Labor: An App for Designers to Find Their Ideal Job
UX/UI Design
2021
Overview
Finding a job as a designer can be challenging, as many job platforms offer generic listings that don’t match the applicant's profile. To address this, I created a concept for a fictional app aimed at helping designers find job opportunities better aligned with their skills and preferences.
Problem
One of the main issues for designers during job searches is finding opportunities that align with their specialization and experience level. Traditional platforms tend to lack precise filters, leaving users with limited control over the job offers they receive. In addition, the lack of information regarding the company culture and the projects they are hiring for makes the job search even more challenging.
Objective
The goal of Labor is to create an intuitive and user-centered platform that enables designers to find job opportunities tailored to their specific profiles. By using advanced filters, it’s possible to narrow down searches to find positions that match the user’s skill set, experience level, and career ambitions.
Understanding the Scenario
Given the extensive and complex nature of the topic, I used Design Thinking as a methodology to refine and redefine the developed points.
Research
I started by conducting brief research using secondary data to understand the current scenario.
Relevant Information: Designers expressed a desire for more information about the types of projects they would work on and the company culture.
Customization: Many designers want an app where they can specify their preferences and career goals, not just upload a resume and cover letter.
Community and Networking: Designers value networking and connecting with companies that understand their skill set and background.
According to research conducted by G1 in July this year via email with 10,172 candidates and 166 companies, half of the responding candidates, if they could choose one area for improvement in the selection process, would select “feedback for candidates.” Another 16% would choose to improve “visibility of the stages in the selection process.”
Understanding the User
After analyzing the challenge and the scenario, my next step was to gather all questions, assumptions, and certainties into a CSD matrix to create an effective research survey.
Key Points from the Research
The three main factors that make it difficult to apply for a job are: uncertainty about the type of professional the company needs, unclear job scope, and lack of feedback during the recruitment process.81.25% of participants use LinkedIn.Only 39% of users utilize specialized platforms for design and communication, such as Trampos.co.
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Majority Profile
The interviews were essential in the discovery process, as they allowed us to identify the main characteristics of designers regarding their decisions when applying for job openings.
The survey received 18 responses and provided valuable insights for the project’s development. It was possible to analyze that the majority of respondents are over 30 years old, women, and have a variable income ranging from 1 to 5 minimum wages.
Personas
Camila, 28 years old — UX Designer
Camila holds a degree in Design and a postgraduate degree in UX Design. She is a Senior UX Designer at a tech company but feels there are no growth opportunities. Her goal is to join a larger company and increase her income.
Her main challenge is finding the ideal job, as platforms like LinkedIn and Glassdoor lack clear job details. She also feels insecure about roles that seem to have unattainable requirements.
Lucas, 36 years old — HR Specialist in Design
Lucas is a Human Resources professional specializing in design. His main goal is to write well-defined job descriptions and recruit professionals who are a perfect match for open positions.
A major challenge for Lucas and his team is finding both the right designers and suitable roles, ensuring all job responsibilities are clear and objective for future hires.
User Journey Map
After understanding the problem and creating empathy with the personas, the User Journey Map was defined. The goal of this technique is to gain a deeper understanding of the user’s pains, perceptions, and desires, and how they would interact with the solution in their daily life. The journey map below focuses on the persona of Camila:
Features
Based on the personas and research, I defined some core features for the app:
Advanced Search Filters: Allow users to refine job offers based on their specialization, preferred industry, and experience level.
Company Profiles: A space where companies can share information about their work culture, recent projects, and team.
Portfolio Integration: Designers can link their portfolio directly to their profile, making it easier for companies to view their work.
Personalized Notifications: Users can receive alerts for job offers that match their profile, saving time in the job search.
Wireframes
After defining the main features, I created some wireframes to illustrate the app's layout and user experience. The design was kept clean and functional, focusing on usability and ease of navigation.
High Fidelity Prototype
Conclusion
Labor is a project that seeks to improve the job search experience for designers. By offering advanced customization features, rich company profiles, and an intuitive interface, the app provides a valuable tool for designers looking for their ideal job. While this is still a concept project, it demonstrates the potential for a niche job search platform tailored specifically for creative professionals.