For Handshake's virtual career fairs, should we focus on maximizing the number of student-employer interactions or on improving the quality and depth of each individual conversation?

Introduction

For Handshake's virtual career fairs, we're facing a critical trade-off between maximizing the number of student-employer interactions and improving the quality and depth of each individual conversation. This decision will significantly impact the effectiveness of our platform in connecting students with potential employers. I'll analyze this trade-off by examining the product context, identifying key metrics, designing experiments, and providing a data-driven recommendation.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Based on our current market position, I'm thinking this trade-off might be driven by user feedback or engagement metrics. Could you share what prompted this consideration?

Why it matters: Helps understand the context and urgency of the decision. Expected answer: User feedback indicating dissatisfaction with either quantity or quality of interactions. Impact on approach: Would focus on addressing specific pain points identified by users.

• Considering our revenue model, I assume we charge employers for participation. Is this correct, and how does our pricing structure relate to the number or quality of interactions?

Why it matters: Helps align our decision with the business model. Expected answer: Confirmation of employer-based revenue, possibly tied to interaction metrics. Impact on approach: Would influence whether we prioritize quantity or quality based on revenue implications.

• Regarding user segments, are we seeing different preferences between small companies and large corporations, or between students from different academic backgrounds?

Why it matters: Allows for a more nuanced approach that caters to different user needs. Expected answer: Varied preferences across different user segments. Impact on approach: Might lead to a segmented solution rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

• From a technical standpoint, what are our current limitations in terms of scaling up the number of interactions or enhancing the quality of conversations?

Why it matters: Helps understand the feasibility of different solutions. Expected answer: Potential bandwidth or feature limitations affecting scalability or conversation quality. Impact on approach: Would inform the realistic scope of potential solutions and necessary technical investments.

• Considering our product roadmap, how does this trade-off align with our long-term vision for virtual career fairs?

Why it matters: Ensures the decision supports our strategic direction. Expected answer: Alignment with broader goals of improving job market efficiency or user satisfaction. Impact on approach: Would influence whether we prioritize short-term gains or long-term platform development.