Dec 29, 20197 min read

ZINC- Redefining The Future of Hiring | Review

Zinc is a hiring software on blockchain technology designed to make recruitment and interview process open-source, verifying candidate information on a ledger and storing it safely in a distributed network.

What is Zinc?

Zinc claims to simplify, accelerate and reduce the cost of hiring for both workers and recruiters. Recruiters can then access the information without having to collect data such as references each time an application is submitted.

Zinc redefines the whole concept of reference checking while offering new formulas for referencing, unlocking new data and opening up new insights. Propelling referencing from a painful process to most impressive. Zinc’s scalable technology facilitates a seamless experience for both the candidates and the workers.

History

Luke, one of the founders of Zinc was in the recruitment field for a decade. Zinc says that the whole recruitment field is run by inefficiency, prejudice and a lack of transparency. Luke saw that the main problem in the recruitment field is in the issues of recruiting- referencing. The whole system was plagued with poor candidate experiences, bias, data wastage, and inefficient processes.

“With an estimated two million technology roles available at any time, and an increasing shift towards the gig economy, there is a dire need to speed things up. Referencing used to be the gold standard for recruiters but due to significant inefficiencies in the process, it has rapidly fallen out of favour. Luke Shipley Co-founder of Zinc

Luke believed that a fairer, transparent process was possible in the recruitment field. Something which is quick, easy and productive for every party. A process that enables candidates to own their data and companies get the in-depth, unbiased insight they are needed when hiring a candidate.

“Blockchain-verified credentials and records open up possibilities for a whole new level of automation and trust in the hiring process,” Shipley added. Zinc aspires to become the industry standard for transparent and authenticated proof of work reputation and identities.” Luke Shipley Co-founder of Zinc

TEAM MEMBERS OF ZINC

Luke Shipley: Co-founder
Charlotte Hall: Co-founder
Peter Brooke: Co-founder
Helen Gilroy-Powell: Content Lead
Lenard Pratt: Software Developer
Sanjeev Ponnapula: Tech Lead

Team members of Zinc

Beginning of 2019, Zinc team defined on their vision:

Vision

Zinc will become the go-to formula for referencing – with or without our tools.
Zinc will create the fabric for the future of sustainable work data.
Defining new forms of referencing, creating an industry standard for applicant referencing.
Shift behaviors in referencing, opening up new information to extract.

Why

Helping shape the future of work, a future that cares about privacy.
Initiating interviewing that respects individuals’ time & work data.
Spread widespread referencing knowledge, leading to safer, more productive practice for all.

Luke Shipley adds:

“We see significant opportunity to bring credibility and ease back to this important work proof by using new technologies to remove existing pain points and create a seamless and more effective hiring processes.”

How Does Zinc Work?

Zinc simplifies and reduces the cost of the hiring process by open sourcing the entire interview process.

Information on the candidate is verified on the blockchain while allowing workers to securely store it in a distributed network. It is followed by recruiters requesting access to a candidate’s full and verified work history, aptitude and attitude reports on day one of the hiring journey, removing the need for tests and references to be retaken and collected time and time again.

From there, recruiters can request access to a candidate’s full and verified work history, aptitude and attitude reports on day one of the hiring journey. It can also remove the need for tests and references to be retaken and collected time and time again.

How Zinc Can Replace Traditional Background Checking?

A traditional approach to a candidate’s background checking can be expensive, repetitive and inaccurate, there is no better way to measure a candidate’s potential than through verified references.

Blockchain embedded within makes the whole system secure, reliable data storage and a perfect way to ensure verified workers’ qualifications. With the trust, reliability, and credibility of a spiraling recruitment process, the application of blockchain technology in referencing can remove many of the inefficiencies associated with hiring.

A First of Its Kind Automated Referencing

A first of its kind, Zinc’s automated referencing, feedback and assessment tool allows recruiters to collect information needed for a candidate with a single click. Recruiters can have access to this information starting from day one of the hiring journey, before interviewing even begins.

It is estimated that a technical role in the UK takes an average of 12 weeks to fill. By eliminating the need to repeat certain tasks such as psychometric tests, references and team fit analysis Zinc can accelerate and simplify the whole process.

With the increasing shift towards the gig economy and an estimated 2 million technology roles available at any time, there is a constant need to speed things up. Zinc ‘open sources’ the whole recruitment process by collating and securely storing a candidate’s full work history, aptitude and attitude, inclusive of softer checks such as psychometric tests.

A Recruiters Guide To Referencing a Candidate With Zinc

Zinc is a Web3 based work platform that offers tools to collect references and proof of any form of work (courses, workshops, certificates). With blockchain technology, one can prove the information and use it over and over throughout the rest of their career. Using a distributed database one can truly control & own information.

