Chegg CareerMatch UX/UI
When textbook rental giant and student advocate, Chegg, decided to venture into the job placement market, they contracted with me to design the user experience and interface for a website which would connect employers with students that were uniquely qualified for positions. I designed both the employer experience and student experience on desktop and mobile.
Services
Product Design
UX Research
UX/UI Design
Visual Design
Prototyping
My Role
Strategy
UX Research
UI/UX Design
Visual Design
UX Management
Timeline
18 Months
Ian’s been an amazing partner – from product ideation, to brand marketing, to visual design, to user experience research, to interactive design. Highly focused and committed to our success, Ian has been the most important partner I’ve worked with in product development.
Vikram Subramaniam
The Opportunity
In recognizing its role as a trusted brand for students and recent graduates, Chegg identified a unique opportunity to extend its support beyond academics. Armed with specific knowledge about students’ studies and proficiencies, Chegg envisioned a significant role in helping customers navigate their post-graduation career paths successfully.
The Process
The ambitious goal led Chegg to conceptualize a revolutionary career matching website, a platform that would serve as a bridge connecting students with job and internship opportunities precisely aligned with their skills and aspirations. Seeking to transform this vision into reality, Chegg engaged our expertise. The collaborative process began with comprehensive market research, student interviews, and insights from subject matter experts within the company.
Working in close partnership with Product Managers and leadership, we delved into various testing options, drawing inspiration from meticulously crafted user personas and journey maps. The design process was iterative, undergoing multiple rounds of testing and refinement to ensure the alignment of the final product with the intended vision.
Research
- Competitive research
- SME interviews
- User interviews
Empathize
- User personas
- Journey map
Create
- Wireframes
- Visual design
- Prototype
Test
- Usability
- Track usage
- Design refinements
Site Architecture
Wireframes for pathway widget
The focus of the initiative spanned two distinctive user groups—students and employers. These user segments presented diverse motivations and workflows, necessitating the creation of two interconnected websites. One catered to students, offering a holistic suite of features such as exploring career paths, setting goals, posting resumes, applying to positions, and gaining insights about potential employers. The other, tailored for employers, facilitated seamless job management, candidate curation, and provided valuable macro and micro-level insights. Additionally, it served as a valuable resource for employers to set competitive salaries and benefits.
The Solution
My design solution was a web application that not only bridged the gap between students and employers but also empowered individuals in their career pursuits. The website was designed to create a seamless bridge between students and employers in the professional realm.
Sadly, the company’s focus and priorities changed during the development phase, and the project was put on indefinite hold. While the product never saw the light of day, I’m very proud of the work that I produced, the problems we solved, and the relationships fostered throughout the course of the project.
One of the things I like most about Ian is his ability to iterate quickly. Unlike some designers, he doesn’t get too attached to one approach, but rather is able to step back, explore alternate options when needed, and integrate feedback quickly.
Elena Kohl