Project
Information
Problem statement
Flexible workers, face difficulty securing part-time jobs that accommodate their varying schedules. Industries like hospitality are experiencing staffing shortages for immediate shifts.
Addressing this issue can establish a dependable on-call workforce for business and offer income stability to flexible workers by providing easy access to available shifts. Our platform can cultivate user loyalty, frequent engagement and revenue from both flexible job seekers and business seeking staff.
Flexible workers, including students who juggle ever-changing schedules, need a streamlines way to discover and secure part-time opportunities because traditional employment models often fail to accommodate their unpredictable availability, leading to missed job opportunities and financial challenges
Business with fluctuating staffing demands, across various sectors, need a reliable method to swiftly find and hire on-demand, flexible workers because unexpected staff shortages can disrupt operations, reduce customer satisfaction and adversely affect profitability.
Project background
Solution
Created an effective platform connecting part-time jobseekers with flexible work, we followed a user-centered design process grounded in empathy and research. Our goal is to bridge the gap between jobseekers and employers who require on-demand staffing solutions.
Project
My Role
Research
User Persona
Wireframe
UI/UX Design
User Flow
Test Facilitator
Project
Group Effort
Thomas Olsen
Martine Rydland
Mahshid Mohammadi
Project
Duration
5
Weeks
50+
Screens
Project
Tools Used
Figma
Google Forms
Miro
Google Slide
Zoom
Project
Design Process
As a designer for this project I was responsible for strategies and visual design.
Research
- User Research
- Competitive Analysis
- User Interviews
- Affinity Mapping
Define
- Persona
- User Scenario
- Problem Statement
- 5 Why’s
- How Might We
Ideate
- Ideation Workshop
- IA
- UX Flows
- Mind Mapping
- Mood Boards
- MoSCoW Technique
- Technical Requirement
Prototype
- Sketching
- Wireframes
- Wire Flows
- Annotations
Usability Test
- User Research
- Competitive Analysis
- User Interviews
- Affinity Mapping
Project background
Timeline
Empathise
Research Plan
Objective
To comprehensively understand the challenges and needs of students searching for part-time, flexible employment opportunities and the corresponding difficulties faced by business, particularly in the food and beverage sector, when trying to rapidly hire staff
Goal
The goal is to uncover insights that can drive the design of an intuitive, efficient and effective platform or solution that bridges the gap between these two groups, ensuring that students and other people can find work that fits their ever-changing schedules and businesses can efficiently fill staffing vacancies on short notice.
Schedule and logistics
Empathise
Research Methods
- Qualitative and quantitative
- Secondary research
- Qualitative and quantitative
- Primary research
- Qualitative
- Primary research
- Qualitative and quantitative
- Secondary research
Empathise
Findings from Literature Review
Empathise
Findings from Survey
Empathise
Research Methods Interviews
What
Semi-structured, in depth conversations with a diverse group of students and business owners/managers to discuss their experience, preferences and challenges related to short-notice employment.
Why
Enables a deep dive into specific scenarios and personal experiences, offering a qualitative understanding of the motivations and pain points of both parties. This method provides rich, narrative data and anecdotal insight that can inform the nuances of the solution.
Empathise
Interview participants
Empathise
Findings from Competitive Analysis
“Time2Staff makes it easy for me as a student to earn an extra income alongside my studies. It gives me great freedom and the salary is paid straight away!”
“Fiverr is a good platform for freelancers and buyers, but it’s important to rely on your own expertise, as low-cost gigs – even the ones that have a 5-star rating, may end up hurting your business.”
“Use app with caution, lots of fake employers out there looking to scam you. Don’t ignore red flags people.”
Empathise
Key Insight
Scheduling and Flexibility
- Over 59% of students find work-hour flexibility essential, seeking non-traditional hours for work.
- There is a demand for genuine flexibility from management in time schedules.
Job Search Platform and Tools
- Clarity and a user-friendly interface are crucial in job search platforms.
- Users appreciate platforms allowing a one-time CV upload for multiple applications.
- Personal recommendations remain a powerful
Personal Experience and Preferences
- Students prioritize flexibility in work hours and appreciate varied daily tasks.
- Clear communication regarding job application outcomes is essential.
Financial Aspects and Motivations
- Part-time roles introduce students to diverse contacts, potentially leading to future job opportunities.
- Part-time work experiences enhance graduates’ employability.
Work Trends and Market Dynamics
- Internal hiring is preferred, with public job postings sometimes masking hidden requirements.