Sign-up to https://zinc.work/: One can signup via; email and password, LinkedIn or MetaMask. A LinkedIn account is recommended to attach any existing current professional reputation to Zinc. If another sign-up method is chosen one can connect their LinkedIn from their account page once signed up anyway.

Request reference: Sign-in and navigate to the recruit tab on the left menu bar. Click the ‘request reference’ button on the top right of the page. Complete the form, entering the candidates’ names, email, the number of references you’d like back and a note to them. Hitting submit will cost you 10 ZINC tokens per reference.
Receive reference: One will be notified by email when the references are ready and can be viewed in a unique shareable link. The necessary messages will be passed onto the candidate and the referee will do the chasing. The referee will be incentivized to respond quickly and authenticate with LinkedIn. In the end, Zinc will notify if there is any date mismatch too.

A Workers Guide To Collecting A Reference With Zinc

Check out the official video on the workers’ guide to collecting a reference with Zinc

Signing up to https://zinc.work/: One can sign-up via; email password, LinkedIn or MetaMask. LinkedIn is recommended to attach any existing professional reputation to Zinc. If one chooses another sign-up method, one can connect their LinkedIn from their account page once signed up anyway.
Request reference: One will land upon the profile page upon login. Click the ‘request reference’ button on the top right of your page. Complete the form, entering your referee name, email and a note to them. Hitting submit will cost 10 ZINC tokens. One needs to prompt on their referee to respond and once they do, they will see the reference appear on their profile. The profile can be set to public or private if users don’t want anyone to view their data.

Zinc Smart Contracts

Zinc contracts are inspired by the ENS architecture where upgradability is left for the user to decide. Users are free not to upgrade and still use the system. Every user will have an Identity Contract which only they control and can revoke permissions of other apps as they wish.

Usually, dApp contracts can ask the user for permission to interact with their identity contract and the user allows for certain permissions. The dApp contract’s address gets added to the users Identity Contract. Interaction among contracts is encouraged in this framework with well-defined behaviors within the contracts which can be audited by the community.

Personal Identity Management

Zinc Work is based on the models of ERC-725, ERC-1056, and ERC-1078 . It has the potential to take decentralized identity mainstream as do leading blockchain companies who tested it out.

Built-in standardized systems, Zinc creates an individual identity contract and a framework for decentralized logins. Zinc strives for a self-sovereign identity vision and we hope to make this accessible to everyone.

Individual contracts will be deployed for every user and will use a signed message relayed to save users any cost. Work proofs from Zinc will be updated in the contract if users choose to attach them to their identity and then any Web3 application can read/write to the contract and ask for proofs without the real data ever being shared.

Latest Updates

ZINC Partners With Comeet ATS

“Comeet’s collaborative values align with our perspective on hiring. Zinc’s technology empowers candidates and hiring teams with data. We don’t want referencing to continue to be this part of the process which happens in isolation. Our integration can help you rejuvenate your referencing through clean transparent data to everybody in the hiring team.” Luke Shipley, CEO, Zinc

Zinc Joins Forces With SmartRecruiters

“We’re very excited to onboard Zinc to the SmartRecruiters Marketplace. For decades, there’s been little meaningful disruption in the background and reference check business. Putting personal identity on a blockchain brings control back to the consumer. Not only does it flip the model on its head, but it’s also more compliant with modern privacy regulations.” Roy Baladi, Head of Communications, SmartRecruiters

Zinc Launches A New Partnership With Teamtailor

Zinc’s Technical Lead, Sanjeev Ponnapula says, “The functionality of Teamtailor has allowed us to produce our best integration yet. Pairing Teamtailor with Zinc means recruiters can have a tailored, flexible referencing solution as Zinc’s integration fits around your requirements”.

Conclusion

Zinc strives to empower workers. For the first time, workers in tech sectors can have absolute ownership and control of their work reputation and identity, and how they choose to share that information. Using their validated digital work passport, workers can be matched more accurately based on their complete profile, before the interview even begins.

It is estimated that a typical worker in the technology sector receives around 50 unwanted approaches weekly through popular recruitment platforms. There is also frustration around the process of repetitive tests and assessments. A survey conducted by Zinc found that 79 percent of respondents believed they would secure more interviews if references were shared earlier in the recruitment process.

Zinc envisions to setup everyone with blockchain identities so everyone can step into the world of Web3. It’s the mission of Zinc platform to empower workers to take back control and ownership of their work reputation and identity.

For more information check out the following official links on Zinc

Website: https://zinc.work Twitter: https://twitter.com/zinc_work Telegram: https://t.me/zinc_work Medium: https://medium.com/zinc_work Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/zinc_work/

#ERC1087 #ERC725 #zinc #SmartContract #ERC1056 #HRM #humanresource #ENSarchitecture