About us

We're fixing broken hiring

FirstLook was born from frustration with a recruitment system that's failing both employers and candidates.

The problem we're solving

Hiring used to be about finding the right person for the job. Today, it's about drowning in hundreds of AI-generated applications that all sound the same.

Recruiters spend hours reading CVs that lead nowhere. Candidates spray applications everywhere because they never hear back. The whole system has broken down.

We built FirstLook to flip this on its head. Candidates answer one short question before you see their CV. You read the work first, see how it was written, and decide who's worth meeting.

A better first look. Employers get more to go on when choosing who to interview. Candidates get a chance to show their abilities, beyond the keywords on their CV.

Why we built it

We kept seeing the same thing: hiring managers buried in applications that all sounded alike, and good candidates getting lost in the pile. We wanted to put real work in front of real people. So we built FirstLook to help employers choose who to interview, with the decision in their hands.

Alex and Christian, co-founders

Our mission

What we believe

The principles that guide everything we build

Skills over credentials

We want employers to see what you can do before they see where you studied or who you know. We're levelling the playing field.

Effort deserves a closer look

In an age of AI-generated everything, genuine human effort deserves to be recognised and rewarded.

Respect everyone's time

Recruiters shouldn't waste hours on bad applications. Candidates shouldn't spend days on applications that vanish.

Our values

How we work

The values that shape our product and our company

Simplicity first

Hiring is complicated enough. Our tools should make it simpler, not add complexity. Every feature earns its place by saving time, not creating work.

Transparent by default

No hidden fees, no confusing pricing, no surprise terms. If we track something, we tell you. If we charge for something, it's clear upfront.

Fair to everyone

We care about both sides of hiring. Employers deserve quality candidates. Candidates deserve a fair chance. Our success depends on helping both.

Protecting your privacy

We collect data to improve hiring outcomes, not to sell ads. Candidate data belongs to candidates. We're GDPR compliant and transparent about everything we track.

more applications per hire

75%

of surveyed job seekers use AI when applying

23hrs

to screen a pool of 250 CVs

0.5%

application to offer rate in Gem's data

Reducing bias

Skills-first means fairer hiring

Traditional hiring is riddled with unconscious bias. Names, universities, and company logos create mental shortcuts that have nothing to do with ability.

FirstLook's blind-first approach means hiring managers evaluate work before they see who created it. Candidates are judged on what they can do, not who they appear to be.

Only 8% of job seekers in Greenhouse's survey believe AI makes hiring fairer. FirstLook puts the decision in the employer's hands, with work to review and signals to weigh.

Blind review first

Evaluate skills before seeing names, photos, or backgrounds

Authentic signals

See how the answer was written alongside the work itself

Consistent criteria

Every candidate answers the same question. You judge the work.

Ready to see candidates differently?

Try FirstLook free on your next role, with 20 applications on us.

Start for free Talk to us