ZipRecruiter For Employers Free Trial
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Kate Richardson
11 minute read • Jan 30, 2025
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According to SHRM the average cost to hire an employee is $4,700. However, those costs can be even higher for some roles – this makes finding the right candidate even more important! ZipRecruiter, a leading job posting marketplace can help with that (and you can even start with a ZipRecruiter free trial).
Powered by AI-driven smart matching technology, the company actively connects millions of all-sized businesses and job seekers. With just one click, your listings get sent to 100+ job sites to match with the right candidates. You can then manage and rate them within an admin dashboard.
What Is ZipRecruiter?
The hiring process can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re relying on random job posting sites to help you out. This makes the process of finding employees feel futile. The internet is a vast place filled with hundreds (maybe even thousands) of job boards and posting to each one is nearly impossible—before ZipRecruiter came along, that is.
ZipRecruiter, based in Santa Monica, CA, is an upgraded version of the typical online job board. It goes above and beyond simply publishing a job post. When you publish a new opening with ZipRecruiter, the site sends a notification to matching candidates across 100+ job sites, encouraging them to apply quickly. Four out of five employers who post a job on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day.
Is ZipRecruiter Free?
Although ZipRecruiter isn’t free, the company does offer a four-day free trial, so you can check it out before committing. Here’s how it works: You sign up for the free trial, post a job opening, review your candidates (via an employer portal), and hire! It’s that easy.
Ready to get started? Follow the step-by-step guide below.
The Smartest Way to Hire: How to Sign Up for ZipRecruiter’s Free Trial for Employers
Are you interested in hiring new employees but having a difficult time finding the right talent? When you sign up for ZipRecruiter’s four-day free trial for employers, you’ll be able to post your job ad and hire whichever job applicants you see fit, completely free of charge.
Step One: Click the “Start 4-Day Free Trial” Button Here
Once you click the “Start 4-Day Free Trial” button, you’ll be brought to the ZipRecruiter website. Here, you’ll see a dropdown menu that asks for your company size. Simply click the dropdown to expand the options. Once you’ve made a choice, click the bright green button that reads “Post Jobs for FREE.”
Step Two: Create An Employer Account
Once you’ve made it to this screen, all you need to do is enter your name, email, and a secure password that you’ll be able to remember. (Avoid using your birthday or something that’s easy for others to guess!)
After you’ve entered your information, you’ll come to a screen that asks you whether you’re interested in hiring or finding a job for yourself—toggle your mouse to the left-hand side where it reads “Hire for my company.” Once clicked, this box will appear to look shaded.
Now, you’ll need to enter your company name, the number of jobs you’d like to fill, a description of your hiring needs, and your company website (which is optional). Once this information is filled in, click “Continue.”
Step Three: Finalize Your Details
Sure, it may seem like this is a lot of information, but you do want to hire the candidates who are fit for the position, right? After entering your info, ZipRecruiter will ask you to finalize a few things including your current title, phone number, and zip code.
There are two dropdown menus on this page, as well. The first asks: “Do you use an Applicant Tracking System?” If you do, just click “Yes.” If you’re unsure, click “I don’t know.”
The second dropdown asks: “How did you hear about us?” If your response isn’t listed, click “Other.” From there you’ll be able to type in an answer manually.
Once you’ve filled this out, click the small checkbox next to the following sentence: “I agree to let ZipRecruiter contact me by autodialer at the number above.” This lets ZipRecruiter know that you’re OK with them having/using your phone number to contact you.
Click “Continue.”
Step Four: Post a Job on ZipRecruiter
Here’s how to post a job on ZipRecruiter after creating your account.
You’ll enter the information for your first job post. You must include the job title, job location, employment type (i.e. full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.), job description, “sales pitch” (a one-liner on why people should work for you!), benefits (if any), compensation range, and street address.
Then, voilà!—your listing may even start to show up in daily job alert emails, which would widen your search.
Step Five: Start Your Free Trial
Once you’ve filled everything out in its entirety, you’re basically done! All you have to do now is choose which version of ZipRecruiter you’d like to try and enter your credit card information at checkout. ZipRecruiter offers the freest free shipping there is—all the services are online.
Don’t worry, you won’t be charged until your four-day trial period is up. (Even better, if you don’t like it, you can cancel immediately!)
What Happens After Your ZipRecruiter Free Trial?
If you’re not interested in extending your subscription, be sure to cancel—the ZipRecruiter terms of use are specific about no-refunds past your trial’s end date.
If you hit any kinks along the way, ZipRecruiter offers excellent customer service via live chat. For small businesses or individual entrepreneurs with less experience posting jobs, their support team can be a great resource.
ZipRecruiter Standard offers distribution to 100+ online job boards. ZipRecruiter Premium, however, offers distribution to 100+ job boards plus premium placement in 25 million emails and full access to its database of 25 million resumes.
Step Six: Publish Your Job Posting!
Once you’ve entered your payment information, ZipRecruiter will publish your job posting. You’ll also have access to your very own employer dashboard (seen below). Here, you’ll be able to customize your job posting, view candidates, check out applicant resumes, and more!
