Transforming the Job Search Experience for New Jersey’s Workforce
Client: State of New Jersey, Department of Labor
Project: MyCareer.NJ.gov
Role: Product Designer
Overview
As part of a larger initiative by the State of New Jersey to streamline and modernize its public services, our team at Fearless and Coforma were tasked with redesigning and enhancing the job search and career development portal, MyCareer.NJ.gov. The platform serves thousands of New Jersey residents a month, providing a comprehensive hub for job searches, skill-building resources, and career advice.
The challenge was to create an accessible, intuitive, and user-centric interface that would support job seekers across varying levels of digital literacy, from first-time users to seasoned professionals.
Key Challenges
Information Overload:
The site offers a vast amount of information, from job listings to training programs and career advice. The previous design made it difficult for users to find relevant resources quickly.
Diverse User Base:
The platform caters to a wide demographic, including young professionals, career changers, and those with limited access to digital technology. Ensuring that the interface was inclusive and easy to navigate for all users was a top priority.
Streamlining Processes:
Many users experienced friction when completing tasks, such as creating profiles, applying for jobs, or accessing career resources. Reducing these pain points was essential for improving the overall user experience.
Difficult Stakeholders
Many users experienced friction when completing tasks, such as creating profiles, applying for jobs, or accessing career resources. Reducing these pain points was essential for improving the overall user experience.
Approach
1. User Research and Personas: We began by conducting in-depth user interviews and surveys to understand the pain points and motivations of New Jersey job seekers. This led to the creation of detailed user personas that informed every design decision throughout the project.
2. Simplified Navigation and Information Architecture: I worked closely with the team to redesign the platform’s information architecture, ensuring key features such as job searches, resume-building tools, and training resources were easily accessible from the homepage. We implemented a simple, clear navigation structure with labels that aligned with user needs.
3. Accessibility First: Following WCAG guidelines, we ensured the platform met high standards for accessibility. This included high-contrast colors, intuitive UI components, and keyboard navigation to accommodate users with disabilities.
4. Responsive Design: The new MyCareer.NJ.gov was designed to be fully responsive, providing an optimal user experience across devices—whether users accessed the site from a desktop computer, tablet, or mobile phone.
5. Collaborative Iteration: I facilitated regular user testing sessions with key stakeholders and target users, ensuring feedback was integrated iteratively into the design process. Agile methodologies allowed us to adapt quickly to feedback, improving key user flows such as job applications, account management, and resume uploads.
Results
Increased User Engagement: Following the redesign, user engagement metrics improved significantly. Bounce rates decreased by 20%, and the average session duration increased by 35%.
Enhanced Job Search Efficiency: Users reported faster and easier access to job postings, with the average time to find relevant opportunities decreasing by 25%.
Improved Accessibility Compliance: The platform now meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards, making it accessible to users with disabilities, and earned praise from advocacy groups for its inclusive design.
Positive User Feedback: Post-launch surveys indicated that 85% of users found the new platform easier to navigate compared to the previous version.
Conclusion
The redesign of MyCareer.NJ.gov was a test of my ability to manage difficult stakeholder relationships while maintaining a focus on the needs of the end user. As the sole designer on the project, I was responsible for driving every aspect of the design process, balancing client demands with user experience principles. The result was a platform that empowered New Jersey job seekers with a seamless, accessible, and efficient tool to advance their careers.