Work / Bluelearn — Recruiter Chat Redesign
Bluelearn — Recruiter Chat Redesign
Redesigning the recruiter–student chat experience to improve match rate and hiring outcomes.
Problem
The existing chat interface between recruiters and students was hindering productive conversations, leading to low match rates and missed hiring opportunities. Recruiters struggled to quickly assess candidate fit, and students had difficulty showcasing their skills effectively.
Client
Bluelearn
Role
Product Designer
Industry
Education & Career Development
Type
Web Platform, App
Scope
UX Design, UI Design, User Research, Conversation Design
Context
Bluelearn connects students with recruiters for early career opportunities. The original chat interface was a basic messaging experience that didn't support the specific needs of recruitment conversations. Recruiters needed quick access to student profiles, portfolios, and key qualifications during conversations. Students needed ways to showcase their work and answer screening questions efficiently. Constraints included: - Real-time messaging requirements - Mobile-first student user base - Recruiters accessing from desktop primarily - Need to maintain conversation context and history
My role
I led the redesign of the recruiter–student chat experience. My responsibilities included: - User research with both recruiters and students to understand their needs - Design of conversation interfaces optimized for recruitment workflows - Integration of profile cards, portfolio previews, and quick actions within chat - Design of screening question templates and response formats - Collaboration with frontend engineers on real-time messaging features I worked closely with the product manager and engineering team, and coordinated with the Bluelearn design system team.
Approach
I researched how recruiters and students actually use chat for hiring conversations. Recruiters wanted to assess fit quickly, while students wanted to present themselves professionally. Key decisions: - Embed student profiles and portfolios directly in chat context - Create structured message types for common screening questions - Design quick actions (schedule interview, request portfolio, etc.) within conversation flow - Maintain chat simplicity while adding recruitment-specific enhancements I focused on reducing context switching—recruiters shouldn't need to leave the conversation to view profiles or portfolios.
Key solutions
Contextual profile cards
I designed inline profile cards that appear when recruiters click on a student's name or message. These cards show key qualifications, skills, and portfolio links without leaving the conversation, enabling faster assessment during chat.
Structured message templates
I created structured message templates for common screening questions (e.g., "Tell me about your experience with X") with formatted response fields. This helped students provide complete answers and made it easier for recruiters to scan responses.
Quick actions in conversation
I added quick action buttons within chat (schedule interview, request portfolio, mark as interested) so recruiters could take action without breaking conversation flow. This reduced friction in moving candidates through the pipeline.
Impact
After the redesign, match rates between recruiters and students increased by approximately 40%. Recruiters reported spending less time per conversation while making better hiring decisions. Students appreciated the structured question formats, which helped them provide more complete answers. The portfolio integration within chat also helped students showcase their work more effectively. Recruiters specifically noted that the contextual profile cards eliminated the need to switch between tabs, making conversations more efficient.
What I learned
This project taught me how to enhance real-time communication tools without adding complexity. The key was embedding context and actions directly in the conversation flow rather than creating separate interfaces. I learned that structured formats can actually improve conversation quality—giving students templates for responses helped them provide better information, which in turn helped recruiters make faster decisions. I'd explore more ways to surface relevant information automatically (e.g., showing portfolio pieces related to skills mentioned in conversation) to further reduce recruiter cognitive load.