Summary
Join the moderator, Kayla Farrell (Sr User Researcher), as she runs a Q&A session with Chelsey Glasson (Staff User Researcher), Sean Fitzell (User Research Manager), and Jared LeClerc (Sr User Researcher), as they discuss life as a user researcher at Compass.
Key Insights
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The research team at Compass has grown significantly from three to around 15 members, indicating a growing interest in user research within the organization.
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Initial research work at Compass was more tactical, but it has evolved to include foundational research to better understand agent workflows.
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Chelsea Glassen transitioned from larger tech companies to Compass seeking more focused research opportunities with less overhead.
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Jared highlighted the complexity of the home buying process and the need for better tools to streamline it for agents.
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Each team member’s diverse background contributes to a collaborative atmosphere that enhances research quality and insights.
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Remote onboarding presented unique challenges, but was manageable with team support and communication.
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The entrepreneurial nature of Compass agents was noted as a unique aspect of the real estate industry that is worth exploring in research.
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Understanding regional differences in real estate practices is crucial for developing effective tools and systems.
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Management roles at Compass emerged organically as team members naturally took on responsibilities, reflecting their evolving skills.
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Continued development of internal research tools is anticipated to improve efficiency and collaboration.
Notable Quotes
"When I first started, there were just three of us... now we're up to 15 or 16 folks right now."
"At larger companies, I felt like I spent more time navigating politics than doing research."
"Being a manager is really, really hard. A lot of the work is behind the scenes."
"There's a healthy amount of collaboration, and I'm really looking forward to our unique backgrounds coming together."
"The home buying and selling processes are really complex and disjointed."
"I didn't think about individual agents as businesses, but they are business owners."
"Even two years in, I’m aware that I’m not going to learn everything in this space."
"I'm excited about what we can do as we start to scale and have more support from the organization."
"The entrepreneurial nature of Compass agents captures my excitement in this area."
"I hope to transfer some of my skills from Microsoft, but also gain new research strengths here at Compass."
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