CareerUP with Emilija Perchinkova
Who is Emilija Perchinkova
Emilija is an artistic soul and, above all, a mother. My passion for design emerged when I was 14 years old, and since then, my entire education and self-improvement have been focused on design. After an extensive and quite successful career as an Interior Designer (and graphic design as a hobby), I discovered the profession of UX/UI designer, which captured me from the start and became part of my identity.
Why did you choose the UX/UI Academy at Semos Education, and what left the biggest impression on you?
The choice was between three educational centers. What attracted me the most to enroll in this Academy at Semos Education was primarily the selection of mentors who have a perfect career in what they do, as well as the tradition of Semos Education as the best educational center in the country. The module that left the biggest impression on me was Design Thinking, taught by the best mentor, Aleksandar Bojkovski.
What was your previous and current job position?
My previous position was an Interior Designer. Currently, I work as a Product Design Consultant for Qpick and as a Product Owner and Product Designer for Byteflow Technologies.
What are you applying today that you learned at the Semos Education Academy?
Research, research, research. Analysis, connecting with users, understanding their problems, and creating solutions that will enhance their product experience.
What would you highlight as your successes that you are proud of?
As one of my greatest successes, I can highlight the project I worked on for the Career Center at Semos Education, which involved a complete UX/UI process. Furthermore, my research skills have been of tremendous benefit to Screen Studio, a product that is currently also used by Figma. I am also very proud of the project I worked on for Qpick, which I consider one of the most successful companies in Macedonia. We will see the results of that project shortly.
What advice would you give to those who are considering a career switch?
Guys, do not give up, always strive for more because you can do it. Learn, read, educate yourself. Connect with more experienced colleagues from the profession and ask for feedback! If you are motivated and want to upgrade, remember that success is built by us. Every investment in further education will bring you closer to your ultimate goal. Simply put, is there anything better than turning your passion into a profession? Go for it!