•Major functions: Job search, messaging, skills tests•Our focus: Designers from the US, South Asia and Eastern Europe searching for, applying to, and completing jobs•Our goal: Form recommendations that oDesk can implement in small team projects

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

ODESK: AN ONLINE JOB MARKETPLACE THAT CONNECTSGLOBAL FREELANCERS AND BUSINESSES

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

PRIMARY PERSONA: MEET ALFONS NOWICKI

“oDesk was the beginning of my second life.”

GENDER MaleAGE 52LOCATION PolandOCCUPATION Graphic DesignerEDUCATION B.A. in Advertising

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE% INCOME FROM ODESK 100%ODESK HOURLY RATE $40 USDYEARS ON ODESK 5 years

NEEDS�Simple and efficient tool to work with clients and team members�Option to choose between fixed and hourly rates�Ability to work at least 30 hours a week

GOALS�Provide for self and family�Stay up to date in his technical skills and software�Extend professional connections and work with international clients

Recommendations

Interview5 interviewees from US, South Asia and Eastern

Europe

Survey1,435 Responses; 24%

Response Rate

Comparative Analysis10 different direct,

analogous, partial and parallel comparisons

Heuristic EvaluationIndividual evaluations

using Nielsen’s ten heuristics

Usability Testing5 independent contractors3 tasks: searching for jobs,

applying to jobs and taking a skills test

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

A VARIETY OF RESEARCH METHODS GENERATEDACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE ODESK

EVIDENCE• Search tools & boxes lack transparency (Usability testing, 

Heuristic Evaluation)

• Job & search categories do not match the real world (Survey, Heuristic Evaluation)

• Competitors offer a more comprehensive job search (Comparative Analysis, Survey)

• Absence of tracking a specific job (Comparative Analysis, Heuristic Evaluation)

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

DESIGNERS NEED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE JOB SEARCH

SEVERITY 

RECOMMENDATION •Explicitly state search capabilities•Refine job search categories•Provide more search options that designers desire•Add the ability to track a specific job

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

DESIGNERS NEED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE JOB SEARCH

SEVERITY 

EVIDENCE• Small attachment size limits (Interview, Comparative Analysis)

• Cannot contact clients without an oDesk account (Interview)• Contractors want message filters and search options

(Interview, Survey, Comparative Analysis)

• Absence of online chat & mobile alerts (Interview, Comparative Analysis, Survey)

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

DESIGNERS NEED A BETTER MESSAGING SYSTEM

SEVERITY 

RECOMMENDATION •Increase the attachment size •Create a searchable message system with email integration•Add an online messenger for designers to connect with clients

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

DESIGNERS NEED A BETTER MESSAGING SYSTEM

SEVERITY 

EVIDENCE•Test Score page and the help center lack breadcrumb navigation to indicate users' current locations (Heuristic Evaluation)

•Sent job applications lack noticeable labels in “user-friendly” language (Heuristic Evaluation, Usability Testing)• Submenu “Profile” and “Find Jobs” under the main menu “Find Work” are confusing (Heuristic Evaluation, Usability Testing)

DESIGNERS NEED CLEARER NAVIGATIONAL LABELS

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

SEVERITY 

RECOMMENDATION•Add navigational hints or breadcrumb bar•Unify the term “work” and “job”•Add obvious feedback for job application status in “user-friendly” language

DESIGNERS NEED CLEARER NAVIGATIONAL LABELS

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

SEVERITY 

EVIDENCE•During the test, users cannot see the test title, and the timer is fixed (Heuristic Evaluation)• Test history is not shown in the test center (Heuristic Evaluation, Usability Testing)•Too many specific categories to scan quickly (Usability Testing)•Time durations on instructions sometimes conflict(Heuristic Evaluation, Usability Testing)•No visible clues to tell users how to pause a test and resume it later (Heuristic Evaluation, Usability Testing)

SKILLS TESTS ARE DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE, LACKINGVISIBILITY AND FEEDBACK

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

SEVERITY 

RECOMMENDATION•Partition the Skills Test landing page into different sections such as “My Skills Tests” and “All Skills Test” to show users’ test history and status

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

SKILLS TESTS ARE DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE, LACKINGVISIBILITY AND FEEDBACK

SEVERITY 

RECOMMENDATION•Provide clear visual clues to let users know how to resume a test•More noticeable instructions on how to pause and resume a test•Broader skills test categories & unified time durations in instruction page

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

SKILLS TESTS ARE DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE, LACKINGVISIBILITY AND FEEDBACK

SEVERITY 

What happens after the contractors are hired for a job?Our project scope mainly focused on the functionalities of job search, job application and skills tests, which are limited to the usability before the contractor are actually hired by the clients.

Time tracker Wallet function

Messaging Transactions

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

KEY AREAS THAT WERE MISSED

• Usability tests with the target audience

South Asia Eastern Europe

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

FURTHER STUDIES

Contact us at annasr@umich.edu

Overview Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion

QUESTIONS?