Questions and answers

What is a Pod?

One link that replaces your PDF CV. It holds your verified identity, up to three short voice answers, a plain-English work timeline, your skills and any Vouches from people you've worked with. You own it, choose who sees it and can switch it off any time.

What does it cost?

Nothing. Creating, owning, sharing and applying with a Pod costs £0, always. There are no paid boosts or promoted candidates, and no candidate payouts.

How long does it take to build?

We've designed the guided first pass to take around 15 minutes. It saves after every step, so you can stop and come back. A short Pod is a perfectly good Pod.

Do I have to record my voice?

No. Every question is optional, and you can create a Pod and apply without recording anything. Answers are up to 60 seconds, audio only. Practise as often as you like; practice is never saved. You get up to 3 takes per question and choose which one to keep.

You can review the automatic transcript and captions, correct them and decide whether to share them.

What are the three questions?

The same for everyone: what work you've done that's relevant; a time you solved a practical problem or helped someone; and what you'd like an employer to know about how you work. Employers can add up to two of their own, and those are optional too.

What's a Vouch?

A former colleague or supervisor confirms, partly confirms or says they can't confirm one specific claim you've made. They choose whether it's shown, and their contact details stay private. It's evidence, not an endorsement from CV Pod, and you never need one to apply.

What does "Identity verified" mean?

We checked you are who you say you are, through an ID check or, for some overseas passports, a Trust Team review with a live video comparison. Employers see the badge, never your documents. It is not a right-to-work check, a qualification check or a rating, and you can apply while it's pending.

Will you ask my age or for a photo?

No. We never ask for your age, date of birth, graduation date or a profile photo. Dates in your timeline are optional, month and year only.

I have overseas qualifications. How do I describe them?

As they are. You can name the qualification, where you earned it and whether recognition in the UK is still underway. We never ask you to claim a local equivalent.

Do employers check my right to work through CV Pod?

No. The right-to-work field is optional and something you declare yourself. Employers must do their own legal check before you start work, and they can't filter people by it here.

When will I hear back?

Within five calendar days of applying. The clock starts when your application arrives, and you see the deadline and a live countdown.

What counts as an answer?

An interview invitation, or a rejection with a written reason. A "hold" can come with an update, but it isn't an answer and it doesn't pause the clock.

Who decides?

A named person at the employer, who confirms they made the decision after reviewing your application. There's no bulk reject, and CV Pod never uses AI to score, rank or judge anyone.

What can I see after I apply?

A timeline in UK time showing when your Pod was opened, which sections were viewed and which answers were played. Activity isn't a decision; it just tells you what happened. Employers can't see your applications elsewhere.

What if they miss the deadline?

Your application shows as overdue. After 48 hours it's recorded as a breach on their public reply record. If they answer later, it's marked late and the breach stays.

Can I withdraw, or what if the job closes?

Yes, you can withdraw any time. Neither withdrawing nor the job closing cancels the employer's duty to answer an application they've already received.

If I edit my Pod later, does the employer see the change?

No. Each application keeps the exact version you sent. Switching your Pod off stops new access but doesn't rewrite what you already sent.

Why can't I apply? It says the limit is reached.

Each job takes up to 20 applications so every one can be heard. When it's full, it stops taking new ones, and there's no waitlist.

What does a post cost?

Standard £99 for 30 days. Extended £149 for 45 days. Monthly plan £249 for three active 30-day posts at a time, with extra posts £59. Approved charities £49 for 30 days. All prices exclude VAT, which is shown before you pay.

Do I pay per applicant?

Never. You pay for the post, not per application, Pod view, listen or answer. There's no reply-promise deposit at launch.

How do I pay?

By card at checkout through Stripe, in GBP. Monthly-plan employers can pay by invoice, due within 14 calendar days; invoice-paid posts go live once payment clears.

What's your refund policy?

Cancel before publication for a full refund including VAT. No refund for a published post you close, fill or leave unfilled. If we remove a post through our error, we refund unused whole days pro rata. No refund if a post is removed for a policy breach or fraud.

What makes a job post acceptable?

A verified, named Hirer; a real, authorised vacancy; specific duties; clear essential requirements; location; hours; and a gross pay range. We block vague, fake or discriminatory posts, unpaid trial work and anything asking candidates for money.

Why can't I sort or rank applicants?

Applications appear oldest first and can't be reordered, so every applicant gets the same chance to be heard. You can add up to three private workflow tags, such as "Interview follow-up".

How are employers verified?

We check registered companies against Companies House, confirm your email domain with a one-time code and review the named Hirer. Organisations without a Companies House record can be reviewed manually and show "Employer details reviewed".

Can recruitment agencies post?

Yes, with the employer's recorded authority for that vacancy, naming both agency and employer. An agency can only submit someone's Pod with that person's explicit permission.

What does it show?

Three separate numbers: the share of applicants answered within 5 days, the share of decisions with a reason, and median reply time. They're never blended into a score.

How is it calculated?

Over a rolling 90 days, recalculated daily. Unanswered and withdrawn applications count in the on-time figure. Numbers appear after 5 eligible applications; before that it says "Not enough data".

Does a good record mean a good job?

No. It describes how an employer responds, not job quality, your suitability or the fairness of any one decision. Individual rejection reasons are never published.

Can an employer correct their record?

They can contest a factual error within 30 days. The figure stays visible marked "Under review", and any correction is kept in the public history.

Does CV Pod use AI?

We never use AI to score, rank, filter or judge anyone, and we never analyse voices, accents or faces. Transcripts are generated so you can read and correct them, never to assess you.

How do I spot a scam job?

Never send money to apply or get hired. A listing or a badge isn't a guarantee. Check the employer through their official website, and report anything suspicious from the job page.

How do I report or block someone?

Use Report or Block on any message, or Report on a rejection reason. Blocking stops messages but never hides your formal answer. We acknowledge reports within 1 business day.

Can I dispute a rejection reason?

Yes, if it's abusive, discriminatory, retaliatory, factually wrong or breaks our rules. The Trust Team can hide it and require a compliant replacement. They can't reverse the hiring decision.

Can I use a cloned or AI voice?

No. You confirm every recording is your own natural voice, made in CV Pod. Cloned, generated or altered audio isn't allowed, and file uploads aren't accepted.