Embedded Files
Project Background
Project Background
My Role: Lead UX Designer, UX Researcher
The Problem: Ex-offenders face discrimination in the job hiring process regardless of their crime, circumstances, and how far in the past the incident is.
The Goal: Standardize fair-hiring practices that focus on the values and skills of who the individual is in the present, not who they were in the past. Job hiring practices either don’t ask about criminal history or only consider it during the final processes, basing all prior evaluations on the person, not the paper.
Target Audience: Ex-offenders facing discrimination in the job hiring process.
User Research
User Research
Study Details
Study Details
User research for this project was conducted via compiling statistics of demographics of jail and prison inmates in the US. The remaining research focused on similarities and patterns among those who were the statistical majority.
The next phase of research included reaching out to ex-offenders via social media groups of the same. It is important to clarify that the information from this is not a representative sample as it came from a subset of ex-offenders that had routine access to the internet, sought social groups of those who have been through a similar experience, and were wanting to talk about their experience.
Key Challenges and Constraints
Key Challenges and Constraints
Competitive audit revealed a significant gap in current services. Current services fell into 3 main categories:
Small websites that were updated infrequently and typically run by a single individual
Services that came across as spammy relying on testimonials and hidden processes
Local/State/Federal websites and resources
Designs must have a higher focus on accessibility and accomodating different screen sizes
User Persona
User Persona
Problem Statement: Rich is an ex-offender who is under-employed who needs help searching for a career because as an ex-offender he struggles with discrimination on his employment applications that request his criminal history.
Starting the Design
Starting the Design
Concepts:
Concepts:
Focus on accessibility and screen size variations
Link existing resources with unique value proposition of product
Promote learning about fair-hiring practices
Job search is most important function, but job and financial resources are a high priority that can be easily overlooked
Usability Study Findings
Usability Study Findings
An unmoderated usability study was conducted with 5 participants with the following findings:
Users found the home screen layout too busy
Users wanted more search criteria added to the job search page
Users stated the navigation components were hard to use; too small and too close to other interactive components
Before Usability Study:
Before Usability Study:
After Usability Study:
After Usability Study:
Refining the Design
Refining the Design
Main User Flow:
Main User Flow:
Login > Home > Search Jobs > Search Results > Job Details > Apply for Job > Confirmation
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
There are still so many gaps and opportunities for technology to contribute to social good.
Using wireframing templates and standard designs allows for a more polished and modern look
Next Steps
Next Steps
Conduct another usability study with the high-fidelity prototype focusing on the population that is the target audience for this app
Create mockups for the rest of the app features that are not part of the main user flow
Research if this project can be funded wholly or partially through government aid programs and/or grants
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