Project Overview
This graduate UX research project examined the applicant experience of an online healthcare careers portal. It explored how prospective employees interpret the information they encounter and how the organization’s intended message may differ from what applicants understand.
AT A GLANCE
Project: Graduate UX research study
Sector: Healthcare recruitment
Focus: Careers portal usability and applicant experience
Organization: RuralCare (pseudonym)
Research methods: Card sorting, think-aloud testing, heuristic evaluation, stakeholder interview
Research Methods
Four complementary research approaches were used. Exact sample counts, instruments, and procedural details will be checked against the original report before publication.
Participants organized healthcare job titles into meaningful categories to examine how applicants understand the site’s job classifications.
Participants navigated careers-portal tasks while describing their expectations, decisions, and points of uncertainty.
An expert review examined selected parts of the portal against established usability principles.
A manager’s perspective provided organizational context for how job postings and applications were intended to work.
Key Findings
The study identified three significant usability issues: healthcare job titles were not always categorized where applicants expected; search results and application requirements created unnecessary obstacles; and an interview with a regional clinic manager revealed how internal job-posting templates could produce conflicting information for applicants.
Recommendations
I recommended improving job search so applicants could find positions using familiar terms, making Regional Clinic Manager discoverable under both Nursing and Administration, and clarifying degree requirements, travel expectations, and LPN/RN salary distinctions. I also recommended aligning published job descriptions with hiring managers’ selections, notifying applicants of résumé requirements earlier, and allowing applications to be saved without uploading a résumé.
Outcome & Reflection
The evaluation identified usability barriers in the applicant experience and traced some confusing job information to the organization’s internal posting process. By combining applicant observations, usability evaluation, and a manager’s perspective, I developed practical recommendations addressing both the careers portal and the workflow behind its content. This project reinforced an approach central to my research: understanding what people experience often requires examining the organizational systems producing that experience.
