02
Project Brief
Website
Utility Tool
Designing Tools to Build Better Futures
In today’s competitive job market, crafting a standout resume is more critical than ever. Many resume-building tools complicate this process with rigid subscriptions, formatting issues, and overwhelming template choices. Our platform, designed based on user feedback, offers an intuitive, user-friendly experience with ATS-optimized templates and customizable designs. We’ve also simplified our subscription plans to provide greater flexibility for users. A key feature, the intelligent word suggestion tool, helps users communicate their skills effectively. By focusing on functionality and user empowerment, our platform enables job seekers to create polished, professional resumes with ease.
I conducted research in two phases
Secondary Research
Competitor Analysis and User reviews
Primary Research
User survey and user Interview
To understand user frustrations and requirements, I conducted interviews with individuals from various industries. The goal was to gain insights into their needs to better design a user-friendly resume-building platform. Initially, we assumed users struggled with technical issues like formatting and ATS compatibility. However, the research revealed broader concerns, such as complex subscription models and a preference for limited customization. Users sought simplicity and flexibility, with a desire for curated templates tailored to specific roles. These findings shaped our approach, emphasizing features that enhance the overall resume-building experience through simplicity and ease of use.
#01
Secondary Research
Competitor Analysis
I conducted secondary research to gain deeper insights into existing products in the market, focusing on the key features they offer and the challenges users face while using them. My market research began with four competitors: Canva Resume Builder, Zety, Resume.io, and Novoresume. This analysis helped identify areas where my resume-building platform could enhance its offerings and introduce new features. While these products have similar offerings, the focus on limited customization and simplicity presents an opportunity for my platform to stand out and better meet user needs.
Canva offers a visually appealing platform with professionally designed templates, allowing users to create polished resumes effortlessly, even without prior design skills. Its extensive template library and user-friendly interface make the resume-building process straightforward and accessible. However, some users may find the subscription model complex, and the platform lacks real-time preview features. Additionally, customization options are somewhat limited, which might restrict users looking for more personalized resume designs.
Zety offers a unique value proposition by combining pre-written content with keyword suggestions, helping users optimize their resumes for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) while tailoring them to specific job roles. Its features ensure ATS compatibility, provide helpful content suggestions, and guide users through a step-by-step resume creation process. However, the platform&aposs complex subscription models and lack of a real-time preview feature may present challenges for some users.
Resume.io focuses on ease of use, offering real-time previews and ATS optimization tools to help users quickly refine their resumes to meet job market standards. Its modern interface enhances the user experience, making resume creation straightforward and efficient. However, the platform complex subscription models, limited customization options, and somewhat generic templates may limit its appeal for users seeking highly personalized resumes.
Novoresume provides a streamlined, intuitive experience that simplifies resume creation while delivering sleek and professional results. Its user-friendly design and real-time preview feature make the process efficient and accessible, with a strong focus on modern aesthetics. However, the platform complex subscription plans, lack of ATS keyword suggestions, and restrictions on premium features may pose challenges for users seeking more comprehensive functionality. designs.
User Reviews
User Reviews I looked for user reviews on Play Store for different competitor apps to get more insights on user pain points.
01
Paid subscriptions are not worth
The one thing I downloaded this app for is locked behind a paywall. Terrible. Something I am only going to use once and not something I am going to use often, why would I waste my money. So pointless.
02
Lack of ATS Compatibility
The templates on Canva are creative, but they aren’t optimized for ATS, which is essential for my job search. I spent hours designing my resume only to find out it wasn’t being seen by recruiters.
03
Overpriced for Basic Features
Zety’s subscription is outrageously priced for what it offers. The templates are fine, but I shouldn’t have to pay just to download a resume. It’s misleading that the most basic features are behind a paywall.
04
Customization Restrictions
Novoresume’s templates are nice, but you can’t customize them much. As someone who wanted to adjust details for my profession, I found the lack of flexibility frustrating. For the price, I expected more room for personalization
DEFINING THE PROBLEM.
In a competitive job market, job seekers face significant challenges in creating standout resumes due to rigid subscription models, complex formatting issues, and an overwhelming number of template choices in existing resume-building tools. These barriers hinder users from crafting ATS-optimized resumes that effectively showcase their skills and experiences. Our user research, which involved interviews with individuals from various industries, revealed a strong preference for simplicity, flexibility, and curated templates tailored to specific roles. Users desire a platform that streamlines the resume-building process, offering intuitive design, intelligent word suggestions, and customizable templates to create professional, polished resumes with ease.
#02
Primary Research
User Surveys and Interviews
To understand the needs and pain points of users for our resume-building platform, I conducted primary research through user surveys. The survey aimed to gather insights into user experiences, challenges, and preferences when creating resumes. The data collected from the survey will be analyzed to identify user personas, pain points, and decision-making processes. This research will guide the development of features that address the most common issues users face, ensuring the platform aligns with their needs and expectations needs.
