Redesign LinkedIn Easy Apply Flow

LinkedIn rolled out two features—introducing a “Jobs” filter in the Notifications tab for instant job alerts, and adding an “Easy Apply” quick-access option in the Jobs tab— after I published this project. While I can’t know if they reviewed my work, the timing underlines that my solutions hit exactly the same usability pain points their team chose to tackle.

Redesign LinkedIn Easy Apply Flow

Please note: Due to the ongoing confidentiality under a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), specific images, specifically interface designs, have been modified, and some descriptions are presented as high-level, non-technical content. However, I'm prepared to discuss the project in detail during an interview.

Overview: A Personal Project
Tackling Common Frictions of Easy Apply

Overview: A Personal Project Tackling Common Frictions of Easy Apply

More U.S. job seekers are applying for positions in the same way they shop for products and services online — through their mobile device. With the increased demand, the process of how users apply for jobs must go smoothly. Some job seeking apps, like LinkedIn, provide a feature of applying to jobs directly through the app, which makes the application process far more convenient and fast compared to the traditional application.

As a LinkedIn app user, I often feel frustrated, which motivated me to redesign part of the product that I mainly see a lot of friction. This project is self-initiated— I redesigned the end-to-end shopping Easy Apply flow, filter for Notifications and Jobs pages, which resulted in a more intuitive user experience.

Objective

Reinvent the LinkedIn Easy Apply Flow

My Roles

UX Researcher & Designer

Problem Statement: Easy Apply is Useful but Not User-friendly

Market Shift: Job Seeking Going to Mobile

Mobile Dominance

67%

of job applications via mobile devices

were completed during 2021, according to a report by Appcast. (source: recruitingdaily.com)

Desktop Decline

13.8%

decrease in desktop application rates

from 2020 to 2021, according to 2022 Recruitment Marketing Benchmark Report (source: hcmtechnologyreport.com)

App Rankings

Indeed app ranked

Indeed ranked

#1

in iOS store search for the keyword "job" and "apply job."

has consistently been bringing in more new U.S. app installs than LinkedIn since March 2018. According to Apptopia Search Intelligence

User Feedback: Easy Apply is useful but not user-friendly enough

40%

Premium members: Easy Apply is useful but not user-friendly enough

This sentiment is based on feedback from 17 out of 42 participants in a survey I conducted in September 2023.

Potential Impact of the Redesign: Elevating Business Value and User Engagement

For Employers (B2B)

Increase the applicant pool

Reducing 10% application time can increase the applicant pool by 2.3% on mobile.

For Job Applicants (B2C)

Efficiency

The chance to apply for more jobs in a shorter time span.

For LinkedIn

Competitive Edge

Indeed has consistently been bringing in more new U.S. app installs than LinkedIn since March 2018.

Process

With a new grocery shopping app in development, there was a need for a design system to guide its visual and interactive aspects.

Empathize & Define: Extra Steps Hinder the User's
Goal of Applying Quickly and Efficiently.

Empathize & Define: Extra Steps Hinder the User's Goal of Applying Quickly and Efficiently.

Job Seekers' Common Sense: Apply Sooner and More

To ensure an unbiased approach, I engaged with 5 diverse job seekers to comprehend standard job hunting and application patterns. Participants:

Recruiter
Product Manager
Software Engineer
Middle School Teacher
Senior Designer

Key Takeaways:

Time is Crucial

The sooner, the better

Number Matters

More application, more chances

Effectiveness

Cold messages/ emails improve success rate

Effectiveness

Cold message/ email improve success rate

LinkedIn App Users' Primary Objective: Job Hunt and Application

I conducted an online survey with 87 participants. With it, I learnt users' goals:

What are your primary goals when using the LinkedIn mobile app?

Challenge: How Might We Streamline Job Applications for Users?

Efficient

Expedite the application process.

Intuitive

Prioritize user-centric and intuitive navigation.

Effectiveness

Cold message/ email improve success rate

Flexible

Include vital info and options tailored to various use cases.

