How can Handshake improve its job search filters to better match students with relevant opportunities?

Introduction

Improving Handshake's job search filters to better match students with relevant opportunities is a critical challenge that directly impacts the platform's core value proposition. This improvement has the potential to significantly enhance user satisfaction, increase engagement, and ultimately drive better outcomes for both students and employers. I'll approach this problem by first clarifying our understanding of the current situation, then analyzing user segments and pain points, before proposing and evaluating potential solutions.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (5 mins)

• Looking at Handshake's position in the market, I'm thinking about the platform's unique value proposition. Could you share more about how Handshake differentiates itself from other job search platforms specifically for students?

Why it matters: Understanding Handshake's unique strengths will help us align our filter improvements with the core value proposition. Expected answer: Handshake's focus on early career opportunities and direct partnerships with universities. Impact on approach: Would emphasize features that leverage university partnerships and cater to entry-level job seekers.

• Considering the diverse student user base, I'm curious about the current user engagement patterns. What are the key metrics we're tracking for job search filter usage, and how do they vary across different user segments?

Why it matters: Identifies which filters are most used and by whom, guiding our prioritization. Expected answer: Metrics like filter usage frequency, time spent on search, and application rates vary significantly across majors and class years. Impact on approach: Would focus on improving filters that are most used or have the highest impact on successful job matches.

• Given the rapidly evolving job market, especially for entry-level positions, I'm wondering about our data freshness and sources. How frequently is our job data updated, and what sources do we use to ensure comprehensive coverage of opportunities?

Why it matters: Ensures that our filter improvements are built on a foundation of high-quality, up-to-date data. Expected answer: Job data is updated daily from a combination of direct employer postings, partnerships, and aggregated sources. Impact on approach: Would consider incorporating real-time data updates into filter functionality if not already present.

• Thinking about Handshake's growth trajectory, I'm curious about the company's strategic priorities. Are we focusing more on user acquisition, engagement, or monetization at this stage, and how does that align with our filter improvement initiative?

Why it matters: Aligns our solution with broader company objectives. Expected answer: Current focus is on increasing user engagement and job application rates to drive platform stickiness. Impact on approach: Would prioritize filter improvements that directly impact engagement metrics and application rates.