_______ Target audience.
The target audience includes recent graduates, mid-level professionals, and career switchers looking to create ATS-compatible resumes. It also caters to freelancers, entrepreneurs, and HR professionals who need customizable templates for showcasing skills and experience. The platform aims to provide an easy, efficient way for users to craft professional and tailored resumes.
Recent graduates
Mid-level
professionals
Freelancers
HR Professionals
_______ Pain Points
01
Job seekers face challenges with rigid and expensive subscription models in resume-building platforms, which often lock them into long-term commitments and limit their ability to make necessary updates without incurring high costs.
02
Users find formatting tools overly complex, leading to frustration and inconsistent resumes. They need a simple, user-friendly solution for professional-looking results.
03
Users find it confusing and overwhelming to choose from a large number of resume templates.
04
Users have difficulty optimizing their resumes for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which is critical for passing automated screenings and reaching human reviewers.
User Personas
I created two user personas based on the responses from our user interviews. Deriving these personas helped me gain a deeper understanding of our users and build empathy with their experiences. By thinking from the users perspectives, I was able to make more informed and user-centric decisions, focusing on their specific needs and goals.
01
NAME: Nagendra B S
AGE: 24
EDUCATION: BCA
JOB: Recent Graduate
LOCATION: Bangalore
HOBBIES: Karate
Bio
Nagendra has just graduated and is excited to enter the marketing field. He is full of energy but finds the process of creating a resume challenging. He is looking for a tool that will streamline the process and make it less overwhelming.
Personality
- Hardworking
- Smart
- Expressive
- Thoughtful
Pain Points
- Overwhelmed by too many resume template choices, making it hard to decide.
- Struggles with formatting resumes to make them professional and ATS-friendly.
- Unsure how to tailor his resume for specific marketing job roles.
Goals
- To secure his first full-time job in marketing with a standout resume.
- To create a professional, visually appealing resume that aligns with industry standards.
- To save time and reduce stress by using a user-friendly resume-building tool.
Quote
where words fail, Music speaks
02
NAME: Priya Ramesh
AGE: 28
EDUCATION: MBA
JOB: Marketing Specialist
LOCATION: Mumbai
HOBBIES: Photography
Bio
Priya is a passionate marketing specialist with over five years of experience. She loves connecting with people through creative campaigns but finds it challenging to update her resume to reflect her evolving skills.
Personality
- Creative
- Dynamic
- Collaborative
- Detail-oriented
Pain Points
- Struggles with showcasing her diverse marketing experience succinctly.
- Finds it hard to keep up with the latest resume trends and tools.
- Wants to make her resume visually appealing while remaining professional.
Goals
- To update her resume to reflect her skills and accomplishments accurately.
- To stand out in the competitive marketing job market.
- To use an intuitive tool that simplifies the resume-building process.
Quote
Creativity is intelligence having fun.
_______ User Journey Map
Mapping the customer journey was highly insightful. It deepened my empathy for users and helped clearly define their pain points.
User Journey Map
Persona: Nagendra B S
Goal: To secure her first full-time job in marketing with a standout resume.
Actions
Discover user-friendly resume builders through social media ads, search engines, and recommendations.
Explore website landing pages, testimonials, and feature overviews.
Sign up and start creating a resume by choosing from a variety of templates.
Customize and download the resume using export options and feedback forms.
Task List
Overcome being overwhelmed by numerous options and credibility issues.
Evaluate ease of use and effectiveness of templates.
Select the most suitable resume template without decision fatigue.
Ensure the resume is ATS-compliant and correctly formatted.
Thoughts
What makes this platform credible?
Are the templates effective for real-world jobs?
Which template works best for my needs?
Is my resume compliant and professional?
Improvement Opportunities
Build trust with user reviews and testimonials.
Provide quick previews and detailed examples.
Offer recommendations based on industry.
Ensure clear export options with ATS compliance.
User Journey Map
Persona: Priya Ramesh
Goal: To create a professional resume for a career change in software development.
Actions
Research resume-building platforms through online forums, blogs, and industry-specific resources.
Compare different platforms based on features, pricing, and user reviews.
Sign up for a platform and begin crafting a resume using templates geared towards software development.
Tailor the resume to highlight transferable skills and download the final version for job applications.
Task List
Identify the best platform that meets her needs for a career transition.
Assess the relevance of templates for the software development industry.
Choose a template that effectively showcases her skills and experience.
Ensure the resume is optimized for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems).
Thoughts
How can I make my non-technical experience appealing to tech recruiters?
Are there any templates specifically designed for career changers?
Which skills should I emphasize to make my resume stand out?
Is this platform reliable and easy to use?
