About the Project
This project was part of my UX Research & Strategy class, where I conducted a heuristic evaluation of Indeed’s job application process. Using Jakob Nielsen’s 10 Usability Heuristics, accessibility, and responsiveness as evaluation criteria, I assessed how well Indeed supports users in finding and applying for jobs.
The evaluation covered Situational Awareness, Support for Mental Models, and Support for User Goals, identifying usability successes and areas for improvement.
Deliverables -
Heuristic Analysis Report
Findings & Recommendations
📥 Download my full heuristic report here
Research Process
Evaluation Criteria -
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Situational Awareness: How well users understand their position in the job application flow.
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Support for Mental Models: Whether the platform’s labels and interactions align with user expectations.
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Support for User Goals: How effectively users can complete tasks without confusion or obstacles.
Methodology -
🔍 Step 1: Evaluated navigation & layout based on heuristic principles.
🔍 Step 2: Identified pain points affecting usability.
🔍 Step 3: Provided recommendations to enhance user experience.
🎯 Tools Used: Heuristic Report Framework, Jakob Nielsen’s Guidelines, User Testing Insights.
Key Findings
Finding Summary -
The analysis of Indeed’s website reveals that while user goals are generally supported through familiar features like the "Apply" button and "Save" icon, some design choices hinder optimal usability. Navigation inconsistencies and fragmented workflows can cause hesitation, especially for new or mobile users.
Moreover, clearer guidance and improved visibility for help resources, like uploading resumes, would enhance user support. Simplifying the layout and spacing actions better, particularly on mobile, would reduce errors and streamline the job search experience, making it easier for users to navigate, find, and apply to jobs efficiently.
1. Situational Awareness -
Success: Indeed provides a structured multi-step progress bar during job applications.
Issue: Navigation can be confusing as job listings open in the same tab, making it easy to lose track of progress.
Solution: Introduce breadcrumb navigation or a clearer backtracking system to enhance visibility.
2. Support Mental Models -
Success: Common UI elements like the "Apply" button align with user expectations.
Issue: The “Not Interested” icon (thumbs down) is misleading—users assume it hides jobs, but it doesn’t.
Solution: Change the icon & label to “Hide Job” for better clarity.
3. Support User Goals -
Success: Success: The "Quick Apply" feature allows for fast applications.
Issue: Lack of confirmation feedback—users don’t get clear updates after submitting applications.
Solution: Add a status tracker showing “Application Sent,” “Under Review,” etc.
Proposed Solutions & Recommendations
1. To Improve Navigation & Situational Awareness:
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Implement clearer section titles & page hierarchies.
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Add breadcrumb navigation to show users where they are.
2. To Align with User Mental Models:
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Replace unclear icons (e.g., “Not Interested” should be renamed “Hide Job”).
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Reposition key actions like “Post Resume” to make them more prominent.
3. To Enhance User Goal Completion:
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Improve confirmation feedback after applications are submitted.
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Reduce clutter in job descriptions for better readability.
📊 Final Impact: These refinements would make Indeed’s job search process more intuitive, efficient, and user-friendly.
Conclusion & Reflection
This project deepened my understanding of UX heuristics and how to identify usability gaps through structured evaluations. By analyzing navigation flow, UI elements, and system feedback, I gained hands-on experience in heuristic auditing and UX problem-solving.