InfoJobs is a leading job board in Spain that has been operating since 1988.
2023 – Infojobs
Methodology: Design Mindset, Product Planning, User Experience Studies, Contextual Inquiry method, Heuristic evaluation
Toolkit: Figma, Figjam, Pagespeed, Similarweb
In this case study, we delve into the process of enhancing the User Experience (UX) on the InfoJobs website, focusing on optimizing usability, accessibility, and overall user satisfaction.
The importance of providing a seamless, user-centric experience on job search platforms is crucial for ensuring user effectiveness and retention. In response to this challenge, InfoJobs embarked on a comprehensive research and analysis project of the user experience on its website, aiming to identify areas for improvement and provide a more intuitive and efficient platform.
During the analysis of the Infojobs website, it was revealed that its level of user engagement and commitment was considerably lower compared to its competitors, which did not align with the company's established goals. Additionally, upon reviewing Similar Web statistics, a significant decrease of 15% in total visits during the last month was identified. This alarming decrease served as a warning signal to delve deeper into the situation, conducting a more thorough analysis to better understand how competitors were performing in that same space and to identify Infojobs users' specific experiences and expectations.
With the aim of addressing these issues, it was decided to pursue two methodological approaches. Firstly, a detailed heuristic evaluation was conducted to identify and comprehend potential problematic points that could be affecting the end users' experience on the platform. Subsequently, the Contextual Research method was implemented, which included a balanced combination of brief interviews, direct observations, and detailed questions about users' experience and interaction with the platform. This research was carried out with the active participation of five specific users, from December 19th to January 20th.
The detailed analysis of these methods allowed for a clearer perspective on the problematic areas that could be affecting user engagement on Infojobs, while also providing valuable information to comprehend users' needs and expectations, with the aim of enhancing and optimizing the platform.
During the analysis of the Infojobs website, it was revealed that its level of user engagement and commitment was considerably lower compared to its competitors, which did not align with the company's established goals. Additionally, upon reviewing Similar Web statistics, a significant decrease of 15% in total visits during the last month was identified. This alarming decrease served as a warning signal to delve deeper into the situation, conducting a more thorough analysis to better understand how competitors were performing in that same space and to identify Infojobs users' specific experiences and expectations.
In order to address these issues, two methodological approaches were chosen. Firstly, a detailed heuristic evaluation was conducted to identify and comprehend potential problematic points that could be affecting the end users' experience on the platform. Subsequently, the Contextual Research method was implemented, which included a balanced combination of brief interviews, direct observations, and detailed questions about users' experience and interaction with the platform. This research was carried out with the active participation of five specific users, from December 19th to January 20th.
The detailed analysis of these methods allowed for a clearer perspective on the problematic areas that could be affecting user engagement on Infojobs, while also providing valuable information to comprehend users' needs and expectations, with the aim of enhancing and optimizing the platform.
The primary research objectives are centered around identifying crucial behaviors associated with low participation, as well as determining what actions and type of information users require to locate desired job offers. Furthermore, the aim is to test these actions, gather feedback, and make improvements as necessary, in order to optimize the user experience.
Hypothesis
Users feel lost because they cannot find job offers that interest them due to a lack of information.
The project hypothesis is based on the premise that the low user engagement on employment platforms like Infojobs stems from a lack of crucial information to find relevant job offers. It is posited that the feeling of being lost or experiencing difficulty by users directly arises from insufficient data available on the platform, hindering their ability to identify and access job opportunities aligned with their specific interests and requirements. The core assumption is that by enhancing the availability and quality of information regarding job listings, user engagement and satisfaction will significantly increase, thereby improving their overall platform experience.
Heuristic Evaluation
The heuristic analysis of the Infojobs website revealed the following findings:
Infojobs metrics are well-positioned in terms of engagement when viewed from a standpoint of comparison with benchmark standards.
Competitive analysis
In terms of direct competition, Infojobs stands out with the highest number of monthly visits and a minimal decrease in the last month. However, the heuristic evaluation reveals that Infojobs lacks certain elements adopted by other competitors, such as consistency in results, displayed ads, company reviews, and more intuitive navigation.
In terms of indirect competition, it is observed that Infojobs scores lower compared to market leaders like LinkedIn and Indeed Although it has a lower bounce rate than its primary indirect competitor, its overall metrics, such as monthly visits, show a decrease compared to these leaders.
The heuristic evaluation concludes that indirect competitors outperform Infojobs in most areas, except in aspects like promoted offers and similar features.
Target/User persona
The demographic analysis of Infojobs revealed that the site has a balanced distribution between men (50.63%) and women (49.37%). The majority of visitors fall between the ages of 25 and 34, but the range was expanded to 25-45 years to gather more information. Users are primarily seeking job offers and training, being drawn to the site through online advertising and press.
90% of the visits come from Spain, while the remaining 10% originate mainly from Latin American countries such as Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Argentina.
We developed a user profile based on interview insights and testing, considering the visitor statistics of Infojobs. This user, Paco, is a 26-year-old Catalan seeking employment as a chef in Barcelona. He has had a poor experience on Infojobs due to irrelevant advertising and lack of crucial information. Paco needs more precise and filtered results that align with his preferences, removing promoted listings that do not relate to his keywords or search intent.
Findings
The findings focus on the overall search results experience, identifying the main critical points highlighted by interviewed users. These critical points encompass orientation, alignment, use of space, promoted listings, visual tools, and the layout of the vertical filter bar.
Regarding the overall user experience, there is a lack of guidance, leading to mistrust for some participants. Left alignment and the absence of margins in the web version give the impression of an outdated or neglected site according to some users. It is suggested to consider opting for centered alignment to provide a smooth and consistent experience across different devices.
Users noticed excessive spaces between job listings, causing confusion and inconsistency in the experience. It was recommended to reduce these spaces, especially in areas where no ads were displayed. Additionally, the overwhelming number of irrelevant ads overwhelmed most users. It was suggested to display ads only when they were relevant to the user's intent to enhance the experience.
Here, users can see all available habits at a glance. After activating a habit, a new screen opens for each selected habit, allowing the user to adjust the notifications to their needs and preferences.
Next Steps
As a next step, we conducted a usability test with users and analyzed their feedback to implement the suggested changes based on their perceptions. This validated and/or adapted our changes to provide the most satisfactory solution for InfoJobs users.
Learnings
We have learned significant lessons during the development of the Leptir application. The main achievements are:
- Prioritize users' habits to help them achieve their goals
- Organize users' lives
- Develop an application that can be part of users' daily routines
- Gamification
Overall, the teachings of this project highlight the importance of working with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) mentality and prioritizing based on user feedback and stakeholder goals, as this approach can lead to a more successful application development process.
Big changes start with small actions