The Challenge
Uncommon was one of the first recruiting platforms connecting companies with qualified and interested candidates using their unique artificial intelligence technology. They’ve seen success in the B2B marketplace. We were tasked to create a new B2C product in a three-week sprint.
Solution
We recommend a two-phase process that will begin with a responsive website where users would be able to job search, track their progress, personalize, and, by utilizing unique AI technology, Uncommon IQ™, recommend career paths based on their values, hard and soft skills. The second phase will include a mobile app that will give the user a seamless experience prioritizing power and speed.
My Role
Business Strategy, Industry Research, User Research, Usability Testing, Lead Product Designer
How did we get here?
Research
Our research strategy was to search industry trends from LinkedIn, Forbes and the Talent Board along with competitive analysis.
From our research, we found the following key findings:
To fix the basics starting with communication and feedback through UX/UI design.
To make the candidate's experience personable by helping them look for job positions, to help with their qualifications, and showcase their strengths and skills.
To simplify the job searching process.
User Interviews
We needed to interview job seekers to better understand their pain points and goals with their process. We interviewed eleven users and our findings were synthesized.
From the affinity mapping, we found the following insights:
People aren't presented with jobs that match their interests.
A person's qualifications do not match the jobs that interest them.
Some people are unsure of what they want to do or where they want their career to go.
People find algorithmically derived jobs helpful and prefer those recommendations over those of a recruiter.
Personas
Based on the market research and user interviews, we created primary, secondary and special personas to help us focus on our design solution. Even though James and Emily are job seekers, Theresa is our primary persona.
Theresa
The Persistent Hunter
Employed
Single
San Francisco, California
Theresa is actively job searching while working and it feels like a second job. She's unhappy with her current position and wants to find a job where she will thrive and grow, but she doesn't know what her options are or what she wants to do
Goals
Find a better job.
Find an alternative career path.
Make more money.
Pain Points
Uncertainty and anxiety about her skills and qualifications.
Uncertain about figuring out her career path.
Finding a job she's interested in is a time-intensive process.
Searches
LinkedIn
Indeed
Glassdoor
James / Secondary
The Green Candidate
Emily / Special
The Apathetic Browser
Site Map
With most of our research completed, we focused on how to simplify the job search process by creating a site map. The frames highlighted in yellow is what we chose to focus on when creating our prototype.
User Flow
A lot of user information needed to be collected to build their profile, but we didn't want them feeling like we were wasting their time. User flow came in handy to make the experience concise and delightful. Here is one user flow of job seekers exploring career paths outside their field and opportunities on how they can reach that path.
Wireframes & Usability Testing
From our paper prototypes to hi-fi wireframes, we conducted 12 iterations based off of 16 usability tests. We sought inspiration from competitors like Leap.ai and Planted, but still tried to stay on Uncommon's brand by using their style guide. Our main concern was how to show different career paths in an interesting way and still easy to follow. We took inspiration from subway maps and testers seemed to enjoy this design element.
Solution
Phase One: Responsive Website
Phase Two: iOS mobile app
Screens for onboarding