Diagnosis of User Experience (UX) and Accessibility in Traditional Recruitment Tools: Foundations for the Future Implementation of Gamified Processes

Traditional personnel selection processes, based on printed tests and face-to-face interviews, present increasing challenges in terms of user experience (UX), usability, and accessibility. Elements such as candidate satisfaction, the learning curve required to understand and complete the processes, and the levels of frustration detected negatively impact fairness and effectiveness in skills assessment. This analysis represents the initial phase of a broader research project, whose ultimate goal is to develop gamified solutions grounded in a user-centered approach. In this initial stage, a qualitative study was conducted through in-depth interviews with six human resources specialists from different organizations, with the aim of identifying the limitations of conventional procedures and examining the perception of gamification as an improvement strategy. The findings indicate that conventional procedures result in a fragmented and unsatisfactory experience, imposing a high cognitive and emotional load on candidates. The specialists highlight persistent obstacles regarding clarity of instructions, limited feedback, unequal accessibility, and the lack of adaptability to diverse profiles. Likewise, they acknowledge the potential of game-based platforms to enhance motivation, reduce frustration, and provide more inclusive experiences. These findings underpin the design of a future quasi-experimental phase that will evaluate, using metrics such as the System Usability Scale (SUS), the comparative effectiveness of traditional versus gamified tools in selection processes. © 2025 IEEE.