Interview, Survey and Insights

User Interviews: Conducted online 1:1 interviews with LinkedIn Premium members who have utilized Easy Apply. Interviewees comprised:

1 Technical Program Manager
1 Divisional Vice President
1 Customer Success Manager

Online Survey: Gathered 87 responses to validate the findings from user interviews, pinpointing users' needs and pain points.

Data Synthesis: Processed the raw data from both interviews and surveys, categorizing them into three core themes:

Access
Process
Finish/Quit

This method illuminated specific user challenges and trends, offering a clear framework for deriving insights and guiding actionable recommendations.

Phase 1: Access

Insight #1 Users need quick access to job alerts in Notifications and prefer clarity over clutter.

Insight #2 Users doubt about 'Easy Apply' Effectiveness. They want clear communication about their application

When you access job alerts via the 'Notifications' tab on LinkedIn, which of the following statements resonate with your experience?

58.4%

The 'Notifications' tab has too many non-job-related alerts.

58.4%

I often miss or overlook job-related notifications because of other messages.

40.3%

I found job-related updates are more timely than those in the Jobs tab.

Michael

Technical Program Manager

I often resort to manual searches on LinkedIn to find jobs that align with my criteria, as the recommendations don't always hit the mark.

Michael

Technical Program Manager

While I appreciate the simplicity of the 'Easy Apply' feature, it leaves me wondering if my applications truly reach the HR departments. Usually, I prefer to talk to people, like the HR.

Kate

Divisional Vice President

Being both an employer and a job seeker, I prefer using the 'Jobs' tab rather than wading through the often cluttered notifications.

Phase 2: Process

Insight #3 Users need quick access to job details even when in the middle of the application process.

During the 'Easy Apply' process on LinkedIn:

89.6%

users ever paused the application to review the job posting again and then returned to continue.

Insight #4 The 'Easy Apply' interface might benefit from clearer touch-target areas or prompts to reduce accidental interactions.

What frustrates you when using the 'Easy Apply' feature on LinkedIn's mobile app?

62.3%

accidentally tapping on "Upload a resume".

Phase 3: Finish/ Quit

Insight #5 Users need better visual indicators or cues to help users quickly recognize viewed job posts when they return to the job list.

After viewing a job post and returning to the job list:

90.9%

users ever find it challenging to recognize the job post you just looked at if you did not apply to it.

Solutions

After ideation, I created solutions based on the five insights.

Insight #1 Users need quick access to job alerts in Notifications and prefer clarity over clutter.

Mobile-Optimized Job Navigation

Introduce filters to leverage the mobile app's advantage of accessing job opportunities anytime, anywhere.

The new Notifications tab includes a filter "Jobs" and sets "Easy Apply" as a default filter.
Users can use these filters to quickly access job posts with Easy Apply, which serves the user goal to apply sooner anywhere on their phone.

Insight #2 Users doubt the effectiveness of 'Easy Apply.' They want clear communication about their application

Prioritizing Direct Communication with Job Posters

Insight #3 Users need quick access to job details even when in the middle of the application process.

Insight #4 The 'Easy Apply' interface might benefit from clearer touch-target areas or prompts to reduce accidental interactions.

Make more job info available when applying; improve CTA hierarchy to bring intuitive experience.

Insight #5 Users need better visual indicators or cues to help users quickly recognize viewed job posts when they return to the job list.

Give users access to the next job post directly from the present job post; marked the job viewed.

The 'Next' button allows users to quickly advance to the next job post without returning to the main listing, streamlining the job search process for greater efficiency and ease.

Insight #5 Users need better visual indicators or cues to help users quickly recognize viewed job posts when they return to the job list.

Give users access to the next job post directly from the present job post; marked the job viewed.

The 'Next' button allows users to quickly advance to the next job post without returning to the main listing, streamlining the job search process for greater efficiency and ease.

Insight #5 Users need better visual indicators or cues to help them quickly recognize viewed job posts when they return to the job list.

Give users access to the next job post directly from the present job post; mark the job viewed.

The 'Next' button allows users to quickly advance to the next job post without returning to the main listing, streamlining the job search process for greater efficiency and ease.