Job Search Application Optimization
UX RESEARCH // USER BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH // HEURISTICS AND USABILITY ANALYSIS // HOTJAR
The job search web application had been receiving feedback about bugs and usability of the interface. Therefore, I conducted a design process to understand the scenario, map improvements and optimize the job search and application experience on the platform.
CLIENT
Startec Jobs
TIMELINE
May 2022 – June 2022
Context
Startec Jobs is a Brazilian startup in the Tech Recruitment field. The purpose of the company is to transform the experience of connection between companies and people.
Until then, the company’s talent base had 30,000 candidates using the application to search for new opportunities in the market. However, some friction points were preventing users from engaging in the platform, in addition to several feedbacks related to the usability of the interface.
Therefore, I conducted a design process to understand the scenario, map improvements and optimize the job search and application experience on the platform.
MAIN INVOLVED
Aline M Pagnossin – Product Designer
João Tosto – Head of Product
Felipe Barcelos – Software Engineer
Process
The process followed 4 main steps of: problem definition, research, ideation and delivery.
The process lasted 1 month. In daily meetings we discussed the evolution of each step, just as well technical limitations, possibilities and ideas about the insights collected.
Problem statement
Understanding what the problem is prevents the design process from being focused on a specific solution when it should be on expected value.
To facilitate this process, we started by defining:
• Current scenario
• General problems already known
• Ideal scenario
So we get to this problem definition:
How to improve the job search experience, engaging users on the platform and eliminating usability issues?
Research
In order to understand better the scenario, a mixed research method was used combining behavioral analysis, users feedback, heuristic and usability analysis, both in the Desktop and Mobile versions.
BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS: Through Hotjar, 260 screen recordings were watched to:
• Identify possible reasons for usability issues already identified;
• Discover other usability gaps not yet identified.
USER FEEDBACK: All user feedback collected through Hotjar surveys were analyzed and used as benchmarks for behavior analysis.
HEURISTIC & USABILITY ANALYSIS: Both the desktop and mobile versions of the application had all their pages analyzed to identify usability gaps.
BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS:
As the screen recordings were watched, patterns of usability problems were categorized qualitatively and quantitatively.
Quantitative identification helped in prioritizing which were the most frequent problems and, therefore, most critical.
USABILITY ANALYSIS:
All identified usability optimizations were organized into a spreadsheet predicting:
• UX impact
• Implementation effort
• Description
• Evidence of current state (screenshot)
• Desired state (rational)
• Type of device was being affected.
Identifying UX impact versus implementation effort makes it easier to prioritize which items will be implemented first.
Ideation & prototyping
After identifying the optimizations, the solution alternatives were designed in Figma and validated among the team.
some highlights
REGISTRATION ONBOARDING
Greater fluidity in registration through friendly and informative onboarding.
• System status visible through breadcrumb showing all steps.
• Use of emojis in texts to create connection with the persona.
• Form divided into steps to increase the feeling of fluidity when filling in the fields.
• Toast with case-specific error messages..
• Visual differentiation between primary and secondary buttons.
• Next steps options at the end of registration to guide the user’s next action.
JOB PAGE
Keep users engaged on the platform even when the current job page does not fit their needs.
Many users ended the navigation after visiting a job page, probably because they did not find exactly what they were looking for.
So, new sections were added to lead users to other actions and ensure they don’t leave the platform:
• Other open positions at 1&1
• Other open positions that may interest you
• Section with tags of the most searched jobs
JOB SEARCH PAGE
Faster and easier job search by adding a search field and appropriate filters.
Unlike the desktop version, there were no search field or filters in the mobile version, which made the search process time-consuming, since the only way was to scroll down the page and see each option.
USER PROFILE
Tab navigation to facilitate the findability of applications according to their status.
Until then, all applications were listed one below the other, without categorization. To facilitate the search, a navigation in 3 tabs was added according to the application status:
• All
• In progress
• Finalized
APPLICATION PAGE
More context and clarity about the status of selection processes, other than increasing engagement on the platform, directing users to other actions.
• Application progress timeline
• Accordion referencing as already available with CTAs of step models each situation, directing the users.
2022 • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.