ZipRecruiter® (NYSE: ZIP), a leading online employment marketplace, unveiled Be Seen First today, a new product that helps job seekers break through the “application black hole” and get their job application to the top of the resume pile.
Job seekers can now add a short note to their application detailing why they’re excited about the role and why they’re a great fit to get moved to the top of the employer’s applicant list.
For millions of people, job searching feels like hitting “submit” and hoping for the best. You apply, you wait, and you’re left wondering if anyone ever saw your name. The reality is that hiring has become increasingly automated, and many employers are inundated with hundreds of applicants for open positions, which means great candidates are often buried from the start.
Be Seen First is designed to change that.
“Something as simple as telling a veterinary clinic, ‘I’ve been in pet care for 5+ years, and I’m the person who remembers every dog’s favorite scratch spot. I’m local and could get started right away!’ can make all the difference,” said Megan Allen, Chief Product Officer at ZipRecruiter. “Those few words put your best foot forward and help an employer instantly see who you are. Be Seen First gives job seekers a way to rise to the top instead of starting at the bottom of the pile.”
Some of the most important things about a candidate—communication, effort, enthusiasm—are hard to show in a traditional application. Be Seen First gives job seekers a way to bring those qualities to life. People who use Be Seen First are nearly 2x more likely to start a conversation with an employer1, turning one-way applications into real conversations and opportunities.
For employers, Be Seen First helps cut through overwhelming application volume by prioritizing candidates who are not only qualified but genuinely interested in the role. A dedicated dashboard shows these high-intent applicants first, helping recruiters screen and hire faster. Employers hear directly from candidates, in their own words, why they’re excited about the role, adding valuable context beyond a resume.
“In a sea of applications, a short, optional note becomes a powerful signal of intent, communication skills, and fit,” said Scott Steinberg, VP of Job Seeker Product at ZipRecruiter. “Hiring teams want to move quickly from scanning applications to having real conversations, and they’re eager to prioritize candidates who take extra effort to show their enthusiasm.”
How Be Seen First Works:
- Eligible jobs will now display a purple Be Seen First badge
- After applying to one of these jobs, job seekers can tell the employer why they’re interested
- Applications with these personalized messages are then boosted to the top of the employer’s list
Be Seen First is now available on tens of thousands of job listings across ZipRecruiter. For more details on how this changes the game for job seekers, read our blog post. To learn more about the new product, visit ZipRecruiter.com/be-seen-first.
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