Usability Testing
The goal of this test is to evaluate how well Indeed connects soon-to-be college graduates from a variety of majors with relevant employers and job opportunities. The aim is to identify potential improvements for Indeed’s platform by understanding users' experiences.
Specifically, the test seeks to assess how effectively Indeed matches users with job recommendations, how clear and accessible information about employers and positions is, and whether users are able to successfully connect with potential employers.
The insights gained will help Indeed pinpoint any challenges users face on the platform, enabling them to implement solutions that enhance the overall user experience and improve job search outcomes.
Participants
We were able to recruit 5 participants who are currently undergraduate students from an age range of 20-25 years old. They all came from a wide range of majors to represent various fields of work and job listings, and they come from various universities.
Methodology
Usability tests were conducted remotely in both moderated and unmoderated formats, where participants completed tasks independently. The facilitator minimized questions, focusing on gathering detailed feedback, while the assistant recorded key insights. Sessions were recorded via Zoom and transcribed with OtterAI for later analysis.
The tests identified pain points as users navigated the Indeed platform, with a focus on job search, details, and application processes. Usability was measured by task completion time, click count, and user feedback from real-time comments and post-session surveys. This combination of quantitative and qualitative data provided valuable insights into user challenges and improvement opportunities.
Results
Based on our projected test goals wanting to identify the ease of finding jobs relevant to the user, the length of time it takes to find a relevant job posting, and the overall user experience of the Indeed platform, the table (Figure 1) was formed to break down results of the usability testing process per task.Scenario A-Task 1 had the user search for a job posting that they considered relevant to their experience. Figure 1 shows that 60% found the jobs searched relevant to what they were looking for while 40% had mixed feelings.Scenario B-Task 1 asked the user to look for relevant additional information to their job search such as salary, type of employment, location, qualifications required, and whatever else they may want to know. Figure 2 shows that of the five testers, 100% stated that the information was where they would have expected it to be.
Scenario C-Task 1 prompted the tester to find a second relevant job posting and made observations if the same search method was used in the second round as in the first. According to Figure 1, 60% of testers used the same search method as in the first round. When asked what made them decide if their second job posting was relevant, answers varied with the majority (40%) saying that detailed job descriptions were important with a close second (20%) saying location was a deciding factor.The final task, Scenario C-Task 2, asked the user to begin the application process for both job postings by pressing “Apply Now”. Figure 3 shows that when asked in a real setting if they would normally finish the application process after seeing these 2 job postings, the majority of users (60%) said they would not and the minority (40%) said they would. Reasons for not applying ranged from distrust of the job posting, desire for further research, and preference to apply directly on the company’s official website. Those who said they would apply felt that the jobs were extremely relevant and that they had the experience to be qualified for them.
Despite showing relatively positive results in the task process section of the testing, the debriefing survey showed conflicting feelings about the overall experience of the Indeed platform. According to Figure 4, 80% of the testers' opinions leaned on the negative side of user perception ranging from Average to just Okay.
This global result conflicted with the user perception of navigation intuitiveness which, according to figure 5 below, was very positive with 60% voting 4/5 and 40% voting 5/5. This result combined with that of Figure 2 shows that navigating the Indeed platform is not the current issue at hand.
Ease of Use
Regarding the testing goal of the ease of finding jobs relevant to the user (Figure 6), 20% said filtering jobs by location was the easiest to complete, while another 20% said the initial job search using the search bar was the easiest task. This shows that searching for jobs using the search bar or location filter are the most user-friendly tasks on the platform.
Expectations
The final question asked on the debriefing survey was if the user felt that the product met their expectations. Results can be seen in Figure 7.
60% gave the impression that Indeed did meet their expectations due to listings being relevant and simple to find and company background and expectations explicitly displayed.
40% said that the site did not live up to expectations due to not providing relevant job opportunities.
In a Nutshell
Indeed’s interface was generally praised for being intuitive, with all users completing tasks error-free. However, user satisfaction varied, with one participant rating the experience as “Excellent,” while others felt it was “Average” or “Okay,” and two mentioned unmet expectations.
Participants frequently adjusted search preferences, particularly for location, indicating initial searches didn’t always align with their needs. Despite locating job details, concerns about trust in postings hindered their willingness to apply, with three participants citing the need for further research or hesitation toward unfamiliar companies.
While the platform’s ease of use is a strength, addressing issues of job posting transparency and trust is key to improving overall satisfaction.
Recommendations
The primary concern among users was a lack of trust in job postings, with three out of five hesitating to apply due to this issue. Additionally, several users questioned the relevance of the job postings they encountered. To address these concerns, recommendations are focused on improving user trust, maintaining user workflow and focus, and prioritizing user needs to save time.
Immediate recommendations include:
· exposing alternative search methods like company reviews
· front-loading filters to save users’ time
· maintaining user focus through color coding
Non-immediate recommendations, which are more related to site design and functionality, include:
· increasing trust in job postings by adding a verification status
· adjusting filters to better align with user expectations for salary and company preferences.
Users begin their journey on Indeed by engaging with the general search bar, often considering it the primary tool for finding jobs. This highlights an opportunity to introduce alternate search methods, like the “Company reviews” feature, which could help address concerns about trust in job postings.
Currently located in the top-left corner of the homepage, it’s not within the user’s immediate focus. To improve this, we recommend making the "Company reviews" feature more accessible during the search process.
All participating users accessed the filter tabs before beginning to review the jobs posted. In one case, when a user observed that jobs were not available for her desired position and salary range, they adjusted their filters rather than their desired job position. This report finds that users use the filter tab feature as integral to their user experience with Indeed.
With both of these behaviors observed in all of our users, we felt both the “Company reviews” feature and the filter tab feature could be highlighted on the homepage directly within the user’s typical area of focus. Though this does not guarantee user interaction, it increases the likelihood of the user at least knowing about the feature.
Repositioning the “Company reviews” feature would encourage users to first identify reputable companies, allowing them to narrow down job opportunities based on trust. Additionally, since salary was a key priority for users, the “Find salaries” feature would be relocated next to “Company reviews” to provide a more streamlined and relevant search experience.
By highlighting these additional search options, users can engage with the platform in a way that aligns more closely with their personal priorities. Furthermore, placing the filter tab on the homepage would save users time by allowing them to make necessary specifications upfront, rather than wasting time on broad searches that will need further refinement.
Color Coding
One of our immediate recommendations addresses a trend where users struggle to keep track of jobs they’re interested in. Although Indeed has a "Save Job" feature, users were hesitant to use it. To improve focus, we propose using colored backgrounds for job postings. When a user selects a job, the background would turn solid blue, with white text, creating a clear visual cue for active interest.
Once the user navigates away, previously viewed jobs would retain a blue shade, helping users easily identify and return to jobs they’ve already reviewed. This approach not only improves navigation but also reinforces user engagement with the platform.
The proposed adjustments aim to streamline the user experience, allowing for faster browsing of job postings while maintaining a smooth workflow. Since interest in a job doesn’t always lead to immediate application or saving, the color coding system would let users classify and review jobs at their own pace. This would enhance job tracking without rushing users into decisions.
