.
  • Read about Workiva's approach to AI and automation in reporting, including any recent announcements or blog posts.
  • Familiarize yourself with the competitive landscape of ESG reporting platforms (e.g., Salesforce Net Zero Cloud, Persefoni).
  • Review Workiva's company values and remote work culture to tailor your responses.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through how you would design a study to evaluate user trust in an AI-generated financial report.
2 Describe a time you influenced a product decision through your research findings. What was the outcome?
3 How do you balance qualitative and quantitative methods in a single research project?
4 What metrics do you use to measure the success of a UX research program?
5 How would you approach researching an AI feature that is still in early concept stages?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't submit a generic application without mentioning AI research experience, as it's a key requirement.
  • Avoid overemphasizing academic research without showing practical, product-driven impact.
  • Don't ignore the ESG angle; failing to show interest in sustainability could signal lack of alignment with company mission.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Workiva!