JobHunt - A mobile platform designed to aid users in their career search by providing a place to save, track, and organize their job applications while also providing motivational support throughout their journey.

Role

Head UX/UI Designer - Responsible for end to end research to design process

The birth of JobHunt

Duration

4 Weeks (Nov 2023 - Dec 2023)

Overview

Tools

Figma, Zoom, Mockup

There I was, sat at my desk in the midst of my job hunt journey. After a full day of writing cover letters, editing my resume, and applying to dozens of jobs, I was feeling great. That was until I realized that I had neglected to document any of those applications, leaving me with little to no memory of important details from each job. Thats when it hit me, I needed to start documenting these details to reference when needed. So, I made an excel sheet with different sections consisting of company, role, salary, location, etc. After about a week of using this boring, monotonous spread sheet I started thinking “there must be a better solution to this”. To my surprise, the options were actually pretty limited. Apart from a few apps with a similar model, there was nothing that stood out to me, nothing that felt exciting. So, I took matters into my own hands, and thus JobHunt was born.

The challenge

Job hunters currently face the challenge of efficiently managing and organizing their numerous job applications across platforms, lacking a convenient and intuitive solution. The development of JobHunt would provide job seekers with a user-friendly tool that streamlines the organization of applications, addressing the current absence of a cohesive and intuitive platform for effective job application management.

The solution

Provide job seekers with an intuitive, user friendly, and useful mobile application that not only helps them manage and organize their applications, but also one that excites and empowers them throughout the sometimes draining and monotonous job search process.

Lets do some research…

Who is our target audience?

Like most apps, JobHunt is designed to be universally accessible for anyone seeking to track their job applications. However, identifying a specific target audience is crucial during the research phase, as it guides important design choices in the future. To pinpoint this target audience, I posed several questions…

1. What kind of job seekers are most likely to track their applications digitally?

  • Those who already utilize technology for their professional career; ie LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, etc.

  • Individuals who are applying for a considerable number of positions.

2. Are there any trends concerning how job seekers from different generations approach the job application tracking process?

  • Millennials often utilize digital tools and platforms to track their job applications, leveraging the convenience and accessibility of online resources such as job search websites, mobile apps, and cloud-based spreadsheets.

  • Gen X individuals may employ a mix of digital and traditional methods, including online job boards as well as handwritten notes or physical planners to track applications.

3. Are there any trends concerning the volume at which different generations submit job applications?

  • Millennials tend to apply to a higher number of positions due to several factors, including being earlier in their careers and the highly competitive job market they face. With less experience and a desire to explore various opportunities, millennials cast a wider net in their job search, often applying to numerous roles across different industries to increase their chances of securing employment.

  • Conversely, Gen X individuals, who are already established in their careers and have accumulated years of experience, typically apply to fewer positions. With a solid professional background, they may be more selective in their job search, focusing on roles that align closely with their expertise, career goals, and personal preferences.

Target audience identified

Based on this information I chose to interview 5 individuals using this criteria…

  • Those who have gone through the job search process in the last 2 years

  • Those who utilized technology in one way or another during the job search

  • Individuals ages 20-35

Research Objective

Understand users' current processes for tracking their job applications, including methods employed, challenges faced, and desired improvements, in order to inform the development of a more effective and user-friendly solution.

User Interviews

Before delving into the design ideation phase, it was essential for me to gain deeper insight into how my interviewees currently track their job applications.

Understanding their existing processes provided valuable context and identified pain points, ultimately informing the direction of my design solutions.

Some other notable stats from my interviews…

  • 3/5 interviewees previously relied on spreadsheets to track their job applications, yet found this method inefficient and demotivating.

  • 2/5 interviewees previously tracked their applications physically with pen and paper but often found themselves forgetting to take note of important details and missing the ability to link important documents.

What I learned from my interviews…

During my interviews I discovered numerous recurring insights that appeared to strike a chord with job seekers universally. Some of which included the following…

  • Job seekers value efficiency when it comes to referencing important details about their applications.

  • Job seekers want the ability to organize their applications into different categories; ie organized by industry, job title, etc.

