A Community-Driven Accountability App for Job Seekers
Created a productivity app that helps job seekers set goals, stay consistent, and feel supported in their journey.
My Role
Sole Designer
Led the end-to-end design
Timeline
2 months (Ongoing)
Type
Passion Project
B2C Mobile App
Consumer Productivity Tool
Tools
Figma, Glide, Google Form, Email Communication
Design Process
Observation
As a college student, I noticed a gap between how students navigate academics versus their career goals. In school, we usually have a clear structure such as syllabus, project deadlines, and grading systems that guide us toward success. No matter the challenge, there is always a defined path to improvement and we can always power up to overcome the difficulties that they encounter.
However, when it comes to career goals and job hunting, the process becomes significantly harder. Unlike academics, there are no universal deadlines, no pre-defined roadmap, and no structured feedback loops to help students measure progress. Many students know they should be preparing for their careers—applying to jobs, networking, or building experience—but without clear milestones, or external reinforcement, job hunting often gets deprioritized.
Surprisingly, for those already working in corporate jobs, since they usually have performance reviews, KPIs, and peer pressure help keep them on tracks, it's even harder for them to consistently invest effort in job transitions, as their current job takes priority.
1: 1Interviews with Students & Working Professionals
5 working professionals who are currently employed but actively looking for new opportunities.
8 senior-year graduate students preparing to enter the job market
"I always start strong, but it’s hard to keep the momentum going after a few days."
"Sometimes I just need a little push—like someone reminding me why I started."
"I get overwhelmed by how big the goal feels. I don’t know where to begin."
Insights
Users feel discouraged when progress isn’t immediate because they associate success with visible, fast results.
Users feel overwhelmed by big goals because they lack support in breaking them into manageable steps.
Users tend to abandon their goals because they don’t have a system or person reminding them why the goal mattered in the first place.
Opportunity
HOW MIGHT WE
Help job seekers feel more motivated, engaged and responsible in the job hunting process?
HYPOTHESIS
If job seekers engage in structured goal-setting, receive social encouragement, and track their progress through gamification, they will maintain greater consistency in their job search, reduce procrastination, and improve their chances of securing a job.
White Paper Research
With these challenges in mind, I began by conducting white paper research on the psychology of goal setting, motivation, and accountability. I discovered that individuals who have a specific accountability partner are 85% more likely to achieve their goals compared to those who only have an idea or goal in mind.
Competitive Research
To understand where Hircle fits within the current digital landscape, I conducted a comparative analysis of eight relevant applications: Huntr, Notion, Jobcase, Handshake, LinkedIn, Duolingo, Habita, and Forest. These platforms were selected based on their relevance to job searching, productivity, community-based goal tracking, and gamified habit formation. Through affinity mapping, I categorized these competitors into three primary clusters: job search platforms, productivity and organization tools, and motivational/habit-building applications.
Insights
There’s a clear gap between job-hunting tools that manage logistics and those that sustain motivation. Hircle bridges this divide by blending lightweight tracking with socially driven accountability in small peer groups. Unlike broad, impersonal platforms, Hircle fosters ongoing emotional and motivational support, addressing the often isolating nature of job searching. By combining logistical structure with community-driven encouragement, Hircle offers a unique and timely intervention in the digital job-hunting space.
Proof Of Concept
Email-Based Accountability Group
The initial concept for Hircle began not with an interface, but with behavior. I initiated a low-fidelity accountability experiment using email and Google Forms with a small group of close friends who were either job hunting or working toward career-related goals. Each morning, participants received a Google Form with a prompt to set their daily goals. The form included guidance on how to make goals more actionable and accountable—for instance, rather than simply writing “job applications,” users were encouraged to specify a quantity, such as “apply to two to three jobs.” These bite-sized goals were designed to be achievable and measurable, fostering a stronger sense of follow-through.
At the end of each day, I sent a follow-up email inviting participants to reflect on their progress. They were asked to indicate whether they had completed their goal and to reflect briefly on what went well, what didn’t, and how they felt about their efforts. Throughout the day, I maintained communication with the group by sending reminders. For example, if someone had not submitted their morning goal by noon, I would personally reach out with a gentle nudge. In the evening, if someone had not completed their check-in, I sent an encouraging message to motivate them. To reinforce group cohesion, I also compiled and shared a daily snapshot of each participant’s status. These updates included positive language, such as “___ did a great job today and exceeded their goal,” which allowed everyone to see each other’s progress and feel recognized.
Insights & Feedback
Social Accounatability Works
Simply sharing goals with a small group created a strong sense of accountability, motivating participants to follow through.
Emotional Support Drives Engagement
A non-judgmental, supportive environment helped participants stay motivated—especially on tough days—through shared vulnerability and daily reflection.
Email System Limitations
While the approach was effective early on, the lack of visuals, feedback loops, and gamification in email led to declining engagement, revealing the need for a more structured, interactive system.
Glide Prototype – Building a Functional MVP
To test a more structured version of the concept, I used Glide, a no-code platform that transforms Google Sheets into functional mobile applications. This approach allowed for rapid prototyping and iteration without the need for custom development, enabling me to focus on testing the information architecture and core behavioral features of Hircle in a low-resource setting.
The Glide prototype included several foundational components: a daily goal-setting interface, a task checklist, an end-of-day reflection form, and a shared community dashboard where group members could post reflections and see updates from others. To introduce a sense of progress and engagement, I implemented a basic point system, where users would earn 10 points for each completed task. These points accumulated over time and were visible within the app, providing users with a lightweight feedback mechanism that visually reinforced consistency and small wins.
User Testing Feedback Summary
Testing Overview
Over a two-week period, ten testers were invited to use the Glide-based prototype of Hircle on a daily basis. This phase focused on understanding user behavior, gauging engagement with the app’s features, and identifying usability challenges.
App Structure & Accessibility
More Tntuitive Than Previous Version
“It’s definitely easier to use than the Google Form—it feels more like a real app.”
Testers found the Glide version more intuitive and accessible compared to the earlier email and form-based experiment.
Gap Between Communication and App Usage
“I read the email but then forgot to open the app later—it’s not a natural transition.”
The disconnect between receiving prompts via email and engaging with the app led to drop-offs in daily usage. Users often forgot to check in without integrated reminders or in-app prompts.
Gamification & Motivation
Point System Felt Intimidating
“The point system made it feel like a competition, which added pressure instead of motivation.”
Several testers reported that the points-based reward mechanism felt judgmental or stressful, rather than playful or encouraging. It created anxiety for some users who were falling behind.
Desire for Softer Motivational Cues
Users expressed a preference for emotionally supportive features—like kind nudges or personal encouragement—rather than numerical performance metrics.
Community Features & Emotional Resonance
Concept of Shared Activity Is Strong
“Knowing others are working on their goals too makes it feel more real.”
The idea of being able to view peers’ activities and reflections was appreciated. It helped build a subtle sense of accountability and shared momentum.
Lack of Usability in Community Features
“It’s a cool idea, but it didn’t really make me want to interact.”
While the community feature was conceptually strong, users found it clunky and not engaging in practice. The forum lacked clear structure or prompts to encourage meaningful interaction.
Final Design (Ongoing)