- External factors, like the COVID-19 pandemic, impact the part-time job market.
Challenges in Job Roles and Work Environment
- International students face barriers, including language issues.
- Traditional methods like distributing resumes in-person are less common.
Management in Work Scheduling
- Scheduling software simplifies managing flexible schedules.
- Overlapping shifts and departmental coordination challenges can complicate scheduling.
Perspective and Future Directions
- A rising number of individuals are choosing part-time work for flexibility.
- Despite societal shifts towards flexible working, the job market hasn’t adequately reflected this change.
Academic and Work Balance
- Balancing academics with work is demanding, especially for international students.
- The social aspect of studying can clash with work.
Empathise
Research Goals Findings
What
Who should we solve this problem for?
- Students, particularly those juggling academic commitments with work
- International students who face barriers like language issues and unfamiliarity with the local job market.
- Individuals who cannot secure full-time employment due to economic conditions or other personal reasons.
- Individuals valuing flexibility in their work-life balance.
- Employees facing long commutes or those wanting to maintain a work-life balance.
When are people most in need of flexible work?
- During their academic years, when there are strict and sometimes unpredictable academic schedules.
- During financial crunches, especially students with loans or international students lacking financial support systems.
- During major life events, such as parenting, caregiving, educational pursuits, or health challenges.
- In scenarios of economic downturns or external events impacting the job market.
Why is it difficult to find and keep part-time and flexible work?
- The unpredictability of flexible schedules can disrupt personal plans and create work-life imbalance.
- Limited availability of flexible roles despite increasing demand.
- Some managers might be unresponsive to scheduling concerns, pushing responsibility onto the employees.
- Public job postings sometimes have hidden requirements, making access challenging for less experienced seekers.
- The economic ramifications of events like the pandemic intensify competition for such jobs.
What factors are most responsible for this problem?
- A disconnect exists between students’ need for flexibility and some employers’ expectations.
- Employers occasionally disregard students’ academic commitments, leading to scheduling conflicts.
- External events like the COVID-19 pandemic disrupt the job market, impacting part-time job opportunities.
- Some jobs, especially desirable ones, might not be publicly advertised, making access difficult.
- The demand for flexible roles often exceeds their supply, indicating a market gap.
- A disconnect between the high demand for flexible roles and their actual availability.
- Inconsistencies in work schedules leading to unpredictability and stress for employees.
- Organizational perceptions and undervaluation of part-time student workers.
Where does the problem occur most often?
- In urban areas where there is a demand for flexible work roles due to factors like long commutes.
- In industries where there’s a trend towards part-time employment, such as retail and food service.
- Smaller cities can present unique challenges due to limited job opportunities combined with a relatively large student population.
- On traditional job platforms that may not always offer relevant or engaging opportunities for students.
- On traditional job platforms that may not provide precise filtering options.
- In urban areas or places with high student populations like universities.
How can we help the individuals involved?
- Introduce or highlight platforms allowing users a one-time CV upload for multiple applications, reducing redundancy.
- Tailor the job search and employment experience with flexibility, relevance, and clear communication in mind.
- Enhance job platforms to cater to user preferences, providing streamlined processes and innovative solutions
- Implement modern scheduling software to streamline the process of managing flexible schedules.
- Promote the value of part-time work, ensuring businesses and institutions recognize the skills and experiences from these roles.
- Ensure clear communication regarding job application outcomes to reduce uncertainty.
- Engage in collaborative initiatives, like micro-internships between universities and businesses, to offer students valuable experience.
- Encourage companies to post more flexible and part-time job opportunities in alignment with the societal shift towards flexible work.
Empathise
Recommendations
Design and Features
- Develop a dedicated platform targeting students and part-time job seekers.
- Highlight trustworthy job postings with employer vetting and certification badges
Feedback Tools
- Enable real-time schedule communication, aiding students in balancing academic and job commitments.
Scheduling
- Introduce dynamic scheduling tools on the platform, allowing students to easily indicate availability and trade shifts.
Growth
- Consider tier membership models, offering premium features to employers.
- Collaborate with universities or other educational institutions for mutual promotions.
Define
Target Group
Primary persona
Our primary persona encapsulates the typical student's perspective, drawing insights from both direct interactions and survey feedback. This persona provides a comprehensive understanding of students' job-seeking experiences, expectations, and challenges.