Improvement Opportunities
Provide industry-specific templates and examples for career changers.
Offer guidance on highlighting transferable skills effectively.
Include a feature for peer or expert reviews of resumes.
Ensure the platform is user-friendly and includes tips for ATS optimization.
Product Goal
The goal is to develop a user-friendly platform that simplifies the resume creation process by offering a carefully curated selection of high-quality templates and meaningful customization options. This ensures that all users, regardless of their experience level, can effortlessly craft professional resumes that pass ATS filters and highlight their unique strengths, without feeling overwhelmed by excessive choices. To support this, the platform offers flexible subscription plans, providing users with access to advanced templates, expert guidance, and additional customization features, while maintaining affordable pricing for different needs and budgets.
IDEATION
Creating solutions for the problems
Mapping the customer journey was very insightful. It helped me empathize with the users and define their pain points. Gaining transparency into user thoughts and actions while looking for a roommate provided an opportunity to understand user behavior better. After conducting user research and creating personas and a customer journey map, I identified major user pain points and opportunities for improvement. Based on these pain points, I developed several potential solutions. After careful consideration and using the idea sorter method, I decided to proceed with the following solutions.
1
Pain Point
Job seekers face challenges with rigid and expensive subscription models in resume-building platforms, which often lock them into long-term commitments and limit their ability to make necessary updates without incurring high costs.
Solution
Offer flexible and affordable subscription plans that cater to various user needs. The Single Resume plan allows users to create a professional resume with five free updates for ₹300, ensuring they can make initial adjustments without extra charges. The ATS Resume plan, priced at ₹500, provides a more customized resume tailored to job-specific details, also including five free updates. For ongoing needs, a Resume Update option at ₹150 per update after the initial five free ones enables users to keep their resumes current without a long-term financial commitment. These plans provide a balanced approach to affordability and functionality, meeting diverse user preferences.
2
Pain Point
Users find formatting tools overly complex, leading to frustration and inconsistent resumes. They need a simple, intuitive solution for professional-looking results.
Solution
Recognizing the frustrations users face with complex and unintuitive formatting tools, I focused on simplifying the resume creation process without compromising professional quality. By offering a curated selection of font styles (Inter, Aptos, and Calibri) and adjustable font sizes (10–14), I aimed to provide users with the flexibility to tailor their resumes while maintaining consistency and readability. Additionally, I implemented a real-time preview feature that allows users to instantly view how their formatting choices impact their resume layout. To further support users, I introduced a comprehensive guide and access to expert consultations via Zoom, ensuring they receive personalized assistance when needed. This approach has successfully reduced decision fatigue, enhanced the user experience, and empowered individuals to create polished, professional resumes with ease.
3
Pain Point
Users find it confusing and overwhelming to choose from a large number of resume templates.
Solution
To address the overwhelming template choices, I limited the selection to a curated set of templates, categorized by industry, career level, and job type. I implemented an interactive guide that offers personalized template recommendations based on user input. Users can also preview templates with sample content and schedule Zoom consultations with content experts for personalized assistance, ensuring they choose the best option for their needs. This approach simplifies the process and improves user confidence.
4
Pain Point
Users have difficulty optimizing their resumes for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which is critical for passing automated screenings and reaching human reviewers.
Solution
To address the ATS optimization pain point, provide users with ATS-friendly resume templates that are simple and formatted for easy scanning by ATS. Allow users to paste job descriptions to receive keyword suggestions and ensure their resumes align with the job requirements. Include a real-time ATS compatibility checker that provides instant feedback on keyword usage and formatting, along with an ATS readability score to show how likely the resume is to pass ATS screenings. Additionally, offer a step-by-step guide and Zoom consultations with ATS experts to further assist users in optimizing their resumes. This solution will streamline the process and increase the chances of resumes reaching human reviewers.
INTERFACE DESIGNS
I created low fidelity wireframes to quickly sketch out and explore various design ideas and concepts. Wireframes are flexible, making it easier to make changes based on feedback without significant time and resource investment. Then with the help of wireframes, I designed Interface screens for NUstart for the new user flows keeping in mind the product guidelines.
_______ Key Takeaways.
Our resume-building website is crafted with the user in mind, ensuring a seamless, intuitive, and efficient experience. By utilizing accessible fonts and a clear text hierarchy, we provide a easily navigable interface. This focus on user experience helps job seekers create standout resumes effortlessly, with real-time feedback, flexible customization options, and affordable solutions.
_______ What I Learned.
As a UX designer working on a resume-building website, I have gained valuable insights and knowledge through the design process. Some of the key things I have learned include understanding user needs, conducting user research, writing and creating wireframes, developing prototypes, and honing my visual design skills. This comprehensive approach ensures that the final product is user-friendly, accessible, and meets the expectations of job seekers.