Hi! My name is Ruohan Li, or you can also call me Kitty! I’m a senior at Northeastern University majoring in Interaction Design, and I’m currently interning at ByteDance as part of my fall co-op cycle. At ByteDance, I work on the UX team for an AI product, where my primary responsibilities include conducting user research and collaborating on UX designs with developers and product managers.

Compared to my previous internship, the work environment at ByteDance operates at a much faster pace, with a more rapid software development cycle. Being part of a larger organization means there’s more communication and collaboration across different roles and time zones. While this can be demanding, it’s also rewarding, as it ensures every voice is heard and that we work together to achieve the best results—even as an intern, I feel my contributions are valued.

When I first joined the team, I spent time reviewing extensive documentation to understand the product’s scope. What I learned the most is that being a UX designer is so much more than just creating user interfaces; it involves adopting a product-thinking mindset.

We constantly ask ourselves, “What, How, and Why?” to refine the user experience, and I’ve had the opportunity to see how this thinking can be implemented in designs to enhance each user’s experience through using the product. At school, we focus more on the visual side of UI design, such as learning Figma and other technical tools. Through my internship, I learned the importance of thinking strategically in understanding user needs and translating that into design decisions.

For students looking to get into UX design, I know that it could be tough at this time. My advice is to start by leveraging opportunities within your school or local community. If you school doesn’t offer UX-specific classes, don’t worry! You can begin by watching YouTube tutorials or earning the Google UX certificate on Coursera, which was incredibly helpful when I was first introduced to UX.

Once you’ve completed a certificate and have at least one project for your portfolio, start applying to join software development clubs or organizations with UX roles. These projects will give you practical experience and help build your portfolio, preparing you to apply for internships over the summer!

The IRS announced inflation-adjusted tax brackets for 2025, rising by 2.8%, the smallest increase in years. The standard deduction will also increase, with married couples filing jointly seeing it rise to $30,000 and single filers to $15,000.

Capital gains tax thresholds will adjust, with married couples earning up to $96,700 enjoying a 0% rate. The estate tax exclusion increases to $13.99 million, and tax-free gifts rise to $19,000. The earned income tax credit increases to $8,046 for qualifying families. Some provisions, like the SALT deduction cap and Child Tax Credit, remain unchanged. Read more HERE from CBS News.

Morgan Stanley is expanding its use of OpenAI-powered generative AI tools to its investment banking and trading division. Following the success of its AI assistant in wealth management, the bank launched AskResearchGPT for its institutional securities group, allowing staff to quickly access insights from over 70,000 research reports.

The tool boost productivity, particularly for client-facing staff, by significantly reducing response times. Nearly half of Morgan Stanley’s 80,000 employees now use generative AI, with plans to increase adoption further. AI enhances efficiency, though human expertise remains essential in key roles. Read more HERE from NBC News.

You’ve heard of your college’s career center. They’ve tried to table at the club fairs, they’ve tried to promote it during classes, and they’ve definitely tried to tell you about it through the college department newsletters.

Schedule a chat with your college’s career center, you will get a lot more help and realistic advice FOR students rather than that 20 minute coffee chat with another professional.