Additional persona
Our additional persona is based off survey results showing that there is a large number of students over 30 and other family established individuals looking for part-time jobs. This is important to keep in mind, as these individuals will also benefit from our solution.
Secondary persona
Secondary persona is based off information we collected during literature review and facts collected from the interviews. This persona gives us more insight into why businesses may need to hire people such as our primary and secondary persona.
Define
Primary Persona
Define
Additional Persona
Define
Secondary Persona
Define
4 W's
Arvid seeks a job through the app. His ideal job would allow him to work 10–15 hours a week, fitting around his busy academic schedule. While the primary goal is to earn enough to cover his rent, groceries, and other basic expenses, Arvid also wishes for this job to be a stepping stone, providing him with invaluable experience and opportunities to expand his professional network.
Define
User Scenario - Primary Persona
Arvid - an English major at UIO University, is struggling to balance academics and find a suitable part-time job. He took on a couple roles in local cafes when he arrived, but ended up leaving because they demanded full availability which didn’t work with his heavy course load.
Without income, covering living costs has been difficult. Arvid feels discouraged searching for roles fitting his class schedule. Moreover, most openings demand full availability - nights, weekends, holidays. He dreams of finding a solution that empowers him to balance his academic pursuits with financial security effortlessly.
Arvid's frustration grows as he spends precious time sifting through irrelevant postings, wishing for a more tailored search option that considers his fluctuating class schedule and study commitments.
Luckily, a classmate tells Arvid about a new platform , designed to help individuals like him find flexible jobs fitting their schedules and lifestyles seamlessly. Feeling hopeful, he downloads the app and sets up his profile, emphasizing his skills and availability.
Using the platforms advanced filters, Arvid easily narrows down job openings during his free time. He finds a marketing assistant role at a nonprofit that perfectly fits his schedule. Arvid feels excited to apply, relieved to finally find an app catering to students like himself needing schedule flexibility.
Define
User Scenario - Additional Persona
As Anne settles into her routine at home, it becomes increasingly clear that her current part-time role isn't aligning with her needs. Feeling undervalued and often out of the loop, she realizes she wants a job where she's not just a remote participant but an integral team member. The absence of flexibility in her current role together with her home responsibilities, makes the decision evident: she needs a new job.
Feeling newly inspired, Anne starts exploring job sites for flexible roles. Her approach is systematic; she filters roles based on her qualifications, ensuring they match her expertise, and then further shortlists them based on flexibility and part-time availability. While she finds numerous opportunities, many don't seem genuinely flexible, which is paramount for her.
After days of searching, Anne stumbles upon a job listing that seems promising. A company looking for a marketing expert emphasizes a culture that respects work-life balance. Intrigued, Anne check ups the company and examines their website, reads employee testimonials, and even checks out their LinkedIn profiles to get a feel of the company's atmosphere.
Recognizing that her skills and aspirations align well with the job, Anne spends considerable time crafting her application. She writes a cover letter, intertwining her professional achievements with her philosophy on work-life balance. Hoping to strike a chord with the employer, she emphasizes her passion for marketing and her belief that productivity isn't tied to traditional working hours but to a supportive, understanding work environment.
After hitting the 'submit' button, Anne's days are filled with a mix of hope and anxiety. She constantly checks her email, awaiting a response. To ease her anxiety, she prepares for a potential interview—reviewing her skills, achievements, and formulating answers to possible questions about her need for flexibility.
After almost 2 weeks, as Anne's in the middle of her home chores, her phone buzzes with a new email notification. It's from the company, inviting her for an interview. Elation fills her as she realizes her effort might be paying off. As she marks the interview date on her calendar, she feels a step closer to her dream job—one that understands and respects her dual roles as a professional and a parent.
Define
User Scenario - Secondary Persona
Martin, the business owner of a busy restaurant franchise, is on his way to visit one of his busiest restaurant on a Saturday evening to check in with his team. The atmosphere is a little chaotic and Martin seems worried about the lack of staff that he sees.
He goes into the back office where his manager, Sara approaches him with urgency and says “Martin, we're short two chefs and a server tonight. Alex called in sick, and Monika has a family emergency.". Martin gives out a sight as the problem sound all too familiar and says “Didn’t we just onboard two new chefs last month?” . Sara nods and says, “We did, but they left. They found the pace too challenging, and one got an offer elsewhere."
Martin's restaurant, famous for its high standards, needs skilled workers to maintain quality.However, the challenge of finding and retaining such talent persists. He's always believed in the potential of technology to aid growth, and this belief now drives his decision to turn to a new platform for help.
