The vetted talent pool — earned, not paid for.
Every vetted profile on Stackroles has been manually reviewed by a real person. Talent applies for free; we check the work; we say yes or no. The badge isn't a subscription tier and it isn't automatic — that's why it means something.
How vetting works
Four steps. No payment, no auto-acceptance.
Build your profile
Add a real bio, at least three skills, 3+ years of experience, and at least one verifiable link (GitHub, LinkedIn, portfolio).
Apply (free)
Tell us about a project you owned end-to-end. Links to real work matter more than a polished pitch.
Manual review
A Stackroles reviewer looks at your portfolio, profile, and answers. We respond within 5 business days.
Vetted for 12 months
Accepted profiles get the Vetted badge and surface first to employers. Renewal opens 30 days before expiry.
What we look for
These are the hard requirements. The reviewer's job is to confirm them against your profile and submission, not negotiate them.
Real, verifiable work
We need at least one link to work we can look at — a GitHub with commits, a live portfolio, a LinkedIn with referenceable roles.
3+ years of professional experience
Vetting isn't a launchpad for first-job seekers; it's a quality signal for employers hiring on Stackroles.
A complete, honest profile
Bio, skills, role history, years of experience — filled in like you'd want a reviewer to see it. Generic placeholder bios are auto-rejected.
Communication that matches the work
The motivation pitch tells us how you describe a real problem you solved. Vague or stock-phrase answers don't get past review.
For employers
Why the vetted filter is the first thing you should toggle on the Talent Directory.
Filter the directory to vetted-only
Skip the noise. One filter on the Talent Directory and you're seeing only profiles we've manually reviewed.
Earned, not bought
Vetted is never a paid tier. Talent can't pay for the badge — employers can trust it's a real signal.
Fresh, not stale
Vetting expires every 365 days. Talent re-confirms they're still active before the badge renews, so the pool stays current.
Common questions
How much does it cost to apply?
Nothing. Vetting is free for talent and always will be. The badge is earned through manual review — Pro membership is a separate product and doesn't affect your application.
How long does review take?
We respond within 5 business days. If we need more from you (a missing portfolio link, more detail on a project), we'll say so and you can update your application.
What if I'm rejected?
You can re-apply after 180 days. Use the time to add more verifiable work to your profile — that's the single biggest reason applications don't get through.
Does the badge expire?
Yes — after 365 days. We'll prompt you to renew 30 days before, and renewal is a streamlined version of the original application.
Can employers contact vetted talent directly?
Yes. Vetted profiles surface first in the Talent Directory and are eligible for managed-hiring shortlists. Whether contact details are revealed depends on your Pro settings.
Ready to be vetted?
Application takes 10 minutes. We review manually within 5 business days.