Designing an inclusive online job-seeking experience:
This is a project I undertook as part of a university masters, in affiliation with Thirty Three agency.
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Thirty Three
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Researcher
UX designer
UI designer
Graphic designer
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Research thesis
Prototyped design example
Resource for employers
My project uses signalling theory to explore how UX design can create an inclusive online job-seeking experience.
I worked with a small group of trans* people, who face significant employment challenges and anticipated stigma that hinders their job applications. Despite limited research on trans* individuals' experiences with job-seeking technology, a preliminary survey revealed higher anticipated stigma among trans* applicants compared to cisgender applicants. The study identifies design signals that mitigate or perpetuate this stigma, mapping them against global, organising, and basic themes to generate an inclusive job advertisement design.
‘Trans*’ is used to denote the large variety of people who identify with the transgender spectrum of identities. This includes but is not limited to transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, and gender-fluid.
methodology
The research methods included a preliminary questionnaire, a photonarrative activity and semi-structured interviews. Results were synthesised using thematic analysis and sentiment analysis. The results from the research methods were used to inform a design example of a dynamic job description and a resource that summarises the results.
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Desk research
Preliminary interviews
Literature review
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Preliminary survey
Photonarrative activity
Thematic analysis
Sentiment analysis
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Site maps
Low fidelity wireframes
Research thesis draft
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Prototyped design example
Usability testing
Research thesis
Resource for employers
discussion
The research revealed that design signals can be grouped into the organising themes of trust, transparency and autonomy. Perceived effort was identified as an overarching, global theme. In response to the research, a design example shows how UX designers can apply mitigating design signals to dynamic job description designs. To make the information accessible, the research is summarised and presented as a resource housed on a Notion site. This is to make it available to employers who are committed to attracting trans* employees in a welcoming application experience.
However, due to the sensitive nature of the research and the tendency for practitioners to engage trans* participants in often flawed research practices, it was difficult to recruit participants. Although six participants in total were engaged in the central methodology, further research is needed to increase the sample size. Increasing the sample size would allow the research to factor in intersectionality and what it means for the study. It would also increase the likelihood of participants submitting screenshots alongside written responses during the photonarrative activity.
conclusion
The research has shown that the design of an online application experience can affect the likelihood of a marginalised community applying for a job. In doing so, this thesis provides practical recommendations for design that can help employers ensure their hiring reflects their ambitions to make the workplace inclusive and equal. It also benefits the individual by reassuring them at points where they might otherwise be sceptical about an employer. The research understands that power structures imbued within design are not favourable to everyone. It is evidence that UX designers can and should ensure the values they imbue within design advocate for and improve the lives of marginalised groups within the organisations they work for.
