Timeline
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September - December (12 weeks)
My Role
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Solo UX Designer
Problem
It can be overwhelming and frustrating to feel like you don't know what to do with your life or what career path to pursue
I wanted to make this website because it provides an opportunity for individuals to gain firsthand, experiential knowledge about different careers by shadowing professionals in their field of interest. This can be incredibly valuable in helping people make informed decisions about their career path and can give them the confidence and motivation they need to pursue their dreams.
The solution
Find your path
Find your dream job and explore all the career options that exist
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Shadow can help students and people who have no career goals by providing them with exposure to a variety of different career options.
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It allows you to observe professionals at work and get a sense of what different jobs are really like on a day-to-day basis.
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It can help them clarify their interests and goals by providing them with the opportunity to try out different careers in a low-risk, low-commitment way.
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Shadowing professionals can also help individuals build their professional network and make connections that can be valuable in their future job search.
Make some extra money while also helping future peers
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Charging a fee for shadow appointments can be a way for employers to generate additional revenue and offset the costs of hosting a shadow.
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It can be a valuable marketing tool for employers, as it allows them to showcase their company culture and work environment to a wider audience.
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It can also help employers identify talented individuals who may be interested in working for their company in the future.
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Allowing individuals to shadow them can also be a way for employers to give back to their community and support the professional development of others.
Initial Market Research
"44% of undergraduates are unable to define the industry that they would like to work in once they graduate"
- Allaboutcareers.com
According to the research made by LinkedIn Corporate Communications(2017 ), Three-quarters of young adults aged 25-33 have gone through a quarter-life crisis with over 60% of them still contemplating what career they want to pursue. Shadowing professionals in different fields can provide young adults with valuable insights and experiences that can help them navigate their quarter-life crisis and make informed decisions about their career path.
Process
What did I work on? + Low Fidelity Prototypes
In my first sprint of working on the Shadow website, I focused on designing a user-friendly interface and an intuitive booking process. A website that was easy to use for students, as well as older adults who needed a career change. In the second sprint, I shifted my focus to developing a robust system that could connect users with professionals in their field of interest. By researching industry trends and gathering feedback from potential users, I was able to create a well-rounded product that addressed the needs of both job seekers and employers. As I continue to work on the Shadow website, I will continue to fine-tune the matching algorithm and explore new ways to make the shadowing experience as valuable and seamless as possible.
User Research
My interviewees were much most comfortable using a dating app that was based around laughter instead of looks
I spoke with ten individuals who had utilized the Shadow website to research various job paths. After shadowing professionals through the platform, I discovered that my interviewees were 4 times more likely to feel secure about their career decisions. Through my research, I discovered that exposure to many professional routes and first-hand experience are essential in assisting people in making wise judgements about their future. In order to find trends and insights that could be helpful for future job searchers, I asked my interviewers about their interactions with the Shadow website. I was able to better grasp the difficulties and motivations of my interviewees and how these elements connect to job happiness and goal attainment by arranging my data through affinity mapping.
My research question:
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How have you used the Shadow website to find and connect with professionals in your field of interest?
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What factors do you consider when choosing which professionals to shadow on the website?
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How has shadowing professionals through the Shadow website impacted your career path and goals?
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Have you had any memorable or unique experiences while shadowing professionals on the website?
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Would you recommend the Shadow website to others looking to explore different careers and why?
Competitive Analysis
The competition is very lacking
The Shadow website is unique in that it offers a platform for individuals to directly connect with professionals and shadow them at their job. While there are other websites like LinkedIn that allow users to connect with employers and learn about job opportunities, they do not offer the opportunity to actually observe and experience a job firsthand. Shadow is the only website of its kind that allows users to get a true, behind-the-scenes look at different careers, which sets it apart from its competition. Other websites such as Glassdoor or indeed may be similar but they differ as it does not include career counseling or coaching that offer guidance and support for career development, as well as not providing the experiential learning opportunity that Shadow does.
Glassdoor
Indeed
Main Insights
No previous job search websites or career exploration resources that my interviewees used were effective in helping them clarify their career goals due to the lack of hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.
My affinity map revealed that other career resources often fell short in providing meaningful, hands-on experiences for job seekers. This highlighted the unique value of the Shadow website, which allows users to shadow professionals and get a taste of what different jobs are really like on a day-to-day basis.
Major Insights
The value of experiential learning: Through their experiences shadowing professionals, interviewees may highlight the importance of firsthand, immersive experiences in helping them clarify their career goals and make informed decisions about their future.
Major Insights 1
The role of networking: Interviewees may discuss the value of building relationships and connecting with professionals in their field of interest, and how this has impacted their career prospects and opportunities.
Major Insights 2
The impact on career confidence: Interviewees may discuss how shadowing professionals through the Shadow website has helped them feel more confident and motivated in their career path, and how it has given them the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.
Major Insights 3
Design
Setbacks + a new direction for finding dream jobs
While researching different career exploration resources and websites, I was struck by the creative ways in which some of them used technology to engage users and provide valuable experiences. I took inspiration from these websites and incorporated some of the features that I liked into the design of my own Shadow website. In addition to offering a platform for individuals to shadow professionals in their field of interest, I also decided to make the Shadow website interactive by allowing professionals to list their own shadowing opportunities and set their own fees. This not only provides job seekers with a wider range of options to choose from, but it also gives professionals the opportunity to make extra money and share their knowledge and expertise with others.
The Final Screens
The Final Product
Link to Figma
Conclusions and Lessons Learned
What I would do differently next time.
This was my first time creating a career exploration website and I'm grateful for the opportunity to experience the entire process from start to finish. Some things I've learned along the way:
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Failure is just another opportunity to learn. Through feedback from peers and mentors, I was able to identify and address any issues with the website and uncover new ways to improve the user experience. By constantly seeking feedback and pushing to improve the website, I was able to create the best possible platform for career exploration and connection.
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Insights from users are crucial. I initially focused too much on the technical aspects of the website and did not gather enough feedback from potential users. By actively seeking input from job seekers and professionals and incorporating their insights into the design of the website, I was able to create a more user-friendly and valuable experience.
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Iteration is always essential. I explored many different options and made several iterations of the website to ensure that every aspect of it was intuitive and met the needs of both job seekers and professionals.