Case study:
job hunter
app design
Project Overview
The problem:
Applicants are unclear in terms of wage and whether if they can work remote. They also want more visibility with the progression of their application status.
The product:
Job Hunter is an employment app that offers real time progress throughout the job search. This is app is for all working age users who would like to be able to filter their job search to find the right fit. The goal is to help users apply to jobs effectively and get hired.
My role:
UX Designer designing an app for Job Hunter from conception to reality
The goal:
Design an app to allow users to organize the job application process by filtering jobs that fits their needs and keeping track of the progress of each application.
Project Duration:
April 2021-April 2022
Responsibilities:
Conducting interview, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, and iterating on designs.
understanding the user
I conducted interviews and created empathy maps to understand the users I’m designing for and their needs. A primary user group identified through research was working adults who have been through the hiring process. Most interview participants reported feeling frustrated with the hiring process because sometimes they didn’t know if their resume was looked at and didn’t like going to different websites to apply for positions.
user pain points
1. Job Status
Employment websites leaves applicants wondering whether their application has been reviewed
2. Navigation
Not all jobs can be applied through the employment website so it’s hard to find where to apply for jobs on the company’s website
3. Transparency
Applicants want to know the pay range and be able to filter their results by whether the position can be remote.
Persona & problem statement
competitive audit
An audit of a few competitor’s products provided direction on gaps and opportunities to address with the Job Hunter app.
ideation
I did a quick ideation exercise to come up with ideas for how to address gaps identified in the competitive audit. My focus was specifically on location tracking and simple job submissions.
Starting the design
digital wireframes
After ideating and drafting some paper wireframes, I created the initial designs for the Job Hunter app. These designs focused on a simple way to apply for jobs.
Filters are provided towards the top of the page
Option to expand job listing to view everything
Refining the design
Mockups
Based on the insights from the usability studies, I moved the filters to the dashboard to create a clean design.
I applied design changes like providing a heart icon to save job listings. Once a job is saved, the heart becomes red.
Accessibility considerations
1. Clear labels for interactive elements that can be read by screen readers.
2. Initial focus of the dashboard on personalized recommendations help define the primary task or action for the user.
Refined designs
I recreated the app by having the user upload their resume and through an ATS software, the app will curate jobs that are recommended based on the resume. Users will then be able to check the status of their application and archive any application for organization purposes.
high-fidelity prototype
The high-fidelity prototype followed the same user flow as the low-fidelity prototype, including design changes made after the usability study.
Going forward
Takeaways
Impact:
Users shared that the app made applying for jobs simple. One quote from peer feedback was that “the Job Hunter app helps job seekers in a way that’s easy and engaging.”
What I learned:
I learned that even though the problem I was trying to solve was a big one, diligently going through each step of the design process and aligning with specific user needs helped me come up with solutions that were both feasible and useful.
next steps
1. Conduct research on how successful the app is in reaching the goal to help users apply for jobs.
2. Add reviews from existing and past employees about job culture and work/life balance.