user experience architecture and design
This W.K. Kellogg Foundation pilot program connected at-risk youths to employers and service organizations. The youths in the program are motivated and have real-world skills, but they don't necessarily know how to jump-start their careers. NewOptions@Work helps these youths identify and express their talents in ways that align to employment, and it provides tools for employers to share richer job/workplace details and reduce the high turnover of entry-level positions.
Gravitytank developed a working prototype that captured a youth's comprehensive skills, interests, and achievements. Youths could browse and map matched job listings that were enriched with peer videos and summaries of responsibilities, expectations, career paths, and wages. Each youth's personal profile featured endorsements, skillsets, and an engaging short web video introduction.
gravitytank · 2010 | Creative direction: Chris Conley | Information architecture: Andrew Day | Design: Kariya Moritsugu, Antonio Garcia, Andrew Day | Engineering: Tom Sublewski, Seth Mabbott, Andrew Day, Abby Nielsen
We utilized matching technology to respond with good / better / best job matches for a youth's skills and to highlight service programs that could bring better jobs within reach. A youth's public profile clearly outlines his/her motivation, goals, skills, and achievements. A short introductory video and endorsements add a trustworthy human touch unlike any résumé.
Youths at Living Classrooms in Baltimore told us they were most interested in a trustworthy site for finding jobs. The site didn't need to posture – it just needed to work for them and be “YouTube simple.”
Youths told us they didn't understand what to expect at a job or where it could lead, so our job profile offers this informal and helpful context up front. For each job listing, we proposed filming a youth who had worked in that exact role, who could provide a brief, trustworthy assessment of its opportunities and challenges. We clearly display “ladder up” opportunities and wages for the near and long term, to show that this job isn't an endless commitment but a bridge to future opportunities.
Employer's dashboard shows a set of matching youths for each job listing. Hovering on a youth tile provides a fuller snapshot and tools to engage a youth.
View of "what if" panel, allowing youths to see what other jobs could potentially be within reach with changes to their skillsets. Descoped due to constraints on a third-party matching engine.