The review process
When a developer opts in to your job, you receive a candidate brief to review. This is your chance to evaluate fit before committing to a conversation.
Where to review
Candidate briefs appear in your dashboard:
- Go to Dashboard
- Click the job with new matches
- Navigate to the Review tab
- See pending candidate briefs
You may also receive email notifications when new candidates are ready for review.
Reviewing a candidate brief
Each brief contains:
Profile information
- Name: The developer's name
- Photo: Their profile picture
- Current role: Job title and company
- Location: Where they are based
- Experience level: Junior, mid, senior, etc.
Tech stack match
- Technologies they know
- How skills align with your requirements
- Highlighted relevant experience
Screening answers
- Their responses to your screening questions
- Read carefully - this is information they provided specifically for your role
Engagement signals
- Summary of their activity and interests
- Career direction indicators
- Not raw data, but relevant context
Making a decision
For each candidate, you have two options:
Approve
Click Approve if you want to meet them:
- We will make an email introduction
- Both parties receive each other's contact info
- You schedule the next step (call, interview, etc.)
Pass
Click Pass if they are not a fit:
- Nothing happens
- The candidate is not notified of rejection
- You can optionally provide feedback (helps us improve)
You control who gets introduced. Only approved candidates hear from you.
Tips for effective review
Check must-haves first
Start with your non-negotiables:
- Work authorization (if you asked)
- Required experience level
- Critical technical skills
- Availability timeline
If any are missing, pass quickly.
Read screening answers
These tell you what profiles do not:
- Are their answers thoughtful?
- Do they understand the role?
- Did they put effort into responding?
Consider potential, not just experience
Look for:
- Relevant learning signals (interested in your stack)
- Growth trajectory
- Career direction alignment
Sometimes a motivated learner beats an experienced but disengaged candidate.
Be decisive
- Do not let candidates sit unreviewed
- Active candidates may lose interest
- Aim to review within 24-48 hours
Batch review
If you have multiple candidates:
- Review in one session when possible
- Compare candidates against each other
- Approve your top choices
- Pass on the rest
Feedback on passed candidates
When you pass, you can optionally share why:
- "Not enough experience with X"
- "Looking for different seniority"
- "Location does not work"
This feedback helps us improve future matches. It is not shared with the candidate.
After approval
See After you approve a candidate for what happens next.
Troubleshooting
No candidates to review?
- Check that your job is live and active
- See Not seeing matches
Cannot approve candidates?
- Check your payment status
- Ensure you have available seats on your plan