How to Get the Most Out of Your ZipRecruiter for Employers Free Trial
ZipRecruiter’s free trial offers a valuable opportunity to test its hiring platform and attract top talent without upfront costs. However, since the trial period is limited, you need a strategic approach to maximize its benefits.
Crafting Effective Job Listings
A strong job listing is essential for attracting high-quality candidates. ZipRecruiter’s free trial gives you limited time to make an impact, so your job descriptions must be precise, engaging, and optimized for visibility. Focus on clarity, relevant keywords, and an attractive presentation to stand out from competing job postings.
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Use Specific Job Titles: Avoid creative but vague titles like "Marketing Rockstar." Instead, use clear, industry-recognized terms like "Digital Marketing Manager" to ensure your posting appears in relevant searches.
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Incorporate Job-Specific Keywords: Research commonly searched terms in your industry and integrate them naturally throughout your listing, especially in the job title and responsibilities.
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Structure Your Description Clearly: List essential responsibilities in bullet points, prioritizing the most critical tasks first. This makes your posting easy to skim.
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Define Qualifications Accurately: Be specific about required experience, certifications, and skills to prevent unqualified applications.
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Include Salary and Benefits (If Possible): Job postings with salary ranges receive more applications. Also, highlight key perks such as remote work options, bonuses, or professional development opportunities.
Maximizing Candidate Reach
Getting your job posting in front of the right audience is crucial, and ZipRecruiter’s distribution network helps expand visibility. However, you should take additional steps to ensure you attract the most qualified candidates quickly.
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Post at Peak Job-Seeking Times: Job seekers are most active on Mondays and Tuesdays. Posting early in the week increases the chances of your job being seen.
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Leverage ZipRecruiter’s AI Matching: Review and proactively invite suggested candidates to apply. This increases engagement and fills roles faster.
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Share the Job Posting Beyond ZipRecruiter: Promote the job on LinkedIn, niche job boards, and social media to reach passive candidates.
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Encourage Employee Referrals: Ask your team to share the job posting within their professional networks. A simple incentive can boost participation.
Managing and Reviewing Applications
Efficiently sorting through applications is key to making the most of your free trial. ZipRecruiter provides useful filtering tools to help you focus on the best candidates while reducing time spent on unqualified applicants.
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Set Up Pre-Screening Questions: Use yes/no or multiple-choice questions to automatically filter out applicants who don’t meet critical requirements (e.g., “Do you have at least 3 years of experience?”).
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Sort Applicants Using Filters: Narrow down candidates based on skills, location, and qualifications to streamline the hiring process.
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Use ZipRecruiter’s Dashboard Effectively: Track application status, rate candidates, and keep notes on promising applicants.
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Prepare Fast Response Templates: Have pre-written email templates ready for interview invitations, rejections, and follow-ups to maintain quick communication.
Engaging with Potential Hires
Once you’ve identified strong candidates, engaging them quickly is essential. Job seekers often apply to multiple positions, so prompt communication can give you a competitive advantage.
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Respond to Candidates Within 24 Hours: Delayed responses can lead to losing top talent to other employers.
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Personalize Outreach Messages: Reference specific details from the applicant’s resume or cover letter to show genuine interest.
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Use Phone Screens for Quick Assessments: A short 10-15 minute phone interview helps determine if a candidate is a good fit before moving forward.
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Keep Communication Concise & Professional: Avoid long email exchanges—stick to essential details like interview times, expectations, and next steps.
Evaluating Your Free Trial Performance
To determine whether ZipRecruiter is delivering value, assess the effectiveness of your job posting strategy. Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) will help you refine your hiring process and decide whether to continue with a paid plan.
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Monitor Application Volume & Quality: If you’re receiving too many unqualified applicants, tweak your job description or screening questions.
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Compare Job Listing Performance: Test different job titles, descriptions, or keyword placements to see what yields better results.
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Analyze Response & Engagement Rates: If candidates aren’t responding, consider revising your outreach messaging or application process.
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Decide on a Paid Plan Based on Data: If ZipRecruiter is generating strong applicants, upgrading may be a good investment. If results are underwhelming, reassess your hiring strategy before committing.
Final Tips for Success
Making the most of your ZipRecruiter free trial requires strategic action. Since time is limited, every decision should focus on attracting, engaging, and securing top talent efficiently.
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Use ZipRecruiter’s Customer Support: Contact their team for tips on optimizing job postings and improving candidate engagement.
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Test Different Job Posting Strategies: Small changes in wording, salary visibility, or job title can impact application rates.
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Act Quickly: Review applications daily and schedule interviews early to maximize your trial period.
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Learn from the Process: Even if you don’t continue with ZipRecruiter, take note of what worked well so you can refine future hiring efforts.
Start Hiring In Minutes With ZipRecruiter’s Four-Day Free Trial For Employers
The hiring process can be drawn-out, frustrating, and seemingly a waste of time. (Especially if you can’t find the candidates you’re looking for.) Instead of stressing out about whether or not your job openings are actually reaching qualified candidates, just use ZipRecruiter.
With ZipRecruiter’s free trial, you’ll have four entire day’s worth of access to an overflowing pool of job seekers who are eager and ready to work. And if you like ZipRecruiter enough to keep it around, you can keep an eye out for more promo codes and discount codes in the future.
Sign up for your free trial of ZipRecruiter today!
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