Project Overview

North West Health Career (NWHCP) is a website designed to help students find career-building opportunities in healthcare, such as internships, volunteer roles, and workshops. By focusing on the specific needs of students interested in healthcare, the site serves as a centralized resource for discovering opportunities without the capability to directly apply through the platform.

Stage 1: Empathize

Problem Statement:
Traditional job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn did not cater specifically to healthcare-related roles, particularly for students seeking career-building experiences. Users needed a dedicated platform where they could find healthcare-specific opportunities without sifting through unrelated listings.

User Persona:

• Students from high school to graduate level seeking healthcare careers.

Initial Findings:

• Students struggled to find clear, specialized listings in healthcare.

• Many students misunderstood healthcare job listing platforms as application portals.

Stage 2: Wireframe/Prototype

The initial prototype prioritized a clear and intuitive layout that guided users directly to listings relevant to their education level and career interest. Key features included:

• Search Functionality: A search bar for users to quickly find opportunities.

• "How to Apply" Section: This initially guided users on how to apply for jobs, which later created confusion, as users mistakenly assumed they could apply directly on the site.

Stage 3: Testing and Feedback

During user testing, we discovered that the "How to Apply" section led to misconceptions about the site’s purpose. Many users believed NWHCP was a job application platform rather than a posting board. This confusion was especially common among younger users unfamiliar with the concept of a job listing site.

Key Adjustments Based on Feedback:

• Wording Changes: Updated the “How to Apply” section to “Application Instructions”, clearly indicating that the website only provides information and links to external application pages.

• Messaging on Listings: Each job posting now includes a note clarifying that users can view information on the site but must apply directly through external links.

• New "How It Works" Page: A dedicated page was added to explain that NWHCP is a resource for exploring healthcare opportunities, not an application portal. This page includes guidelines on navigating listings and finding external application links.

Recruitment Tools:

• Recruited participants through Slack groups, Facebook, LinkedIn, and word-of-mouth. Consent forms were used for participants under 18.

Stage 4: Redesign

Based on insights from testing, I implemented several adjustments to reinforce the site’s function as an informational board:

• Clarified Language: Changed “How to Apply” to “Application Instructions” to prevent users from expecting an application submission feature.

• Emphasized External Application Links: Added clear, visible links to application pages on external sites within each listing.

• Enhanced Filtering Options: Updated filters to allow users to search by education level, career emphasis, and program details, enhancing the discoverability of relevant opportunities without implying application capabilities.

Conclusion

This case study demonstrates the importance of clear language in defining a platform’s purpose. By focusing on precise terminology and clarifying the site's role as a job posting board, we significantly improved user understanding and reduced confusion. These changes ensured that North West Health Career remains a valuable resource for students, providing them with centralized information on healthcare opportunities without managing applications.

Key Takeaways:

• User testing revealed that slight language adjustments can have a large impact on user expectations.

• Clear communication of a platform’s capabilities is essential, especially for younger audiences.

• Thoughtful redesign of navigation and labeling can enhance the user experience by setting clear expectations.