Case Study: Job Search Service for first generation immigrants

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The Problem
Many first generation immigrants coming to the United States are having difficulties finding jobs.
My Role
UX designer designing a job searching service for first generation immigrants.
The Goal
The application offers features and streamlined information for immigrants looking for jobs, for relevant information about the U.S. job market or for those looking to increase their level of education to be successful in finding well-paid jobs.
Responsibilities
Conducting interviews, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, and iterating on designs.
The Product
The web app is helping immigrant job seekers connect with employers in the United States. Besides the job search feature, the app also offers a resume builder and relevant information about the U.S. labor market, visa or residency and an education section.
Project Duration

September 2021 to October 2021
Understanding the user
I conducted interviews and created empathy maps to understand the users I’m designing for and their needs. A primary user group identified through research was represented by immigrants who just arrived to the United States and do not speak English yet or they speak poor English.
This user group needs a possibility to find jobs that do not require English language knowledge and they also need the possibility to use the job search service in their native language.
Persona 1 & Problem Statement
Luis Alveiro is a middle-aged immigrant with very limited English language knowledge who needs to easily filter through jobs based on the required language because he wants to find jobs fitting his English language level.
Persona 2 & Problem Statement
Idrissa Toure is a international undergraduate student who needs to find a job in his field of study because he wants to send money to his family back in Senegal.
Starting the design
Paper wireframes
Taking the time to draft iterations of each screen of the app on paper ensured that the elements that made it to digital wireframes would be well-suited to address user pain points. Stars were used to mark the elements of each sketch that would be used in the initial digital wireframes.
Usability Study
To start testing the designs, I created a low-fidelity prototype which you can view here. This prototype was used in an unmoderated usability study with 5 participants. Here are the main findings uncovered by the usability study: 
1. Users want to opt-into rating artworks
2. Users want to resume unfinished tours
3. Users needed a typeahead field in order to easily find the desired job categories.
Refining the design​​​​​​​
Digital wireframes
As the initial design phase continued, I made sure to base screen designs on feedback and findings from the user research.
Updated low-fidelity prototype
Using the completed set of digital wireframes, I created an updated low-fidelity prototype. Based on the user feedback received when testing the first low-fidelity prototype, I added a resume builder feature, as well as Save Search and a typeahead functionality for searching through job categories.
View the updated low-fidelity prototype
Mockups
The usability study revealed that users need a Resume Builder feature, which was then added to the Home screen.
The usability study also revealed that users wanted to have the option to Save an applied search, in order to re-use it at a later date.
Key Mockups
High-fidelity prototype
The final high-fidelity prototype presented more customized user flows for saving applied filters, for accessing the resume builder and for easily filtering the job categories when applying advanced filters.
Accessibility considerations
1. The color contrast between the foreground and background color has a value of 7.48, passing WCAG 2.1 AAA requirements.
2. The application has a language changer menu, in order to be used by international users.
3. The application offers the possibility to post and search for jobs for persons with disabilities, offering advanced filters for finding jobs targeted for them.
Responsive Design
The application was designed with all viewport sizes in mind, offering a seamless experience for all devices.
Screen size variations
With the app’s designs completed, I started working on designing the responsive website. I used the website’s sitemap to guide the organizational structure of each screen’s design to ensure a cohesive and consistent experience across devices.
Going Forward​​​​​​​
Takeaways
Impact
The design looks to offer an inclusive experience for anyone looking to find a job, irrespective of their nationality.
What I learned
While designing the job searching service I learned that the first ideas for the app are only the beginning of the process. Usability studies and peer feedback influence each iteration of the app’s designs.
Next Steps
1. Conduct another round of usability studies to validate whether the pain points users experienced have been effectively addressed.
2. Conduct more user research to determine any new areas of need.
3. Launch the app in order to contribute to the community as much as possible.​​​​​​​
Let's Connect!
Thank you for your time reviewing my work on the job searching service for first generation immigrants! If you’d like to see more or get in touch, my contact information is provided below.
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