Next Role Explorer: A tool to help learners explore career possibilities on LinkedIn Learning

This internship project was completed during the Summer of 2024 with the LinkedIn Learning team, where I worked closely with the product manager and an engineer. The initial objective was to enhance the current Next Role Explorer experience. However, due to a shift in product strategy, the project was postponed. As a result, the focus pivoted to developing a vision for what the future experience could look like.

What is LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is an online educational platform that offers a vast library of video courses covering a wide range of topics, primarily focused on professional development, business, technology, and creative skills.

Design Deliverables

Created two designs: one that refines the current experience through iteration, and another that presents a long-term vision for the project’s future direction.

Team

Product Manager, Engineer

Project Highlight

Motion and visual design
Product thinking
Adaptability to strategic shift

BACKGROUND

What is the current experience?

Next Role Explorer is a MVP launched in 2024 with a strong reception from the customers. It leverages LinkedIn's transition data to guide learners on potential next steps in their career paths.

Why this feature?

Help learners explore possibilities with their career and decide on a goal

According to previous research, learners with career goals set have 4X more engagement!

What are the problems?

Problem #1

The current experience doesn’t allow learners to explore roles that have different functions.

The current experience doesn’t allow learners to explore roles that have different functions.

The current experience doesn’t allow learners to explore roles that have different functions.

"What if I hate what I currently do and want to change job functions?"

"What if I hate what I currently do and want to change job functions?"

"What if I hate what I currently do and want to change job functions?"

Problem #2

Learners can only explore the next role.

Learners can only explore the next role.

Learners can only explore the next role.

"What if I want to visualize my entire career path?"

"What if I want to visualize my entire career path?"

"What if I want to visualize my entire career path?"

P0 Design

Let's walkthrough the design with the story of Arnold.

Arnold

Software Engineer at Flexis

“I would like to explore my future career path and potentially try something different. However, I am not sure what’s out there and how I can be a good fit.”

Arnold can explore promotions, similar roles, or career pivots, allowing him to broaden his career options.

He clicks into a direct promotion - senior software engineer

He can keep exploring what's beyond senior software engineer

👀 Visual hint of keep exploring

A career path is generated as he continues exploring, allowing him to revisit any previously explored positions.

vision

Moving forward, the feature will be combined with the AI coach to make it more personalized for learners. Let's see what the experience is like with the story of Amala.

Amala

Software Engineer at Freshing

“I am not satisfied with my current role. I would like to transition to roles that are less technical. However, I am not sure what’s out there and how I can be a good fit.”

By default, Amala is able to see the whole career ladder of her role

Clicking on the arrow to view more roles down the career ladder

If she has a specific role in mind, she can directly search for it, and the entire career ladder will be updated accordingly.

If she's interested in a career pivot but isn't sure what options are available, it's the perfect time for the AI coach to step in.

She thinks the recommended roles are too technical, so she tells the coach to come up with less technical ones.

Project manager is something she is interested in, and she can further ask the coach to analyze fit for her

It helped her identify a new role to transition into, and now she's set it as her new goal, ready to make it happen!

For more details and design process, please reach out to me via email wenqingyin99@gmail or LinkedIn. Thanks ❤️