  • Job seekers highly prioritize the ability to conveniently save crucial documents such as cover letters alongside their applications.

  • Job seekers desire the capability to update their application status when saving it, enabling them to maintain accurate records and effectively manage their job search process.

Persona

Meet Jess!

During my interviews, I uncovered essential qualitative insights, including an understanding of user motivations, pain points, desires, and frustrations relating to how job seekers track their applications. Which brings us to our persona, Jess!

  • Jess is a 25 year old barista with 5 years of experience. She recently moved cities and is back on the job market looking for a new barista gig.

    Jess utilizes technology in her job hunt by tracking her applications on a spreadsheet where she documents important details such as location, salary, job status, etc.

    • Jess sometimes forgets to document important details with her spreadsheet method

    • Finds that using a spreadsheet feels un-motivating and monotonous during her job hunt

    • Finds it difficult to categorize her applications into different categories in a spreadsheet

    • Wants the ability to easily reference important details of her applications

    • Needs her applications to be organized into different categories

    • Wats the ability to track and update the status of her applications

    • Wants to feel more motivated during her job search

Outlining a user flow

Before jumping into the design process, I began by outlining a rough user flow to gain a better understanding of my user’s aiming to minimize any road bumps along the way. Some initial features that I knew I wanted to include were…

  • “Add job board” page where users can organize their various job searches into desired categories based on things like industry, year, etc.

  • “Add job” page where users can enter all relevant information about their job application and save to desired job board.

  • A "Stats" page where users can access a data-based view of their overall job search journey.

  • An "Inspo" page where users can access a variety of motivational tools, including book recommendations, inspirational quotes, and daily affirmations.

Round 1

  • 4/5 users observed that there was no clearly defined location to add a new job board.

  • Since this is an important function within the app, it's crucial that this call-to-action is prominently displayed and easily accessible.

Before diving into high-fidelity designs, I prioritized testing the initial user flow to identify and address any potential pain points. This involved conducting five usability tests to observe how users naturally interacted with the app, gathering valuable insights for refinement.

  • 2/5 expressed that the filter section appeared cluttered, detracting from the overall user experience.

  • 5/5 users experienced difficulty locating this page because it was absent from the menu bar.

  • 2/5 users found the "rank desire of job" prompt confusing, expressing that the hearts felt somewhat arbitrary.

Back to the drawing board

After conducting my usability tests, I revisited my wireframes, ensuring that I integrated the feedback from the tests and made necessary iterations to enhance accessibility. Some of the changes made included…

  • Reconfigured the home screen to provide easy viewing access for job boards and job applications.

  • Added a call-to-action button on the menu bar for easy access to the job inspiration page.

  • Replaced the "rank desire of job" hearts with a more simplistic and intuitive dropdown menu.

  • Reorganized the filter system within the app to reduce clutter, utilizing dropdown menus for a cleaner interface.

Take a look at the final prototype!

Design detials

Color Palette

In designing JobHunt, I aimed to utilize a lively and vibrant color palette. My goal was to evoke a sense of excitement and positivity for users as they navigate through their job search journey. I consciously avoided the dull and monotonous feel commonly associated with traditional methods like spreadsheets, opting instead for a dynamic and engaging visual experience.

Typography

I chose the fonts Cherry Bomb and Roboto for JobHunt because they complement each other well and convey a sense of modernity and playfulness. Cherry Bomb adds a fun and unique touch to headers and titles, while Roboto ensures readability and consistency throughout the app. Together, they create a visually appealing and cohesive design that enhances the overall user experience.

Next Steps

Looking ahead I would…

  1. Integrate a seamless connection to LinkedIn or other job search platforms, automating the process of adding applications to JobHunt thus saving users valuable time and effort.

  2. Expand on the "inspiration" aspect of the app, curating even more motivational content to keep users engaged and motivated throughout their job search journey.

  3. Explore the possibility of integrating a career coach guidance feature, providing users with personalized advice and support to navigate their career paths effectively.

  4. Conduct additional usability tests to ensure comprehensive app usability. This would involve gathering feedback from a diverse range of users to identify any remaining pain points or areas for improvement.