JAMSNext
JAMSNext, Job Application Management System, is a platform for both applicants and recruiters, establishing a streamlined and transparent hiring process. Applicants and recruiters seamlessly interact via real-time visual boards from application to offer.
Current hiring platforms support either applicants or recruiters, not both. Users are tired and frustrated with the job application process. There is little transparency, disparate tools, and inefficiency in the process, and pain points on both sides.
Overview
Role
Lead Product Designer
Strategy, research, re-design, end-to-end design, testing, onboarding and mentoring designers and interns.
Tools
Exploring the problem
The job market has transformed, in large part due to the pandemic, and most hiring has gone remote forever. The right tool is missing for both applicants and recruiters.
When the hiring process involves platform created only for recruiters or only applicants, there will never be equality, transparency, and efficiency.
Previous design
The original design included some key features, but was not yet fully developed to high-fidelity. It lacked a strong user experience and was not clear in its message.
Before I joined the JAMSNext team, a group of designers and developers created a static site and an MVP of an application. My early role involved research and a re-design.
JAMSNext primarily focused on surveys and interviews in their early research
Preliminary research provided
The team found a great need for a platform that supports both applicants and recruiters. There were clear pain points, including lack of transparency, communication and delays in the inefficiencies in the hiring process.
I conducted SWOT analysis of various competitors, other organizations with hiring platforms for applicants or recruiters.
Competitive Analysis
I discovered many opportunities. Many of these platforms were inflexible and difficult to use. They supported either the recruiter or the applicant, not both. Few integrations. No real-time updates or highly-functional communication tools.
I conducted stakeholder interviews as well as user interviews to determine key features.
Additional research
One important discovery during this research phase was the need for in-app scheduling. Recruiters describe the pain points of needing to schedule multiple people, with complicated calendars, spending hours each week.
User flows
Following stakeholder and user interviews, I developed numerous user flows. A few examples here include:
Applicant creates account and completes onboarding
Recruiter creates account and creates onboarding
Recruiter messages applicant and moves applicant card
I conducted card sorts to test the information architecture.
Information architecture
One of the challenges was determining how to best structure the job inbox and job tracker, as well as the profile section.
Another challenge in the design involved supporting two parties. This situation can complicate the user journey. We also hoped to allow users the flexibility to move back and forth from “Recruiter” to ““Applicant”, knowing that users may operate in both roles during their career.
Early Site map
Designing the site map allowed us to visualize solutions for the entry point from static page to app as well as movement between the two apps.
With the user flows in mind, I began sketching out designs and wireframes. I conducted additional interviews with recruiters to gain a clearer sense of potential features. One interesting concept that emerged was the desire for a visual applicant card that could be informational and functional.
Low-fidelity
Design included work on both the static side and application side. The previous design lacked balance, dynamic flow, clear messaging, and a modern look and feel.
Mid-fidelity
Redesign
I began work on the Home page and static side redesign. During stakeholder interviews the concept that resonated was the effort to create a “mirror” effect between the applicant and the recruiter. The idea is to create an equal platform where both parties have the ability to find the right match. Whatever is happening on the recruiter side a version of it is also happening on the applicant side. I worked to create this idea on the new Home page.
Previous designs and new designs
Early prototype testing shows users are able to complete the tasks with minimal misclicks. Time to completion is within desired ranges. Heat map reveals success rates at clicking on appropriate CTAs. Short answer prompts at the end of tests also reveal users ease of use.
User testing
Next steps
Before joining JAMSNext, the team had determined a desktop-first approach. With desktop static and app design now in development, design focus is turning to mobile.
MVP is in development with version 1 being released within one month.
Plans for further testing as the product is released.