Talent has no limits

When it comes to careers sites, speed might get you on the grid—but accessibility gets you across the finish line.

Welcome to Week 2 of the Happydance Careers Site Grand Prix, where the spotlight shifts from milliseconds to meaningful inclusion. This week’s showdown? The Accessibility GP—our celebration of candidate experiences that work for everyone, everywhere, every time.

Why accessibility matters

In F1, no two drivers are the same. The same goes for your candidates.

Not everyone navigates a careers site the same way—so why design a careers site that only works for some? From screen-reader users to candidates with mobility, cognitive, or visual impairments, accessibility ensures every applicant can confidently engage, explore, and apply.

And it’s not just ethical—it’s essential.

1 in 6 people globally live with a disability.
An inaccessible experience can mean a missed opportunity—for the candidate and the organization.
Accessibility drives retention, reputation, and results.

PageSpeed insights & core web vitals

This week, we’re taking a good look at the fundamentals. Every site on the grid has been evaluated using Google PageSpeed Insights—a high-precision diagnostics tool that goes under the hood to assess:

Contrast ratios for readability
Tap target sizing for mobile navigation
Alt text and ARIA attributes for assistive tech
Keyboard navigation support
Semantic HTML structure for clarity and flow

These aren’t just checkboxes—they’re access lanes to opportunity.

Who’s setting the pace?

Some teams are already leading the pack. Career sites that:

Provide clear labels and skip links
Keep mobile layouts stable (no jittery shifts mid-scroll)
Load fast without breaking accessibility rules
Offer error messages that help
Use headings and ARIA roles to organize content

Careers sites that are already meeting the above points aren’t just scoring points in our Accessibility GP; they’re building a hiring experience worthy of the world’s top talent.

Even high-performing careers sites can fall short on accessibility if the foundations aren’t in place. Common issues flagged by PageSpeed Insights include:

Low contrast text that’s hard to read in certain lighting or for users with visual impairments
Missing alt attributes that make images invisible to screen readers
Buttons and links placed too close together, making mobile navigation tricky
Interactive elements that can’t be accessed by keyboard
Forms without clear error messages, leaving candidates guessing

These might seem minor, but to a job seeker relying on assistive technology—or navigating on a small screen—they can be major roadblocks. And they’re exactly the kind of issues we’re racing to eliminate during the Accessibility GP.

Every candidate counts

Accessibility isn’t a bonus round. The best teams in real life, not just in the Careers Site Grand Prix, know that every candidate deserves a seamless experience—regardless of ability, device, or circumstance.

This week’s GP isn’t just a race, it’s a reminder: Great performance is inclusive performance.

Want help optimizing accessibility on your careers site? Your Happydance “Race Engineer” (aka your CSM) has the pit crew tips to get you podium-ready. Or get in touch with us at https://www.happydance.love/contact-us/