Evaluating LinkedIn’s Job Search Experience

Overview

LinkedIn plays a critical role in how people discover and apply for jobs, yet its complex interface can make key tasks difficult for users. This study evaluated how effectively LinkedIn supports job seekers when navigating job listings, filtering results, and managing their profiles. We conducted semi-structured interviews, think-aloud usability testing, and SUS evaluation with 10 participants, including job seekers, professionals, and students. The goal was to uncover usability barriers and propose design improvements to improve the overall job search experience.

Tools & Methods

Key Outcomes

• Many users struggled to locate the “Open to Work” feature and were unsure about its visibility and privacy settings.
• Job filters often returned irrelevant results, especially when searching for remote roles.
• Icon-based interactions caused confusion, particularly for users unfamiliar with LinkedIn’s interface.
• Job listing pages contained high information density, which increased cognitive load during decision-making.
• Although task success rates were high overall, users often hesitated during tasks, indicating low confidence in navigation.