Smart candidate filters · Upwork · Talent Marketplace

Filters, built from the brief.

At Upwork’s Talent Marketplace, recruiters rebuilt filters from requirements already written in the job description. I proposed starting the search from that description and built a prototype around it. Another team took it forward.

Senior Product Designer·Concept and prototype

Context

A starting point recruiters could adjust.

I designed the suggestions as a starting point. The filters stayed visible and removable. Recruiters could choose a preset or adjust the setup using the existing search controls.

The same idea extended to candidate review. I designed groups around specialist focus and placed actions on each group. Recruiters could browse individual profiles or act on a group.

The job description supplies the starting filters. The recruiter can adjust the search.

Prototype

From requirements to candidate groups.

The prototype connects search setup with candidate review. It fits into the existing search.

01 · Adaptive filters

Start with suggested filters.

A suggested filter set starts from the job description. Presets change the search priorities. Recruiters can edit individual filters.

02 · Smart grouping

Scan by specialist focus.

Smart picks groups candidates by skills and specialisation. Each group has a name and description, so recruiters can see which kind of talent it contains.

03 · Bulk actions

Act on a group.

Invite to job lets recruiters invite a selected group. Find more like these extends the search from that group.

Upwork talent-search prototype for a Shopify e-commerce job. Filters drawn from the job description are applied across the top of the page. A Smart filters panel offers three presets: Skilled candidates, Affordable experienced talent, Top tier talent. Candidate results follow below.

In the prototype, suggested filters share the controls used for manual search. Recruiters can inspect and remove them before reviewing candidates.

Smart picks keeps individual profiles available alongside the groups. Recruiters can choose between reviewing a profile and acting on a group.

Outcome

In the pilot, recruiters reached relevant candidates in 30% less time. Time-to-hire fell by 12%. Another team accepted the prototype for further work.

The job description already held the search brief. My prototype made it the starting point.

The full case study

Go behind the decisions.

Continue with the portfolio password to read the full case study.