Later in his office, he finds a new platform after a Google search, which offers easy job listings with skill matching. He's intrigued by the user-friendly interface and the promising features it provides. With just a few clicks, he posts job listings, outlining specific skills he needs. The platform's skill matching algorithm immediately starts suggesting potential candidates who match the requirements.
Over the following weeks, Martin notices a significant change. The platform not only provides him with a stream of qualified candidates but also allows him to engage with them directly. Through the platform, potential hires are given insights into the restaurant's operations, ensuring they understand the expectations.
With the aid of the platform, Martin finds himself better equipped to tackle the staffing challenges head-on. The process of sourcing and retaining skilled workers becomes streamlined, and Martin's belief in technology's potential to foster growth is reaffirmed. His restaurants now run more efficiently, and unexpected staff shortages are becoming a thing of the past.
Define
Vision Statement
Define
How Might We
What factors are most responsible for this problem?
- Make it easy to filter their criteria
How might we help potential potentials employees find the jobs matching their skills and interests?
- We can give them suggested Job postings based off their skills and Interests
How might we enable people to discover jobs based on their skills and interests?
- Implementation of algorithms or AI to match their skills and the requirements from different job postings with suggestions
How might we help potential employees find the jobs on their preferred devices?
- We tailor the solution to their preferred devices
How might we simplify the job search and application process for students?
- We may provide a place where they can do everything in one place, such as using their CV for multiple applications
How might we build trust and transparency between students and employers?
- We may implement a rating or feedback system on both employees and employers, as well as establishing communication between them
How might we highlight opportunities with scheduling flexibility and work-life balance?
- We might encourage employers to fill in their expectation of hours, possibility for flexibility and what shifts they are looking to cover
How might we encourage people to use the platform?
- We create a user-friendly platform that builds trust between employees and employers through a vetting/rating system
How might we accommodate non-Norwegian speakers to use the platform?
- We offer different language options and include language requirements in job postings.
How might we provide employers with insights into top performing student workers?
- Implement a rating system where employers can rate and review students after each job or shift
How might we simplify the application process for students to apply for multiple flexible roles?
- Save application, application tracking system
How might we allow employers to quickly fill urgent staffing gaps on short notice?
- By providing them with features like push notifications or mark jobs as “Urgent”
How might we make last-minute job notifications highly visible and actionable for students?
- Mark urgent jobs in a way that grabs attention
Ideate
Ideation Workshop
Ideation methods we used:
- Brainstorming
- Voting
- 100$ bill
- Mind mapping
- Mood boards
- MoSCoW
Screenshot from Ideation workshop.
Ideate
Our Top Solutions
We followed our brainstorming, each participant was granted three votes to select their preferred ideas in which we expanded on.
Mobile and Web based platform
Mobile and Web based platform #1
The idea involves creating a new mobile and web based platform based on insights and recommendations, tailored to our target audience.
"Finn" for students
The idea involved researching into modifying the current search and work module in Finn to accomodate students or refining a new module next to Finn Work targeting students.
LinkedIn 2.0
The idea involved researching into modifying the current search and job listing module on LinkedIn to accomodate students, or refining a new module next to Finn Work targeting students.
Tinder for jobs
The idea revolved around creating a Tinder specifically for job matching. While discussing the idea, we came across an article talking about 4 companies who tried this is 2010 and did not succeed.
Ideate
Mood Boards
Ideate
Highlighted Features
We developed a new job search platform connecting students and businesses through skills matching, simplified job listings, and introduced rosters with convenient scheduling tools.
Skills matching
Matching individuals to jobs based on their skills and interests, as well as giving the employers insight into best fitting candidates
Job listings
Job listings highlights key facts such as type of job, deadline for application and whether the individual fits the job. Inside the listing the individual can see how far they are away from the job (Map), and how that matches with their schedule (calendar).
Rating System
A rating system where both employees and employers can rate each other. This will ensure trust between the parts as well as avoid possible scams (also through a report button).
Roster System
Businesses can shortlist or create a roster for positions within their company so that they have an "on call demand" list of potential candidates. When they open for this, individuals can also sign up for this list
Map
Map features for job listings and companies, enabling easier insight into how close you are to the job. Individuals can also select the map in the job listing filters seeing all available positions within the selected area.
Calendar
Students can select to sync their calendars (student calendars or calendars from user account such as Google), to immediate check in or out their availability. They can also manually use an availability toggle in order to mark them available for shifts. The calendar acts as a visual cue for easily seeing their availability.
