Platform
Android
Duration
8 weeks
About Apna
Apna.co is an online job search platform that serves as a marketplace connecting professionals across India. The platform caters to a diverse range of professionals, from blue-collar workers to white-collar executives, offering a centralized hub for job seekers and employers alike.
🚀 Apna has undergone a significant evolution as a product…
…with its growth marked by a strategic emphasis on community-building. Initially conceived as a job marketplace, Apna quickly recognized the value of fostering a sense of belonging and connection among its users. This realization led to the development of apnaCommunity, a digital space where professionals could engage, share insights, and support each other in their career journeys. The integration of community into the platform helped it transform into more than just a job search tool; it has become a thriving ecosystem where users can network, seek advice, and access resources tailored to their professional aspirations.
The big questions…
Are these job seekers interested in building a professional network?
What motivates them to join and actively use a professional network?
What are their expectations from such a network?
How can we foster a sense of community and support among our users?
Our initial hypothesis was grounded in the assumption that…
…many of the blue and grey collar workforce in India might not be familiar with the concept of a structured job referral flow.
Are these job seekers interested in building a professional network?
We conducted user interviews to get insights and divided them into different groups based on:
where they were in their job journey (looking for jobs or already applying),
how long they've been employed (more than 3 months),
the type of jobs they were interested in (blue and grey-collar), and
their experience level (freshers or experienced).
65%
🚀 users actively search for job referrals offline
~80%
😥 users face difficulties in obtaining them
50%
🔎 struggle to find the right connections
41%
💬 users need help deciding on the right job
Problems Identified in the Offline Flow
As we delved into the offline referral process, we found some issues which led to them missing out on wider job opportunities.
Relying on personal connections and f-2-f communication
Depends on the user's networking ability and relationship building
Requires confidence to ask for referrals
Dependency on employee willingness and ability
We built a 'network-first' job referral flow. Why?
We realized what really worked for our users was being able to tap into their own networks when seeking job referrals. Because our users felt way more comfortable approaching people they had some connection with, whether through work or personal circles. And you know what? Users responded incredibly positively to this approach. It just felt right for them.
If I have to take one thing away from this experience…
Overall, the job referral feature aims to simplify the process of finding job referrals and build a community of professionals who can help each other find the right job. And boy, did we see some super results:
