App that connects users to mentors in UX/UI field
MentorMe
Addressing the Gap Between Learning and Employment
Introduction
Mentor Me is an app for beginner UX/UI designers seeking mentorship in their job search journey. Developed to simplify the process and save time, it matches users with mentors who guide them through finding employment.
As a user experience designer, I wanted to make the process accessible to the user as something simple and accessible without wasting precious time, while finding the right person to accompany him in the process to achieve his goals.
This project was done following my friends in the field, When they started trying to navigate the transition from academia to the professional world and realised that it is not an easy task. Mentor Me addresses the frustrations and uncertainties of job hunting. Despite acquiring skills and qualifications, securing suitable opportunities often proves challenging. Mentorship provides crucial guidance in identifying mistakes and course correction along the way.
The problem
The main problem is the significant gap between academic learning and the guarantee of finding a job. Despite acquiring the required skills, graduates often face challenges transitioning into the workforce due to a lack of guidance and support. This gap causes a prolonged job search, frustration and lack of utilization of skills, which emphasizes the critical need for accessible guidance to facilitate a smoother transition from education to employment, and the accuracy of the process in the most accurate way.
Job searches of about 30% of UX/UI graduates last over six months on average.
Project goal
My main goal as a designer is to create a solution that makes mentoring easily available to students transitioning from education to employment. Using technology and research, the goal is to connect students with mentors who can offer personalised advice and support. In the end, create a simple experience for the user in which he can achieve his goals without wasting unnecessary time.
Step 1 - design thinking process
The first step in the process was a complete understanding of the users and their needs. To make sure that not only those around me suffer from this difficulty and are unable to solve it. To get to the bottom of it, I decided to do a full research. I have gathered information that can show me how big this problem is and help me figure out how to make some changes that will make an impact.
User interview - deep dive into the users mind
Extensive user interviews have yielded valuable insights into the challenges encountered by individuals navigating the job search post-graduation. The discussions underscored three key themes: the demand for personalized guidance, the importance of streamlining processes, and the necessity of effective time management.
I interviewed 5 people who have just finished studies in the field from different age groups, residential areas and genders, with similar experience. During the interviews with the users I was able to get very useful insights for the project that will help me create a platform adapted to the user's needs.
The general points that I found :
difficulty to find a job
Lack of knowledge
Who can guide me through the process
How can I improve my skills?
Feeling frustrated
Exploring the issue through reading and online research
One of my main priorities was to get a real understanding of what the users are going through, to see things from their point of view. I spent time scrolling through Facebook groups, forums, articles and blogs. I looked for the real moments when users needed some support. Here are some interesting quotes I found:
"I've reached out to several professionals in my field, hoping to find a mentor who can offer me guidance and support. But so far, I haven't had much luck."
"Even after dedicating considerable effort to my studies and projects, I sense a critical gap preventing me from transitioning effectively into the job market."
"To be honest, while I've put a lot of effort into my portfolio projects, I can't shake the feeling that they might not be up to par."
Gathering information from the study
Thanks to the research I was exposed to new information. This exposure helped me look at the overall picture from different perspectives and make room for all the users biggest pain points. Below, you can see all the main points I wrote from these studies:
After collecting the information and processing it, we will move on to the next step of design thinking process and define what we want to focus on.
Empathy map
Based on my research, I knew it was important to focus on the real feelings of our users. Dealing with entering the job market for post graduates comes with difficulties and is not always easy. Understanding these feelings is essential for making design decisions later on.
Creating the empathy map helped me connect with my users. This is how I understood what they feel, think, do and say in such a complex situation.
User pain points
They find it difficult to bridge the gap between their professional knowledge and the desired knowledge in today's job market.
Repeated rejections or lack of responses from job applications can significantly impact students' confidence and self-esteem. This can create a cycle of discouragement and further hinder their job search efforts.
Crafting an effective resume and performing well in job interviews are skills that many students lack. This can hinder their ability to secure employment even if they have the necessary qualifications.
User journey map
Creating user journey map was necessary so that I could understand all the varied actions and emotions of the users. Entering the job market from an educational setting for the first time is not an easy and even frightening step, and not everyone copes and succeeds easily.
Creating the ultimate persona
Step 3 - Ideate
Now that I fully understand the problem and challenges, I can start exploring all the different solutions I could have for this project. The goal is to find a solution that will provide an easy service to the user and meet his needs in the best way.
