BTALENT
Closing the Divide: Empowering Industrial and Manual Workers through Innovative Job Hunting Technologies
Emphasize
In a rapidly evolving job market, BTalent emerges as a revolutionary job hunting platform tailored specifically for industrial and manual workers. This case study delves into the remarkable journey undertaken by our team as we endeavored to bridge the gap between companies hungry for skilled labor and workers seeking meaningful employment opportunities.
In the initial phase of the project, extensive secondary and primary research was conducted to gather insights on healthy habits and existing habit tracking apps. The competitive analysis revealed that while there are apps available for habit tracking, they often lacked intuitive usability. Users found it challenging to input new habits, and the dashboard designs were confusing, overwhelming users with excessive information.
After conducting five in-depth interviews and receiving 29 responses from an online survey within a span of just three days, we were able to gain valuable insights from both qualitative and quantitative data. The interviews provided rich, contextual understanding of users’ challenges, motivations, and aspirations related to habit formation. Simultaneously, the online survey elicited a broader range of perspectives, giving us a deeper understanding of the target audience’s preferences and pain points.
Through this combined research approach, we discovered that individuals faced tremendous difficulty in adhering to their desired habits and maintaining consistency. Forgetfulness and distractions were identified as significant barriers after only a few days of attempting to establish new habits. However, there was a resounding consensus that implementing small, incremental changes to habits could lead to substantial improvements in overall quality of life.
The Brief
Our Stakeholder Vitor Martins approached our team with a compelling task - to conceptualize, design, and bring to life BTalent, an intuitive job hunting platform exclusively tailored to industrial and manual workers. BTalent would leverage the power of AI-driven matching algorithms to connect these workers with verified job opportunities from companies committed to providing suitable working environments.
Merge features from both LinkedIn and Tinder to develop a distinctive user experience that blends professional networking with matching and connection functionalities.
Emphasize skills, qualifications, and compatibility as the main criteria for matching, rather than explicitly providing diversity information about users.
Enable connections between users and companies only after a thorough matching process, ensuring compatibility and mutual interest.
Craft a visually appealing and engaging interface that is user-friendly, allowing for effortless navigation and comprehension.
Explore the possibility of creating a desktop version of the app to enhance convenience and versatility for users.
Who are our Users
Understanding the challenges and aspirations of the blue-collar workforce was paramount to our design process. Through an extensive survey with 197 respondents and in-depth interviews with potential users, we uncovered valuable insights into the difficulties faced by industrial and manual workers. Limited job options, a lack of transparency regarding job requirements, ineffective communication with potential employers, and a general depth of reliable information about reputable companies emerged as the key pain points affecting this demographic.
Key findings derived from our research are as follows:
Work experience, certifications, and technical skills are paramount factors in effective job applications
within these sectors.Blue-collar workers encounter numerous obstacles, including limited job opportunities, inadequate information regarding job requirements, ineffective communication channels with employers, and difficulties in identifying reputable companies.
To gain deeper insights into these challenges and offer appropriate solutions, we crafted the persona of Etienne, who represents our target user. Etienne's primary objectives encompass both supporting his family and securing a trustworthy employment opportunity. Nonetheless, he faces hurdles such as the absence of a dedicated platform catering to his job search needs and a misalignment between his job application strategies and the specific requirements of companies.
Our research findings have led us to focus on a key objective: designing a job application process that caters to the unique requirements of industrial and manual workers, while simultaneously streamlining the overall experience.
At the forefront of our endeavor is a fundamental question we aim to answer: How can we develop a process that effectively matches the needs of industrial and manual workers, addressing their challenges and fostering opportunities for successful job applications?
Ideation
The ideation phase fueled our creativity as we enthusiastically brainstormed innovative ideas to shape the BTalent platform. A comprehensive and intuitive user interface became our focal point.
Our app encompasses several core ideas and goals, which include:
1. One screen: one task approach - Creating a user interface where each screen is dedicated to a specific task, promoting clarity and user-friendliness.
2. Animation integration to streamline data input - Employing relevant animations to enhance the user experience and minimize the need for excessive text input.
3. Resume upload feature to save time during onboarding - Allowing users to conveniently upload their resumes, facilitating a smoother onboarding process.
4. AI integration to assist with cover letters and other written content - Implementing AI capabilities to provide users with valuable guidance and support when drafting cover letters and other textual elements.
5. Progress bar implementation for visualizing application progress - Utilizing a progress bar to help users visually track and understand their application progress.
Design
Drawing inspiration from the existing bee logo of BTalent, we embarked on a design journey that would captivate users' attention while showcasing the platform's unique identity. Transforming each element of the logo into an eye-catching pattern, we wove this visual motif throughout the app, visually unifying the experience. The choice of a soothing yet professional shade of blue reflected the industry's "Blue Collar" term and instilled a sense of trust and reliability. Well-crafted typography choices, such as Nunito Sans for headlines and Avenir for regular text, added a touch of modernity and readability to the overall design.
Final Product
Our commitment to simplicity and exceptional user experience drove the design of the BTalent app. With a focus on streamlining the onboarding process, we divided it into two main sections: profile setting and job searching. By breaking down the task into smaller, manageable steps, users could seamlessly navigate through the profile setup without feeling overwhelmed.
In order to accomplish this, we implemented a two-fold onboarding process: profile setting and job searching. The profile setting section comprises 12 distinct steps, where each screen is dedicated to a single task. This deliberate approach allows users to navigate through the profile setup process smoothly and effortlessly, by providing the required information without overwhelming them. Additionally, the job searching aspect of the onboarding process includes an additional 8 steps, expanding the user's journey.
The job search process introduced a swipe and match feature, mirroring popular dating apps, which allowed users to effortlessly browse and evaluate job offers. A well-designed dashboard provided quick access to essential information and facilitated seamless application tracking.
Within the job page, users are empowered to monitor the progress of their applications. A dynamic timeline showcases the current stage of the application process, offering a comprehensive overview. By simply clicking on the job, users can effortlessly access all relevant details pertaining to the job offer, including comprehensive information about the company. Additionally, a robust message board feature facilitates seamless communication, document sharing, and even participation in video calls, fostering effective collaboration and engagement.
The profile section allowed users to showcase their certifications, references, and recommendations, thereby enhancing their marketability to potential employers.
Desktop
To extend the reach and convenience of the platform, we recognized the importance of developing a desktop version tailored specifically for the company side. This desktop version allows companies to access an intuitive interface where they can effectively match with potential candidates. Companies are provided with a comprehensive view of the user's profile, showcasing their skills, qualifications, and work experience. However, to ensure a fair and unbiased selection process that aligns with diversity considerations, certain personal information such as name, age, and gender is withheld. Only upon making a conscious decision to match with a user does the company gain access to these details, enabling them to make informed hiring decisions. This approach ensures the focus remains on the candidate's qualifications and compatibility with the company's requirements, fostering a more inclusive and equitable recruitment process.
Next Steps
As BTalent enters its next phase, our roadmap includes an expanded feature set to meet the evolving needs of industrial and manual workers. The addition of an Academic section, Reminders for tasks, and the ability to set distance by time are among the enhancements we envision. Additionally, developing a desktop version for companies will enable faster and more efficient recruitment processes. Continuous usability testing, coupled with user feedback, will drive the ongoing refinement of the platform.
Learnings
The remarkable design journey of BTalent has brought us closer to realizing the vision of a job hunting platform that caters to the unique needs of industrial and manual workers. By prioritizing simplicity, seamless user experiences, and effective matching algorithms, we aim to close the divide between skilled workers and companies hungry for their expertise.