System Architecture & Overview

1. Executive Summary

The JPP (Job Portal Platform) is a comprehensive recruitment and professional networking solution. It is designed to bridge the gap between job seekers, employers, and recruitment agents through a modern, scalable, and secure digital ecosystem. Beyond traditional job board features, it integrates social networking capabilities to foster professional connections.

2. Target Customers

The platform serves three primary distinct user personas:

1. Job Seekers: Individuals looking for employment opportunities, wishing to showcase their professional profile, and networking with peers.
2. Employers: Companies or organizations seeking to hire talent, post job vacancies, and manage the recruitment lifecycle.
3. Agents: Recruitment agencies or authorized middlemen who facilitate the hiring process between employers and job seekers.

3. Core Use Cases

For Job Seekers

• Profile Management: Create and maintain a comprehensive professional profile (resume, skills, experience).
• Job Discovery: Search and filter job vacancies based on various criteria.
• Application Tracking: Apply for jobs and track the status of applications.
• Social Interaction: Create posts, comment on industry updates, and network with other professionals.
• Interview Management: View and manage scheduled interviews.

For Employers

• Vacancy Management: Create, update, and manage job postings.
• Candidate Management: Review applications, shortlist candidates, and manage the hiring pipeline.
• Interview Scheduling: Schedule and conduct interviews with candidates.
• Organization Profile: Manage company branding and information.

For Agents

• Talent Pool Management: Manage a database of candidates.
• Recruitment Facilitation: Act as an intermediary for specific job openings or employers.
• Document Management: Handle necessary compliance and recruitment documents.

4. System Architecture

The system follows a modern 3-Tier Architecture with a decoupled frontend and backend, leveraging cloud services for scalability and security.

4.1. High-Level Diagram

4.2. Component Description

Frontend (User Interface)

• Framework: Next.js (React) with TypeScript.
• Styling: SASS and Bootstrap 5.
• State Management & Data Fetching: SWR / Axios.
• Key Features: Server-Side Rendering (SSR) for SEO, Responsive Design, Rich Text Editing (Draft.js).

Backend (API Layer)

• Framework: Spring Boot 2.5.4 (Java 11).
• Build Tool: Gradle.
• Security: Spring Security 5.5 (OAuth2 Resource Server with JWT).
• API Documentation: OpenAPI / Swagger UI.
• Key Modules:
  • user: User profile core.
  • vacancy: Job posting management.
  • interview: Interview scheduling logic.
  • post: Social feed management.

Data Persistence

• Database: MySQL 8.0.
• ORM: Spring Data JPA with Hibernate.
• Querying: QueryDSL for complex type-safe queries.
• Schema Management: hibernate.ddl-auto (currently set to update).

Cloud & Infrastructure (AWS)

• Authentication: AWS Cognito (User Pools & Identity Pools) for secure identity management.
• Storage: AWS S3 for storing user resumes, profile pictures, and post media.
• Hosting: Dockerized containers (Dockerfile present for both stack components).

5. Security Design

• Authentication: Delegated to AWS Cognito. The frontend authenticates directly with Cognito to receive a JWT (JSON Web Token).
• Authorization: The Spring Boot backend acts as an OAuth2 Resource Server. It validates the JWT signature against Cognito's keys (JWK) and enforces role-based access control (RBAC) on API endpoints.
• Data Protection: HTTPS for data in transit; secure AWS storage for sensitive documents.

6. Development & Deployment

• Containerization: Both Frontend and Backend are containerized using Docker and orchestrated via docker-compose.yml for local development.
• CI/CD: Gradle for backend builds; Yarn for frontend builds.
• Configuration: Externalized configuration via application.yml and environment variables, supporting multiple profiles (dev, prod, local).