Pehel — Career Sampler for Indian Teenagers
Project Pehel | UX Research + Product Design | 2025–2026
Designer: Tanya Singh | UX Designer
| Product | TeenWork (Career Sampler App) |
|---|---|
| Timeline | Sept 2025 – Jan 2026 |
| My Role | End-to-end UX Designer — research, synthesis, ideation, flows, and design |
| Audience | Indian teenagers aged 13–22 (primary), Parents (secondary) |
| Platform | Mobile App |
TeenWork is an app that connects Indian teenagers with the right career opportunities, bridges the gap between academics and the working world, and helps them gain practical experience, develop essential skills, and make informed career choices — all at an early age.
A safe, low-risk way for teenagers to explore careers before committing.
Teenagers in India are curious about careers, but they almost always skip early work experience. Why? A mix of academic pressure, unclear job listings, low confidence, and parents who worry about safety and family reputation.
Existing platforms like LinkedIn, Naukri, and Indeed were built for adults. They feel overwhelming, irrelevant, and risky for a 16-year-old who just wants to try something new.
Overall Problem Statement
Teenagers want to explore careers early, but academic pressure, lack of guidance, and parental concerns prevent them from safely and confidently gaining real-world exposure.
The reason for that
Career exploration is treated as a risk or a distraction rather than a guided learning experience — and there is no clear, age-appropriate way for teens to try careers without affecting studies or triggering parental fear.
| Problem | Description |
|---|---|
| Lack of clear career awareness and guidance | Teens consistently lack understanding of career paths, required skills, and entry points. No structured guidance or mentorship exists. |
| No trusted pathway for early work exploration | Teens want to explore work meaningfully but don't have a safe, age-appropriate, and reliable system to start. |
| Strong parental and socio-cultural pressure | Family expectations, fear of judgment, safety concerns, and dignity strongly influence and restrict teens' choices. |
| Low confidence and fear of failure | Teens feel underprepared, skeptical, and unsure whether opportunities are worth the risk. |
| Missing mentorship, social proof, and relatable role models | Teens rely on Google or relatives. They lack exposure to real, relatable success stories and peer validation. |
| Poor skill-readiness and application support | Confusing job descriptions, unclear requirements, and no preparation guidance discourage participation. |