Overview
Career Map is an intuitive app designed to help students in India make informed decisions about their education and career paths. The app offers personalized roadmaps based on students’ interests, educational levels, and future goals. This case study explores the problem we aimed to solve, the design process, and the solution that empowers students to plan their careers with confidence.
The problem
Students struggle to choose the right career path due to a lack of clear, comprehensive information on courses, degrees, colleges, and career prospects. They find it difficult to compare options, understand eligibility, and access accurate data on fees and placements. This leads to confusion, especially during critical admission periods, making informed decisions harder.
How i faced this problem?
I encountered this problem firsthand when both of my cousin sisters approached me for help in choosing a career path. One had just completed her 10th standard, and the other had finished her 12th standard. They both wanted guidance on potential career options but had no clear understanding of the various courses available or the colleges offering them.
The entire experience was frustrating—we had to sift through vast amounts of written content, consult multiple websites, and piece together fragmented information. Despite all the effort, we ended up with no clear picture of what path to pursue. The lack of organized, concise, and reliable guidance made the process overwhelming, highlighting the need for a more streamlined approach to helping students explore their career options with clarity and confidence.
To better understand the challenges faced by students, i conducted interviews with students.
Current education :
BE - IT (Final year)
Problems faced :
When I was searching for what to pursue, I had to go through multiple websites and they had lots and lots of long paragraph based content, which was very overwhelming for me because I was just 17 years old and had no idea whether engineering was right for me or not.
Going through endless websites, along with the emergence of many new engineering courses, made the experience very confusing.
I need a centralized platform where I can do my entire career planning, it would be really helpful for students like me.
Current education :
BCOM (First year)
Problems faced :
In 10th grade, I had no clue about what career path to take. I wasn’t into IT, so I didn’t even know how to look for proper career guidance.
I still tried checking some online websites for guidance, but there was so much information that I ended up feeling even more confused about what to do.
Because I lacked awareness, I just followed what my friends were doing instead of making an informed choice.
I needed a simple platform that could have helped me explore my options in a way that made sense to me.
Current education :
Pursuing 12th in commerce
Problems faced :
There are so many courses that don’t get enough visibility. For example, I had no idea I could pursue IT through Commerce.
I always wanted a career in IT, but I couldn’t afford the fees for an engineering college.
I only found out about alternative paths to IT through a friend. If I had known earlier, I could have planned better.
I think there should be an app that shows multiple ways to pursue a specific field, so students don’t miss out on opportunities.
Current education :
BE - Civil (Final year)
Problems faced :
I regret choosing my current college. I wish I had someone to talk to who could tell me the reality before I made my decision.
Placements turned out to be really bad. Hardly any companies came to my college.
Pain points summary
Here is a summary of the pain points identified from the interviews I conducted.
Overwhelmed and confused by the amount of information available.
Lacks visibility of all possible career paths.
Wants a centralized app to plan their career.
Struggled to choose and compare the right college.
Lack of clarity on career options led to missing opportunities in other fields.
Assumptions and constraints
The onboarding experience includes a series of progressive questions that assess the user's education level, location and caste.
The user is accessing the app as a non-premium (free) user.
The app provides information and guidance exclusively for full-time courses.
Only undergraduate-level education is covered.
User flow
The solution
Career Map simplifies career planning by offering personalized roadmaps based on students' academic level and interests. It provides clear, concise options across fields, along with insights on courses, eligibility, and colleges. With the added benefit of counseling, students can confidently make informed decisions.
From Concept to Creation ✦
Let’s walk through it one by one :
Tap 'Generate a Roadmap.'
If you're unsure about the exact job role, simply select "Choose Your Path" and answer a few quick questions based on your interests.
For example, if a student is curious about exploring career options in engineering, they can select that field and instantly view tailored results, showcasing various pathways within engineering. This step ensures users can easily discover options that align with their preferences.
Based on your inputs, the app presents a range of career options in your chosen field, making it easy for students to explore, compare, and find what suits them best.
This also increases visibility to courses that may not be well-known, helping students discover more options.
A top banner prompts users to access personalized guidance through our counseling feature for more informed decision-making.
Below are the iterations of the roadmap card, showing how I refined the design to reach the final version.
After selecting a field, such as IT engineering, you'll first receive an overview, followed by detailed insights on job roles and emerging technologies.
These data-driven analytics provide a deeper understanding of the field and aid in making informed career decisions.
The detailed analytics feature not only provides valuable insights but also drives user engagement by offering data-driven information that students find crucial for making informed decisions. (available as part of the premium feature).
Students can then explore specific roadmaps tailored to that field.
Students can explore detailed information for each stage of their roadmap, gaining a clear understanding of every step. This helps them make informed decisions.
Users can also select colleges and entrance exams based on their preferences, ensuring the roadmap is tailored to their goals.
A Closer Look at Featured college card :
Students can easily compare different colleges and select their top three choices based on their preferences. They can view detailed statistics on placements and fees for each college, which keeps them engaged. Visual aids enhance the overall user experience during the college selection process.
Additionally, students can contact college alumni directly to gain meaningful insights about the institutions they are considering. This feature helps in making better college choices by providing feedback from those who have experienced it firsthand. (available as part of the premium feature).
Students can easily edit their selections through a modal sheet that shows all chosen colleges, allowing them to delete options if needed. Featured colleges are displayed at the top with a 'Recommended' tag, increasing their visibility and making it easier for users to prioritize these institutions. This streamlined approach simplifies the college selection process for students.
Once users finalize their roadmap and select colleges, the app prompts them with the question, "Is this the right path for you?" This thoughtful approach encourages users to reflect on their decisions, "Am I truly on the best path for my dreams?" fostering a sense of curiosity about their chosen path. By prompting this introspection, we not only enhance the user's decision-making process but also highlight the value of personalized guidance.
This strategy aims to maintain users' engagement and encourages them to seek expert advice to confirm their choices. By doing so, we create a supportive environment where users feel empowered to explore their options further, ultimately increasing interest in our counseling feature.
What’s new in starting with Your Dream Job :
Business Plan
Premium Subscription: Unlock detailed insights on job roles, college stats, salary trends, and chat with alumni for guidance.
Ad Revenue: Earn from relevant ads targeting education and career services.
College Partnerships: Collaborates with colleges to boost their visibility and drive admission leads by featuring them more prominently in the app.
Paid Courses & Tests: Offer specialized courses and tests to help students prepare for exams and career skills.
Career Counseling Services: Earns revenue through paid career counseling, offering personalized guidance and expert advice to help students refine their career choices.
Conclusion
Career Map simplifies the process of exploring career paths and selecting colleges, offering personalized guidance to help students make informed decisions. With features like roadmap customization, premium insights, and college partnerships, it bridges the gap between confusion and clarity, empowering students to confidently choose their future path.