Ideate
Our Top Solution
Introducing: The Next-Gen Job Search Platform
Platform, designed for seamless skill-based matchmaking, innovative scheduling, and trust.
Skills matching
Matching individuals to jobs based on their skills and interests, as well as giving the employers insight into best fitting candidates.
Skill & Interest Sync:
- Aligns job-seekers with opportunities that fit their skills and passion
- Offers employers an intuitive way to find the right fit.
Job Listings at a Glance:
- Showcases essential details like job type, application deadline, and compatibility metrics.
- Integrates map views for proximity insights and calendar visuals for schedule clashes.
Mutual Trust Through Ratings:
- A dual-rating system where both sides review each other.
- Incorporates a report function for added security and trustworthiness.
Dynamic Roster System:
- Allows businesses to curate an “on-call” list for immediate hiring needs.
- Job-seekers can opt-in, showing eagerness for certain roles.
Geolocation Insights:
- Enhanced map features help seekers gauge their proximity to potential jobs.
- Filter opportunities by area for focused job-hunting.
Smart Scheduling:
- Sync personal or third-party calendars (like Google or student calendar) for instant availability check.
- Toggle-based availability settings let users indicate readiness for shifts.
- Visual cues enhance the scheduling experience, eliminating double-booking and miscommunication.
Ideate
MoSCoW
Ideate
IA Diagram
Ideate
User Flows
Ideate
Task Flows
Ideate
Technical Requirements
We established technical requirements as our project evolved, creating a dynamic roadmap that guided our design choices. New ideas and iterative decisions continuously shaped and updated.
Prototype
Sketches
We did our design process by sketching on frames that inspired us, using sketching as a visual brainstorming tool to explore and refine design concepts collaboratively.
Design Principles
Don Norman's Three Level of Design
Prototype
Low/Mid Fidelity
Prototype
Low/Mid Fidelity Usability Testing
Prototype
Low/Mid Fidelity Task Flows & Wireflows
Signup
Apply for job
Apply for a roster
Saving job alert for future notifications
Usability Testing
Defining The Scope of Usability Testing
Test product concept and design
Is the product and concept matching the user’s mental model?
Reveal friction points and unclarity
Are there any may pain points or unclarities we need to account for?
Efficiency and Satisfaction
Are the flows efficient and does it match the user’s expectations?
Identify bugs & issues with the product
Are there any major bugs or issues we need to fix?
Usability Testing
Features We Tested
Usability Testing
Results
Usability Testing
Findings From Participants
Usability Testing
Key Findings
Usability Testing
Moving To High Fidelity
Usability Testing
Design Iterations
Recommendation:
- Add export button on profile
Iteration and Fix
- As some users expressed a wish to receive help exporting their CV to a file, we included an export button that essentially takes the users profile and exports it into a file, as the profile itself is built like a CV.
Profile / Export button
Recommendation:
- Input fields should be marked with required or optional
Iteration and Fix
- We have added markin to each input field to show if they are required or optional. After reviewing Accessibility guidelines, we opted to write them out instead of using asterisk (*), as this is more compatible with accessibility tools, such as voiceover.
Input Fields / Requirements
Recommendation:
- Add an appeal button and review process for received reviews.
Iteration and Fix
- In order to address concern about the rating system, we have added possibility to edit and appeal a review together with a contact form for appealing the received review.
Reviews / Appeal
Usability Testing
Design System
Recognizing the significance of a unified user experience in our job matching app, we created a design system to guide our visuals and interactions. This centralizes our design choices, fostering consistency and clarity across screens and interactions, enhancing user intuition, and streamlining development. Our commitment is to provide a seamless, user-friendly job matching experience.
Usability Testing
Design System Desktop
Usability Testing
Overall Results
Usability Testing
Findings From Participants Part 2
Usability Testing
Key Insights
Responsive Design
Desktop / Mobile
Usability Testing
Recommendations
Usability Testing
Next Steps
Our recent usability test for the mobile job search app highlighted key insights in navigation, feedback, job applications, calendar integration, user preferences, and login security.
Next Steps:
- Implement design iterations and bug fixes to the mobile frames
- Prepare scaling to desktop and tablet
- Consider conducting Usability Testing on the flows that scored lower as well as test them compared to the desktop experience.
- Get investors, hire developer team and launch SEEK app.
Usability Testing
Constraints
