Launching a Google product
Google Hire
Hire was a new Google Workplace product targeting the recruiting industry. The product’s goal was to streamline the recruitment process for hiring teams that use Google products for daily tasks and communications.
Challenges
Google acquired the external product Hire, which had an established brand and UI not aligned with Google Workspace. Hire was the first industry-specific product in Google Workspace and the first product targeting the recruiting field.
Insights
SMBs and budding entrepreneurs are already big fans of Google products to run their businesses. They love the ease of use and adoption by staff as their business grows. Also, the recruiting world as a whole looks to Google for best practices in hiring and finding talent.
Solutions
Using a culmination of UX and marketing research, I chose to focus on three key areas to create a holistic product experience: embracing Google's brand for familiarity, integrating Google Workplace tools for speed, and leveraging Google’s hiring reputation for validation.
Establish a familiar Google brand
01 BRANDING
I was responsible for all designs, messaging and creative directions.
The Google brand is very well established with many rules and guides to follow. Hire must reflect the Google brand and material design standards, yet be unique enough to stand on its own as a recognizable product.
At its core, Google Hire believes that jobs are equally important to employers and candidates. It’s an opportunity for growth, accomplishment and new experiences for everyone involved with SMBs and budding entrepreneurs. Google Hire is at the meeting place between employers and job seekers so our product logo implies collaboration and connection.
Add integrated capabilities
02 PRODUCT DESIGN
I redesigned key screens to our experience to Google material guidelines. I also explored new workflow integration possibilities.
Poor communication and inefficient processes are major pain points in recruiting. We created a seamless hiring process that integrates with Google Workspace tools to help recruiters communicate with teammates and candidates more effectively and hire the best talent faster.
“With Hire, post-interview feedback from hiring managers is submitted over 60% faster...”
Reduce app switching
Incorporating Google tools like Calendar and Tasks avoids app switching to view team schedules and personal tasks.
A more collaborative process
Embedding Google Docs speeds up the process of writing and approving job details for the entire team.
New icons and components contributed to the wider Google material system.
Position Hire as the industry leader
03 MARKETING DESIGN
I lead all Creative Direction and design efforts for our go to market team.
In marketing the product we not only focused on the seamless integrations with other familiar Google tools, but we also wanted to provide valuable tools and resources from Google and highlight our customer’s successes. We produced materials about Google's approach to hiring and hosted video seminars with hiring experts from within Google and across the industry.
Google’s hiring practice has long since placed it as a leader in the recruiting industry. Many companies large and small look to Google for insights and best practices.
The website provides product information for customers as well as case studies and resources for the entire recruiting industry.
Conclusion
and takeaway
The Hire product launched successfully in 2017 but was announced in 2019 to be shuttered. Although leadership originally wanted to target large businesses, our market research highlighted the great opportunities that small businesses offered. Unfortunately, due to shifts in Google Cloud directions, cost to shift focus to small businesses and major updates to the Google material UI to align with; it was determined too costly to revamp the Hire experience so the product was discontinued.
This was a great experience in reimagining a product to launch within a larger ecosystem. I enjoyed connecting research, ideas and capabilities across engineering, UX and marketing to produce a product that meets customer expectations.