The recently designed job search app, equipped with innovative features to streamline the job-seeking process, demanded a meticulous approach to user interface design, ensuring a seamless experience for job seekers across various stages of their employment journey.
Many postgraduate students encounter initial challenges in securing suitable employment, often resulting in mental distress.
The objective of this application is to establish a job platform that prioritizes user-friendliness and minimizes stress, thereby transforming the job search process into an accessible and enjoyable endeavor for individuals of all backgrounds.
Google Certificate Project - Responsive Web Design
Date: August - September 2023
Role: UX designer leading the app and responsive website design from conception to delivery.
The Research:
I employed competitive audit research findings to formulate a set of structured interview questions, which I employed in user interviews. A significant portion of interview respondents expressed sentiments of confusion and apprehension within the job search setting, articulating a lack of clarity on how to commence their job search endeavors. The insights gathered through this research indicate that users exhibit a willingness to explore and adopt new job search platforms, provided they are characterized by user-friendliness and comprehensive functionality.
Additionally, I developed user personas and articulated problem statements as part of the research process. One example of a problem statement is as follows:
Margaret is a recent college graduate in search of a job search platform that facilitates navigation of the job market, as she strives to secure her first post-college employment opportunity.
Starting the Design:
Paper Wireframes
Digital Wireframes:
Following the ideation and preliminary development of paper wireframes, I proceeded to craft the initial design concepts for the Job Search application. These design iterations placed an emphasis on providing users with tailored guidance aimed at simplifying the job-seeking process. Notably, these designs incorporated features to notify users of newly available job listings and recommendations that align with their qualifications and job preferences. Additionally, a section was added to the home page, offering direct access to the job assistance resources, encompassing resume-building, interview preparation, and a career assessment tool for users' benefit.
Lo-Fi Prototype and Usability Study:
Usability Study Parameters:
Study Type: Unmoderated
Location: US, Remote
Participants: 5
Duration: 10-20 minutes
Usability Study Findings:
Enhance Job Description to Job Page Transition: Users exhibited a tendency to bypass specific buttons, instead opting to click on the entire job description section in their efforts to access the job page.
Address Navigation Challenges to the Home Page: A notable challenge emerged with users encountering difficulties in returning to the home page. Therefore, it is imperative to incorporate a direct "home" link within the navigation panel.
Augment Job Search Filtering Functionality: User feedback emphasized the importance of implementing robust filtering mechanisms within the job search feature, facilitating a more precise job matching experience for individual preferences.
Mock-Ups and Hi-Fi Prototype:
Incorporating findings from the usability studies, I implemented design modifications that notably include enabling users to access the job information page by clicking anywhere within the job listing. Furthermore, we retained key job attributes as prominent keywords, affording users the ability to swiftly assess whether the job aligns with their specific requirements and preferences.
Further design changes included the refinement of our navigation system. Prior to the usability study, it became evident that there was a lack of an intuitive method for users to return to the home page. In response, we introduced a dedicated navigation link to facilitate easy access to the home page. Additionally, after evaluating user feedback, it was determined that networking features were not considered essential by our user base. Consequently, we opted for a streamlined navigation approach, focusing exclusively on job assistance tips and job search functionalities within our application.
Other Mockups:
Link to Hi-Fi Prototype: The high-fidelity prototype followed the same user flow as the low-fidelity prototype, including design changes made after the usability study.
Responsive Web-Design:
Upon finalizing the app designs, my attention shifted towards the development of a responsive website. Utilizing the Job Search sitemap as a foundation, I structured the layout and design of each screen, aligning them with the app's organizational framework. This approach was taken to guarantee a unified and seamless user experience, regardless of the device or screen size employed by our audience.
The designs for screen size variation included mobile, tablet, and desktop. I optimized the designs to fit specific user needs of each device and screen size.
Takeaways:
User feedback has highlighted the app's effect on simplifying and alleviating the stress associated with job hunting. A notable excerpt from peer feedback underscores this sentiment: "The job search app offered an all-encompassing solution for my job search needs. For the first time, I accessed a job search platform without immediately feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of finding a job."
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.