Helping International Students Network
UI/UX DESIGN | UX RESEARCH
Guiding international students through the process of finding a job abroad with confidence.
Project Context
February - May 2023
Collaborative UX Project
Team : Valentina Palacios & I
Role & Responsibilities
User Research: Interviews, Competitive Analysis, Usability Testing
UX Design: Information Architecture, Iterative Prototyping, Visual Design
Tools Used
Figma & Figjam
Zoom
Problem Statement
The process of job hunting can be difficult, particularly for international students who are also adjusting to a new lifestyle, a new country, and a new language.
Frequently, students become overwhelmed by the stress of finding a job and the pressing concerns related to their immigration status, causing them to neglect their personal growth and not acknowledge their achievements along the way.
1,075,496
International students attended American universities (2019-2020)*
Number of International Students in the United States from 2003/04 to 2021/22 - Statista:
*https://www.statista.com/statistics/237681/international-students-in-the-us/
42%
International students in Graduate Programs at The New School (Fall 2021)**
Parsons Enrollment Data:
**https://www.newschool.edu/enrollment-data/
31%
International students in Undergraduate Programs at The New School (Fall 2021)**
How might we help international students grow a network while seeking employment and help them cultivate a positive attitude towards their personal growth?
Approach
Research
INSIGHT 1
International students often feel disadvantaged and unable to secure their dream job due to constraints like limited networks and systemic discrimination
INSIGHT 2
The absence of transparency in the entire process, including requirements and rejection reasons, becomes emotionally exhausting.
INSIGHT 3
The pressure to secure a job prevents applicants from enjoying the job search and its learning opportunities, often leading them to avoid certain social situations.
We conducted in-depth interviews and a diary study with international students, synthesized insights, and developed a persona. This process allowed us to map the job search journey and identify areas for intervention.
Design
Ideation
We began brainstorming creative solutions by sketching possibilities, focusing on designing around immigration timelines and job market unpredictability. Since existing platforms were already part of students' experience, we explored unique ways to support them through this challenging period.
SOFT SKILL TRACKER
A platform that tracks and monitors your progress in developing soft skills, such as language proficiency, networking, and interviewing.
TRAJECTORY PLOTTER
A goal-oriented tool that helps students achieve their desired jobs by showing various career paths others have taken and allowing them to map their own
HOLISTIC CAREER PODCAST
A platform that promotes online and offline networking, enabling individuals to share experiences and knowledge, fostering learning and community among international students.
Why a 'Holistic Career Podcast' :
Following are the reasons why we chose the podcast route over the other two ideas:
-
Community building & Networking fits the area of intervention
-
A tool that you is non-prescriptive where you can choose your own adventure through preferences
-
Holistic, well rounded approach that is scalable - more types of content and material could potentially be added
-
Diverse perspectives
Prototyping & Iterations
We developed this concept through a few cycles of prototyping, testing and iterative design.
This semester-long project involved developing a digital product/service from research to high-fidelity screens, but not every step was as detailed. If revisited, I would conduct interviews with adjacent communities (advisors, recruiters, etc) to gain deeper insights and further explore the application's profile and community sections, which have significant potential.