Competitive audit
Brainstorming and HMW
I brainstormed with my classmates and with students from a variety of academies, in different areas and of different ages, in order to achieve as much diversity of thought
as possible. It was necessary to gather people from the same field but from different areas and different ages to understand who has more difficulty in order to create as many diverse ideas as possible during this brainstorming session.
I used the "HMW" format taken from the design sprint to unify the format of all the sticky notes that I wrote.
Crazy 8's
Step 4 - prototype
At this point we will take the most successful ideas and start exploring them. As part of the investigation process we will use low fidelity to test quick ideas, and when we move forward to building the system itself we will use high fidelity to test the product.
Information Architecture
Exploring and evaluating the overall framework through testing.
Understanding the flow.
Low fidelity
Following the IA, I tested screen interactions and workflow using a low-fidelity.
With this method I was able to quickly evaluate the design concept and identify potential problems at an early stage of the process.
With this method you can have a brainstorming session where each perspective adds a unique flavour to the product. In addition, it allows for initial feedback from stakeholders.
High fidelity
Welcoming the user with interaction experience : The transition from the academic world to the job market can be intimidating and stressful. To help and facilitate the transition and understanding of where to start and how to start, the application offers a friendly and easy-to-use user experience that will make it easier to start the process.
Chat for help and precise guidance to the goal : In order to make the process a tailored personal experience, the user will first have a chat with a virtual representative who will get a background on the user and understand what his starting point is and what the main goal he aims to achieve with the help of our platform.
The choice of chat was made out of a desire to create an interactive experience for the user, a feeling that there is support and personal guidance that accompanies him even before he meets the right mentor for him. We accompany the user from the initial stage until reaching his goal.
Finding the right mentor : following the chat, the user's preferences are utilised to filter and showcase appropriate mentors. on this page, the user can evaluate the mentors chosen for them based on their background, subscription costs, and requested services to identify the best fit for their needs. Furthermore, options are provided to filter the results by language, rating, cost, experience, and more to streamline the search among the available options.
It's time to get acquainted with my selection: once the user selects the mentor they believe is the right fit, they will have the opportunity to learn more about the mentor and their background, as well as the services they can provide to support and assist. Users can also read reviews from other individuals who have utilised the mentor's services and shared their personal experiences. After reviewing this information, if the user finds the mentor suitable, they can click the registration button. A new tab will then open, displaying the subscription options offered by the mentor, including monthly and annual subscriptions, their respective costs, and what is included in each subscription package.
Time to schedule a meeting : once the user has selected the desired subscription, they will be directed to the payment screen where they will receive a breakdown of what the payment includes and the available payment methods. Upon receiving confirmation of the payment, the user will proceed to schedule their first meeting with the mentor. this proactive approach establishes the user's commitment in the process from the initial stage and helps prevent any delays in taking the first step. The user will be presented with relevant dates and times, from which they can choose and coordinate according to their convenience.
My personal space : In a dynamic world where everything is constantly evolving, it's crucial for designers to stay updated. Hence, there's a page dedicated to keeping users informed. Here, they can access current podcasts, discover books to enrich their knowledge, and explore upcoming lectures to expand their expertise and network.
To ensure users stay updated and track their progress, there's a dedicated page where they can view their upcoming meetings scheduled with the mentor, tasks they need to complete to advance, and recordings of previous meetings if they wish to refresh their memory on the last lesson.
Within the personal account page, users can monitor their payments, stay informed with various system notifications, receive assistance and technical support if needed, and even invite friends to use the application and enjoy various benefits.
Testing the high fidelity
After developing the high-fidelity prototypes, I conducted testing to assess how users interacted with the product. The insights gleaned were valuable, as the five users selected to match my persona navigated the product effortlessly and completed the entire flow quickly. I opted to conduct another test using an AI plugin that generates a heat map directly on the design. While not 100% accurate, it was crucial for me to evaluate if the AI could identify the most important elements on each screen.
Wrap up
In conclusion of this UX/UI project, I am content with both the process and the final outcome. Given more time, I would gladly incorporate additional tests for better accuracy. Furthermore, I would be eager to delve deeper with a second round of interviews to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the intended user. This understanding would enable me to focus on implementing additional technological solutions that can enhance the application further.
One significant realization I reached is that I am not the user, even if I have experienced a similar incident. It is crucial to gather ample information on the subject and expand as much as possible. The strength of excellent design greatly enhances the user experience. Initially, when learning UX/UI, the two aspects seemed separate. However, through this project, I fully grasped that design decisions directly impact the user experience.