Product Design | Ashley Iris

Empowering Job Seekers to
Manage Stress and Build Resilience

Pathly helps long-term job seekers overcome low confidence and mental health challenges. With tools for self-assessment, skill-building, and goal-setting, it fosters resilience, tracks progress, and supports personal growth, guiding users through the job search with clarity and confidence.

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Project: Mental Health App

Role: User Experience Designer

Timeframe: Oct - Dec 2024 (10 Weeks)

Deliverables: Task flow, interaction design, emotional tracking system, and resource recommendation engine.

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Design

Thinking

Process

46.8%

Nearly half (46.8%) of candidates believe searching for a job negatively impacts their mental health and wellbeing.

72%

72% of people have said the job search negatively impacts their mental health.

28%

The experience can take a toll on mental health and include feelings of frustration and self-doubt.

How Might We Question

How might we support job seekers' mental health while helping them stay motivated, improve decision-making, and manage stress throughout the job search process?

Pathly Design Solution

Tailored Recommendations

Support pages provide resources and actionable tips to help users effectively prepare for job searches, interviews, and career growth.

Tracking System

Enables users to seamlessly input, update, and monitor the status of their job applications, providing clarity and organization throughout their job search journey.

Motivational Screens

Provide uplifting messages, success stories, and practical tips to inspire confidence, resilience, and focus during the job search process.

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Interview Observations

"Not having a job 100% messes with your confidence and that can show in an interview without you even knowing it."

"It gets harder to stay positive the longer you’re out of work and don’t hear anything back. Honestly, sometimes I don’t even remember the jobs I applied to."

"I think I was just very sad, and depressed and did not know how to cope which made it the entire situation a lot worse."

User Insight Main Focus

Support for Job Seekers

Insights from these interviews, combined with usability testing of prototypes, guided the refinement of features like stress-relief tools, application tracking, and motivational content.

Task Flow

Pathly’s task flow guides users through features like stress-relief tools, motivational content, and job application tracking.

Persona

The Striving Provider

“Losing my job was terrifying, but I’m not giving up. Every application, every swim, and every connection I make brings me one step closer to building a better future for my family."

Resilient • Goal - Driven • Family - Oriented