How would you measure the success of Handshake's virtual career fair platform?

Introduction

Measuring the success of Handshake's virtual career fair platform requires a comprehensive approach that considers multiple stakeholders and metrics. To address this product success metrics challenge, I'll follow a structured framework covering core metrics, supporting indicators, and risk factors while considering all key stakeholders.

Step 1

Product Context

Handshake's virtual career fair platform is a digital solution that connects students, recent graduates, and employers in a virtual environment. It aims to replicate the experience of traditional career fairs while offering the convenience and scalability of an online platform.

Key stakeholders include:

1. Students/Job seekers: Looking for career opportunities and connections
2. Employers: Seeking to recruit talent efficiently
3. Educational institutions: Aiming to support their students' career development
4. Handshake: Seeking to grow its user base and revenue

User flow:

1. Registration: Users create profiles, upload resumes, and set preferences
2. Event browsing: Users explore upcoming virtual career fairs and register for events
3. Participation: During the event, users join virtual booths, attend presentations, and engage in one-on-one or group video chats with employers
4. Follow-up: After the event, users can continue conversations and apply for positions

The platform fits into Handshake's broader strategy of becoming the go-to career development platform for students and recent graduates. It expands on their existing job board and networking features by creating more dynamic, real-time interactions between job seekers and employers.

Compared to competitors like Brazen or vFairs, Handshake's advantage lies in its existing user base of students and partnerships with educational institutions. However, these competitors may offer more specialized features for virtual events.

In terms of product lifecycle, the virtual career fair platform is likely in the growth stage. It's past initial launch but still evolving and expanding its feature set and user base.