Connecting professionals in a NEW way.
LinkedIn, the leading platform for professional growth hosting 900M users, offers learning opportunities, and connects countless users.
This project aims to capitalize on a missed opportunity. By fostering meaningful mentorships and providing resources in-house, we are able to deliver a more seamless growth networking experience.
Tools
Figma, Figjam, Photoshop, Maze, Typeform
Here's the situation
Over 30% of all US adults use LinkedIn, making it the 6th most used social media platform, with LinkedIn Premium subscriptions up 55% year over year.
With a projected user base of 1 billion by 2025, LinkedIn is in a great position to introduce a mentorship feature to assist in attracting and retaining new users.
The Problem & My Solution
Although LinkedIn is a prime starting place when looking for mentorships its lack of the necessary tools and resources lead users to third-party sites.
Adding a mentorship feature that integrates into existing LinkedIn platform making it easier for mentees to seek guidance and for mentors to offer support.
01.
Discover
Research
Goal
I wanted a deeper understanding of what is and isn't working for users on both sides of virtual mentorships.
Objectives
Identify key features needed for successful virtual mentorships.
Understand the emotions and concerns associated with seeking mentorship.
Discover how people are finding and landing mentorships.
Understand key pain points from both mentor and mentee.
Identify mentorship expectations.
Methods
Secondary research
Competitor Analysis
User interviews and surveys
Findings
Competitor Analysis
LinkedIn's competitor succeed in offering free mentorships or very clear pricing for what they will receive.
A common theme amongst other platforms is the quality and length of mentorships offered.
Secondary Research
LinkedIn serves as a valuable platform for professionals to exchange insights, stay ahead of industry trends, and grow their professional connections. Despite LinkedIn's informal mentorship opportunities and self-learning resources, many individuals still struggle with the uncertainty of initiating mentorship within their network. In today's competitive job landscape, with harsh markets and frequent layoffs, having a mentor in your industry can provide invaluable guidance for navigating challenging scenarios and gaining a competitive edge among peers.
User Interviews & Surveys
Details
4 Mentor | 5 Mentee interview participants.
25 Survey participants.
Virtual and in person interviews.
All LinkedIn users.
Mentor Interview Takeaways
They do it because they LOVE helping others. "I definitely think mentoring someone at the company I work for, towards a promotion that they wanted was very rewarding & seeing them come to you for advice is really beautiful!"
-Emma Edwards.
Mentors see a disconnect between mentees and expectations.
There needs to be a clarity in needs and mentorship structure.
02.
Define
The users
Paint Points
She's missing real world experience and needs insight from people.
While she understand she needs to reach out she struggles with uncertainty and worry.
Being a junior designer Chyna lacks the structure and resources needed to get where she wants.
So what's the real problem?
Each mentoring dynamic demands adaptability in communication styles, skill levels, and anticipated goals.
Both sides of the mentorship lack proper guidance, structure, and resources needed to fully harness the potential of their mentorship.
03.
Design
Mid-Fi wireframes & User testing
Goal
I wanted to know with minimal support, would my users successfully be able to onboard and create their first mentor session.
Task flow tested
Onboarding.
Searching for mentors.
Scheduling a mentor session.
Saving helpful resources.
Mentorship goal setting.
04.
Testing
Usability testing
Final high fidelity prototype
Through user and usability testing I was able to gather valuable insights into what did, and didn't work. This allowed me to make the necessary iterations and embrace strong ones.
05.
Reflection
Reflection & What's next
I see this feature having the potential to reach and benefit many LinkedIn users who currently seek or offer mentorship.
Where this project succeeded the most and stood apart from other mentorship platforms is in goal setting, progression tracking, and the resources offered. These aspects keep mentees on the best possible path and provide mentors with a clear path to help them.
In the future, I can envision companies incorporating talent-building programs directly into LinkedIn mentorship. By implementing this, companies can shape talent and ultimately have better candidates to hire from by preparing juniors.
