Enabling job seekers’ self-representation in job application

Abstract

The client of the project is Quincy Dalh, who works in organizations supporting job seekers with their job searching journey. He organized the project brief that aims to develop ideas for an online job-matching platform that brings healthy changes to the hiring process. He gave a working title for the platform called HelloCareer. Quincy’s focus was on addressing the issues around bias and communication gaps in hiring and giving autonomy over self-representation to job seekers - their ability to choose and control how they communicate their skills, motivation, personality, and experience.

Diving into the scene, the problems that Quincy mentioned related more to CV than to other hiring tools. Companies have to process the biggest number of applicants in the application stage since it is open to everyone. Therefore, applicants can only deliver written forms that recruiters screen in a few seconds without any communication. Because what they can tell is limited, and they never get feedback, applicants feel that they are not respected. The problem for companies is that they may miss the talents that are hard to identify in the application. Based on the given situation, the project’s goal was determined: how to allow job seekers to self-represent in their CV.

The project followed the double diamond design process. The first step was conducting desk research to explore the context, and the key takeaway from the desk research on the hiring process was seeing how different steps and recruitment tools are intertwined. The materials and tools are often used over multiple steps. Thus, the design direction for Hello Career was determined: a platform that covers the entire job searching journey supporting a seamless experience. Employees nowadays keep changing jobs which means the job searching journey keeps ongoing. The platform will help the users document their work-life regularly so that they can whenever start the job search in a prepared and constructive manner.

Interviews and a creative session were conducted to discover the job seeker’s needs for the main research focus, self-representation on CV, and each step of the journey. Converging techniques were used to bring the gathered ideas and insights into concrete ideas.

The solution to the primary research goal was derived: an interactive online CV. A job seeker can form a bigger picture of who one is by connecting the experiences. Interactive elements and media content support delivering the story clearly. The CV would stay as an online page while being processed and screened. It would make the process transparent for applicants. The result highlights the job seeker’s need for a platform that takes care of the entire job search journey and provides transparency in screening. By showing the potential of going online, the final design also suggests a new role for a CV.

Due to the capacity, the project only focused on job seekers’ perspectives and needs on the issue. Thus, further research and product iteration should take place to utilize the product.