Backgrounds Online Application
Streamlined ordering system to request and receive employment background checks.
Project Type: Website
Timeline: 12 weeks
Team: (2) PM (1) Designer (1) Dev
Tools: Adobe XD, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Azure DevOps
Project Overview: Redesign a web application for clients to order employment background checks. Other features include creating custom screening packages, review results in the Report Manager, and access authorization forms and more in the Resource Center. The previous application was complicated to navigate, outdated in appearance, and wasn’t responsive. The goal was to make ordering background checks an enjoyable experience, easy to use and easy to look at on any device.
Goals:
- Simplify the Background Check Process: Streamline the user experience so businesses can easily request background checks and receive results quickly.
- Customizable Packages: Allow businesses to create custom background screening packages tailored to their hiring needs.
- Efficient Order Management: Provide a user-friendly report manager to manage and review orders, check results, and track progress.
- Increase Productivity: Ensure that users can complete all tasks with minimal steps and without unnecessary complexity.
Design Process
User Research: Conducted user interviews with HR professionals and hiring managers to identify their pain points in the background check process, such as time-consuming forms and complex order management systems.
User Personas:
- Ensure a thorough and efficient hiring process.
- Minimize hiring risks by conducting reliable background checks.
- Maintain compliance with legal regulations regarding background checks.
- Slow turnaround times for background check results.
- Difficulty in interpreting background check reports.
- Concerns about the accuracy of information provided by third-party services.
- Hire trustworthy employees to maintain a positive work environment.
- Save time and money during the hiring process.
- Protect the business from potential legal issues related to hiring.
- Slow turnaround times for background check results.
- Difficulty in interpreting background check reports.
- Concerns about the accuracy of information provided by third-party services.
- Secure a job that aligns with her career goals and values.
- Present herself positively during the background check process.
- Understand what information employers might see during the background check.
- Worries about past minor offenses affecting her job prospects.
- Confusion regarding what background checks entail and how they are conducted.
- Anxiety about the waiting period for background check results.
Empathy Map: Using user feedback and the user personas I took the data and organized it into 4 quadrants to gain user insights. This process helps me inform my design decisions by highlighting user needs, motivations, and pain points.
- Concerned about compliance with background check regulations (FCRA, EEOC).
- Wants a seamless and reliable way to vet candidates without delays.
- Worried about hiring risks and potential legal consequences.
- Values accuracy and thoroughness in reports. Wants a user-friendly experience with clear next steps.
- “We need to speed up the hiring process without skipping critical checks.”
- “Accuracy is crucial—errors could cost us good hires or lead to legal issues.”
- “The candidate experience matters; background checks shouldn’t feel invasive.”
- “Can we integrate this with our ATS?”
- “Is this compliant with state and federal regulations?”
- Dashboard with pending, completed, and in-progress background checks.
- Status updates on candidate screenings.
- Automated notifications about delays or additional documentation needed.
- Legal disclaimers and compliance notices.
- Integration options with other HR tools.
- Asks for faster turnaround times.
- Seeks transparency in background check processes.
- Requests integrations with existing HR software (ATS, payroll systems).
- May question discrepancies in background reports.
- Wants easy-to-access customer support for troubleshooting.
- Delays in background check processing.
- Complex compliance requirements.
- Difficulty in disputing incorrect reports.
- Lack of integration with hiring systems.
- Candidate frustration over unclear processes.
- Confidence in hiring trustworthy candidates.
- Compliance with legal standards.
- Seamless user experience with automated updates.
- Faster hiring decisions.
- Reduced hiring risks and liabilities.
User Flow: Mapped out various user pathways based on personas and their goals. The most common being ordering a background check and checking its status.
Wireframing & Prototyping: Created wireframes and prototypes for the application, focusing on a clear, intuitive dashboard for managing orders and reviewing results. The Google Analytics told us around 60% of users use desktop, so most of the mocks are focused on desktop view.
Custom Branding Package Creation: Designed an interface for users to easily create and manage custom background check packages, selecting specific background checks and services tailored to their needs.
Order Management: Simplified the process for reviewing orders and results, ensuring users could quickly access relevant data, track order status, and make necessary adjustments.
Design System: Organized a design system of UI elements for developers and designers to follow.
Usability Testing: Conducted testing with HR professionals and hiring managers to ensure that the application was efficient, intuitive, and met the needs of business users.
Outcome: The redesigned application made the background check process easier and more efficient for businesses. Clients were able to quickly place orders, create customized screening packages, and review results with minimal friction. We received a lot of positive feedback from clients about the design improvements and functionality. This improved user satisfaction and allowed businesses to process background checks faster, increasing overall productivity and streamlining the hiring process.
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