Swiftly is an innovative web application developed as a capstone design project for the winter 2023 term. Designed to streamline the job application process, Swiftly utilizes the power of AI to automatically tailor resumes and cover letters based on specific job descriptions. With its AI suggestions, Swiftly empowers users to create personalized and compelling application materials that perfectly align with the requirements and preferences of potential employers. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, Swiftly aims to revolutionize the way individuals approach their job search, providing them with a seamless and efficient tool to enhance their chances of securing their dream job.
Capstone Design Project
(Received A+)
Jan 2023 ~ Apr 2023
UX Designer (wireframing, prototyping, branding)
UX Researcher (user interviews, surveys, usability testing)
2 other UX design students
Let's say you found the job that you want to get into. What next..? The current process of job searching involves reading lengthy job descriptions, researching the company's products, work environment, and culture on their career website, and so on. After confirming your interest in the position based on this research, you would need to tailor your application materials to match the job description to pass the ATS, a software that tracks you and your materials, and highlight your interest in the company's values. This process is time-consuming and requires significant effort.
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Users can sign up by providing their information (which they can also choose to skip and provide later), and Swiftly automatically generates a resume based on the provided details.
Additionally, users can efficiently customize their resume using AI suggestions.
Users can download our extension program, which seamlessly integrates with job posting sites such as LinkedIn and Indeed. The extension automatically applies to these platforms and displays matching preferences based on the user's preference settings, which can be modified at any time.
By clicking on "Tailor," users can quickly access the Swiftly website and begin customizing their resume based on the job description.
Users have the ability to view their past applications as well as applications in progress. When they receive an interview, they can revisit the application to review the job description and the materials they submitted.
Moreover, users can see highlighted keywords on their application materials that match the job description.
Users can find inspiration by exploring other people's resumes and cover letters. Additionally, they have the option to upload their own resumes or cover letters and freely share them with others.
When users wish to utilize a particular layout, the system automatically applies their information from their profile to the selected layout.
We gathered information from 3 initial interviews with a recently graduated student, a recently laid-off person, and a contract employee to understand potential users' needs and pain points in job search. Using this data, we created an affinity map in FigJam by synthesizing quotes and grouping them based on similarities. The groups were categorized into three stages: preparing, during, and after applying. Interviewees emphasized that the most frustrating and time-consuming part is preparing applications.
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Based on initial results and the affinity map, we decided to focus on job searchers’ process of preparing application materials and applying to jobs. By conducting in-depth interviews with 6 interviewees and gathering 36 responses from the survey via Qualtrics, we found more qualitative and quantitative responses and were able to narrow down the problem space and find key insights.
As you can see below, we created affinity wall twice to keep narrowing down the problem scope and eventually find key insights.
How might we offer users resources and help their application tailoring process in a time efficient way?
How might we provide job seekers with the necessary information while minimizing the time spent on the information search process?
We target the user group to entry-level job searchers. To gain a deep understanding of our target users, we developed personas to immerse ourselves in their perspectives, enabling us to uncover their needs and prioritize essential features.
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To brainstorm potential design solutions, we conducted regular design ideation sessions. Once we established a rough concept, we proceeded to create user flow diagrams, enabling us to outline the navigation and interactions. Subsequently, we were able to swiftly sketch low-fidelity screens to visualize the design concept.
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We created a user testing script that included specific tasks for the users to complete. The tasks were designed to test the usability and functionality of our mid-fidelity prototypes and to gather feedback on the overall design. We also included open-ended questions to gather qualitative feedback as well. We used the script to guide the users through the tasks and observe their behavior. We recorded their behavior using a Google spreadsheet, noting down any issues or challenges they encountered, as well as any feedback.
Users actively seeking employment desired to make quick progress, such as efficiently creating resumes or customizing cover letters for specific roles. Their primary focus was on advancing forward rather than reviewing previous achievements. As a result, we developed a home page that enables users to efficiently make quick progress towards their goals. We placed the creation buttons prominently for quick access.
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Our goal was to offer multiple features to customize cover letters, including AI suggestions, job description keyword matching, and grammar assistance. However, it appeared that users were confused and overwhelmed by the array of features. To address this, a key improvement we made was finding ways to guide users through each suggestion easily. We implemented changes such as replacing the dropdown menu with tabs and reducing the number of colors used to minimize the feeling of being overwhelmed.
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Users experienced emotional discouragement due to the presence of X signs on the job posting page. In response, we devised an alternative method to indicate matching or non-matching jobs. Additionally, the automatic pop-up window based on preferences proved to be distracting and overwhelming for users. As a solution, we replaced it with a small UI stick on the page, allowing users to hover over it for a detailed view.
Users felt confused about where to view and apply the templates. Additionally, the large template viewing window in the middle of the screen was awkward and made it hard to see the immediate application of styles on their resumes. Therefore, we split the layouts view and relocated it to the left side of the screen, making it foldable with an icon. As for the AI suggestion feature, users often became confused about how to use it because there was no explanation and the feature was unfamiliar to them. So, we added a short snippet explaining how users can utilize the function and included visual information to demonstrate the process how they can copy and paste keywords and sentences.
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"Great that you were able to interview a good number of people. Its nice to hear some of the key insights from the research. Very nicely demonstrated poster and video clearly explained your process and the outcome in a very addressable way."
"This is a fantastic solution for a challenge many job seekers are facing today in a competitive market - matching skills with job requirements. Nice job of articulating insights from user research. It might be helpful to further iterate the concept with user testing of job seekers. Great job !"
"The authors clearly define the problem and demonstrate the user research they did and the key insights obtained about the problem. The app they designed addresses they key insights well. The poster is very well done in terms of design and level of detail (just enough, but not too much). As a job seeker, I would love this app - as someone who hires people, I fear this app (a good cover letter is one of the best ways I have to screen out lazy applicants!)"
"Strengths: For an entrepreneurship project, you hit all the right points from customer discovery till the final solution and impact. Also, timely given the buzz about generative AI in the market."
💡 Narrowing Down the Problem Space in Job Application Based on Insights from Interviews and Surveys.
Reflecting on the project, narrowing down the problem space proved to be a significant challenge due to the vastness of the job application process. To tackle this challenge, we conducted interviews and surveys to gather insights from users and identify their pain points. Analyzing the results, we discovered that the application preparation process was a recurring area of frustration and difficulty for users. Based on these findings, we made an informed decision to focus our efforts on addressing the pain points within this specific stage. This approach allowed us to concentrate our resources and develop solutions that directly targeted the identified challenges.
💡 Importance of Design Iterations Based on Usability Testings.
Through rigorous usability testing, we were able to identify crucial areas for design improvement and subsequently implement significant enhancements. The feedback and insights gathered from the testing process played a pivotal role in refining our design, resulting in an enhanced user experience.
