new features
LinkedIn is a platform mainly used for professional networking, that allows job seekers to post their CVs and employers to post jobs. LinkedIn members can create profiles and “connect” to each other in an online social network, which may represent real-world professional relationships.
Among the many great features this platform has, in times of pandemic there is a need to add some important functions such as: scheduling appointments through calendar and the possibility of conducting an online interview.
In the following case study, I will present my proposal for the inclusion of these two new features.
Hi - fi prototype
After opening the application we see a profile of the candidate for the job. Then by clicking on the more button an option schedule an interview appears. After selecting this option, opens a calendar where we can choose the date and time of our meeting. The calendar can also be synchronized with google calendar to see if we already have plans for the day. There is also a text field for messages to the candidate. After sending the invitation, we wait until the candidate accepts it. If so, we can see the details of the meeting. On this screen, appears a button: call with LinkMeet - a video messenger - with which we can conduct an online interview.
Hi-fi
Competitor analysis
I started my work by analysing the application. There are 467 million users on LinkedIn that does not really have any major competitors. In term of its German market, the only competitor may be XING that has 19 million users. On the surface, the functions and capabilities of Xing and LinkedIn are very similar, but Xing and LinkedIn do not have the ability to schedule an interview and conduct an interview through video call.
Guerilla research
I conducted Guerilla Research among LinkedIn users who are actively looking for work. Many expressed concerns about the pandemic resulting in the reduction of job opportunities. Several of these individuals experienced online interviews, but using external video messaging. Also, a standard email address had to be used in order to make an appointment. The conclusions of this study are clear - in a situation as acute as the pandemic, being able to make an appointment through this platform and being able to communicate will be the next step towards a new pandemic reality.
Lo-fi prototype and User flow
I then focused on lo-fi prototyping, which allowed me to focus on the best possible placement of new features and drawing out the most intuitive user flow. When it comes to coming up with layouts for new features, starting with sketching is much more efficient than jumping into digital software.
Mid-fi prototype
After that I took care of the mid-fi prototype, which I used to test the application. All the test participants were able to locate the new features with ease, were able to make a meeting through the calendar and were able to conduct an online interview, which proved that the place for the new functions I chose was a good decision.
Atomic design
Then, after implementing changes based on testing, I made a high-fi prototype, which I use atomic design metedology to design. This involves creating scalable and reusable systems and components, divided into 5 levels:
atoms— abstract basic style components like: brand colours, typography, buttons, inputs, icons
molecules — combinations of atoms, smallest fundamental units of an interface
organisms — combinations of molecules, complex, standalone, reusable sections of an interface
templates — groups of organisms arranged together to form a page layout
pages — specific instances of templates with real content in place
Conclusions
The pandemic has changed our world irreversibly. A year ago we thought that it would all go away soon, today we see that the situation is getting worse month by month and there is no way to bring it under control... unfortunately we have to reorganise our functioning in society. Although some of the changes seem to be better, such as the possibility of a constant home-office, all services, entertainment, meetings, all the activities we know must be digitalized. We as UX designers have a lot of work ahead of us. Adding these two features to LinkedIn would emblem a new direction in hiring talents in the new reality. I think it's only a matter of time before these features become a permanent part of this platform's range of capabilities.