HRTech Interview with Jen Ringel SVP of Product Management at ZipRecruiter

Welcome to HRTech Cube, Jen! To kick things off, can you please tell us a bit about your professional journey and what led you to your current role at ZipRecruiter?
My career has been driven by a passion for creating products that genuinely enhance people’s lives. After college, I embarked on a journey that blended product management, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

I co-founded and served as CEO of MomAssembly, an online platform dedicated to educating new parents. This experience deepened my appreciation for agile development and user-centric design. Prior to that, I spent 7 years at MTV, leading digital content and film development projects that emphasized innovation and audience engagement.

Joining ZipRecruiter in 2015 was a natural progression. The company’s mission to actively connect people to their next great opportunity resonated deeply with me. As SVP of Product Management, I lead a talented team focused on enhancing the experience for our job seekers, SMBs, and enterprise customers. It’s incredibly fulfilling to contribute to a platform that has become a leading online employment marketplace in the US.

What is ZipRecruiter’s new scheduling tool, and what inspired the team to develop this product?
Our new scheduling tool is designed to streamline one of the most inefficient aspects of the hiring process: coordinating interviews. It allows employers to share their availability directly with candidates, enabling candidates to book interviews at their convenience without the usual back-and-forth communication.

The inspiration came from listening to our users. Recruiters often expressed frustration over the time-consuming nature of scheduling, while candidates highlighted delays as a source of disengagement. We saw an opportunity to leverage technology to simplify this process, making it more efficient and user-friendly for both parties.

Scheduling has long been a pain point in the hiring process. Why is it such a challenge, and how does your new tool aim to solve it?
Scheduling sounds simple, but in reality, it’s often clunky and time-consuming. You’re trying to align calendars, coordinate logistics, send confirmations, and follow up—often across multiple channels. All that back-and-forth pulls time away from what matters most: having meaningful conversations that lead to great hires.

Our tool simplifies the process. Employers can message candidates, schedule interviews, and send automated reminders—all in one place. It helps hiring managers spend less time coordinating and more time connecting.

How does the scheduling feature reduce candidate no-shows and help employers save time during the hiring process?
Empowering candidates to choose their interview times fosters a sense of ownership and commitment, which naturally leads to higher attendance rates. Additionally, automated confirmations and reminders keep both parties informed and engaged, further reducing the likelihood of no-shows.

For employers, automating the scheduling process frees up valuable time that would otherwise be spent on administrative tasks. This efficiency allows recruiters to focus on evaluating candidates and making informed hiring decisions, ultimately shortening the time-to-hire.

Can you walk us through how the tool works within the ZipRecruiter platform? Does it integrate seamlessly with other features?
Absolutely. It’s fully integrated into our existing hiring workflow. Here’s how it works:

1. Message: Once an employer identifies a promising candidate, they can send a message instantly through our platform.
2. Schedule: The employer selects their availability and sends a scheduling link. The candidate chooses a time that works for them—whether it’s for a phone call, video chat, or in-person meeting.
3. Hire: Our platform handles the rest—calendar invites, automated reminders, and confirmations—to help keep things on track and reduce friction.

It’s a natural extension of how hiring teams already use ZipRecruiter, and it’s designed to be intuitive right out of the gate.

In what ways does this new scheduling tool make the hiring process more accessible and efficient for both employers and job seekers?
For employers, the scheduling tool eliminates one of the biggest time drains in hiring. It cuts out the tedious logistics and replaces it with a fast, streamlined process that keeps interviews moving and top candidates engaged.

For job seekers, it makes it easy to take the next step. They can book interviews directly from their phone, choose times that work for them, and feel more in control of the process. It’s all about lowering barriers and making the experience more human and responsive.

On a personal note, what strategies do you follow when building products that truly solve user pain points?
It always starts with listening. We regularly connect with users—recruiters, hiring managers, and job seekers—to understand not just what they’re doing, but why certain parts of the process are frustrating or slow. That insight helps us design smarter solutions.

I also believe in building lean and iterating fast. We test early, measure impact, and refine quickly. And we always ask ourselves: is this making life easier for our users? If the answer isn’t a clear yes, we go back to the drawing board.

Lastly, any advice you’d like to share with hiring professionals navigating a fast-changing recruitment landscape—and any final thoughts on what’s ahead for ZipRecruiter?
Adaptability is crucial in today’s dynamic recruitment environment. Embracing technological advancements and being open to innovative solutions can significantly enhance the hiring process. Prioritizing candidate experience and leveraging tools that streamline operations will position hiring professionals for success.

At ZipRecruiter, we’re committed to continuous innovation to meet the evolving needs of both employers and job seekers. Our focus remains on developing intelligent, user-centric solutions that simplify hiring and empower individuals to find meaningful employment opportunities. Whether it’s through smarter automation, seamless communication, or faster scheduling, our goal is to connect people with opportunity in the most human way possible. We’re just getting started.