Why has Harri's applicant tracking system seen a 30% drop in new job postings over the past month?

Introduction

Harri's applicant tracking system experiencing a 30% drop in new job postings over the past month is a significant issue that requires immediate attention. This decline could have far-reaching implications for Harri's business model, user satisfaction, and market position. I'll approach this problem systematically, focusing on identifying the root cause, validating hypotheses, and developing both short-term and long-term solutions.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking there might be a seasonal component. Has this 30% drop been compared to the same period last year?

Why it matters: Seasonal fluctuations could explain the drop without indicating a deeper problem. Expected answer: Yes, it's been compared and is still significant. Impact on approach: If seasonal, we'd focus on year-over-year trends rather than month-to-month.

• Considering user segments, I'm curious if this drop is uniform across all customer types. Are we seeing differences between enterprise and SMB clients?

Why it matters: Different segments may have different root causes, requiring targeted solutions. Expected answer: The drop is more pronounced in the SMB segment. Impact on approach: We'd prioritize investigating SMB-specific factors and tailoring solutions accordingly.

• Given the metric specificity, I'm wondering about the definition of "new job postings." Has there been any recent change in how this is measured or categorized?

Why it matters: Ensures we're comparing apples to apples and not dealing with a measurement issue. Expected answer: No changes in measurement or categorization. Impact on approach: If changed, we'd need to recalibrate our analysis based on the new definition.

• Thinking about recent updates, have there been any significant changes to the job posting process or user interface in the last 1-2 months?

Why it matters: Recent changes could directly impact user behavior and system performance. Expected answer: A minor UI update was rolled out 6 weeks ago. Impact on approach: We'd investigate the potential impact of this update on user experience and posting behavior.