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A Referral Application
2026
Design a job search application focused on referrals helping job seekers, referrers, and HR professionals connect with the right opportunities and talent more efficiently and accurately.
Role
Overview
Platform
Status
Product Designer
Lead UI design, UIUX design, research, Prototyping. User flows, User testing, Empathy interviews.
Web
launched
Deliverablies
Overview
user flow, high - Fidelity Prototype, Future concepts
Designed a referral networking system for job seekers who lack access to internal referral connections. The goal of this project is to build a one-stop platform where multiple users — including job seekers, HR professionals, and referrers — can efficiently connect with people who match their specific needs and goals.
❗️Disclaimer: Due to the confidential nature of the project being an internal application, all images are representations of the actual work.
Highlights
The Challenge
The job market has always been highly competitive. Many job seekers have to submit hundreds — sometimes even thousands — of applications just to receive one offer. For recent graduates, the challenge is even greater because they often haven’t built a professional network yet. Applying through traditional job platforms like LinkedIn or Indeed often leads to very limited results, and those platforms are also filled with misleading or unreliable information. Clearly, referrals remain one of the most effective ways to secure interview opportunities.
Problem Framing
1
Referral Access Gap
Referrals are one of the most effective ways to secure interviews, yet many job seekers lack professional connections or internal networks.
2
Low Transparency in Traditional Job Platforms
Traditional platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed often lead to low response rates, overwhelming competition, and unreliable information.
3
Repetitive Application Process
Candidates repeatedly fill out the same forms for different jobs without knowing whether recruiters will review their applications.
4
Lack of Industry Networking
Limited networking opportunities and industry connections make it harder for candidates, especially new graduates, to access interview opportunities.
The Solution
Our Goals
Key Insight
The Objective is to Provide a trusted referral - based job platform that connects job seekers, referrers, and recruiters in one professional ecosystem. By combining verified users, authentic job opportunities, industry networking, and a streamlined one-click application process, the platform aims to make job searching more transparent, efficient, and human-centered. The product is designed to reduce the frustration of traditional job applications while increasing meaningful professional connections and access to real opportunities.
A Efficient referral system
simplifies the application process, significantly increasing interview opportunities.
User verification
ensures that both the individuals and all the information on the platform are authentic and reliable.
A professional networking community
focused on a specific industry, where users can share insights, resources, and expand their network.
A streamlined application flow
User no longer need to repeatedly fill out their information across different platforms. Instead, all their details are submitted once, making the entire application process seamless and much more efficient.
Design Process
Tools
01
Discover
Analyze interviews, recordings, and documentation, including user interviews and research findings.
02
Define
Generate product opportunity points, as well as the initial product framework and the user journey map
03
Design
Generate standardized designs and refine them.
04
Deliver
Generate the front-end website
User Journey
High level Audit
When I volunteered at the DFW IT Association, people in our community chat groups frequently asked for job referrals and job search support. Most messages were shared through we chat, but because the information was overwhelming and unorganized, job seekers, referrers, and hiring managers often lacked information alignment. To solve this problem, I designed a product that combines professional networking, information exchange, and most importantly, a job referral system.
Research
First, I spent some time conducting user research and interviews to identify the user's core needs:
1
Gain access to powerful referral
2
Experience sharing from peers or professionals
3
Professional networking or social connections
4
Gain the opportunity to communicate directly with the referrer or hiring manager
5
Streamline the job application process (one click apply)
6
Multilingual Support
Our Target Users
Job Seeker
Find referral opportunities for their target positions, submit applications, and communicate directly with referrers and recruiters.
Referrer
Provide referral opportunities to help job seekers gain interview opportunities, receive company referral rewards, and build personal credibility on the platform.
Hiring Manager / recruiter
Find suitable candidates through NexusPro and build personal credibility on the platform.
Features & Final Designs
Dashboard displays key data such as applications, referrals, success rates, and ongoing tracking progress.
Community feature provides online and offline networking groups for people in the same industry to exchange professional information, with real-time location features included.
Referral feed allows users to switch between seeker and referrer roles to submit applications.
Messaging feature allows users to communicate directly with referrers and recruiters,
Design System & Brand Elements
SF Pro
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36
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24
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18
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Brand & Logo
Reflections
Next Steps
After I handed my designs over to the engineers, the team delivered the first minimum viable version. Although we didn’t manage to implement all of my designs on the website, we already have a small user base of about 40 people, and we are about to start testing our first MVP version. I’m looking forward to what comes next.
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