Trusted by creative organisations hiring talent worldwide:
Every portfolio, one place, full resolution
Candidates submit images, video reels up to 4GB, PDFs, and embedded links from Vimeo or YouTube. Lossless image compression means your hiring panel sees the work exactly as the candidate intended. No more downloading ZIP files or squinting at compressed thumbnails.
Shared criteria so every candidate gets the same standards
Without structure, each reviewer applies their own gut feeling.
Set up criteria-based evaluation with configurable score ranges per requirement. Concept thinking out of 20, technical execution out of 10, presentation out of 5. Every candidate measured on the same scale, every time.
Read more on how to structure your evaluation rounds before launch.
We were able to deal efficiently with a much higher number of submissions than anticipated. We will use Zealous again and would certainly recommend them to other organisations.
Jane Hackett, Project Director
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Anonymous review that reduces bias before shortlisting
Names, institutions, and backgrounds can influence decisions before anyone opens a portfolio. Each introduces bias.
Zealous hides candidate details automatically during first-round review. Your panel evaluates the work on its own merit. Personal information only appears after scores are locked in.
Our free resources include guidance on building fairer evaluation processes.
What I appreciate most is how Zealous supports clarity — for entrants, judges, and organisers alike. When systems are clear, people can focus on creativity rather than logistics.
Judy Holm, Founder and Director
The Global Climate Design Awards
From a single hire to a full graduate intake
A one-off senior designer search needs a different setup than an annual graduate recruitment programme with 300 applications. Most tools only handle one of these well.
Run unlimited programmes on one subscription. Clone your programme for the next cycle. Templates get you live within 48 hours, whether you‘re filling one position or twenty.
See how to plan repeating cycles in our programme lifecycle planning guide.
Panel coordination without the email chains
Distributed hiring panels mean chasing people across time zones. Who‘s reviewed what? Has the external consultant finished scoring? Zealous gives you real-time progress tracking, automated reminders, and a dashboard showing exactly where every reviewer stands. No more follow-up emails.
Unconscious bias is hardest to address when reviewers can see names, photos, and alma maters before they’ve looked at the work. Anonymous first-round review strips those details out. Scoring records across your panel give you a clear, consistent basis for shortlisting.
Your data stays protected throughout the process. See our security overview.
Switching platform was super easy and smooth, earnings increased and users found it easier to apply than before.
Shabih Rao, Head of Studios & Partner Engagement
Tearsheet
Evaluation modes built for reviewing creative work
Choose how your hiring panel reviews applications at each stage of the process.
We’ve had around 5,000 users submit through Zealous and very rarely hear about any problems or complaints.
Matt Freidson, Deputy Director
Creative Future
Stop chasing, start hiring
You got into creative hiring to find brilliant people, not to spend your evenings reformatting spreadsheets and sending reminder emails. Here‘s how Zealous gives you that time back.
Why creative teams move their hiring process to Zealous
Hire creative talent with confidence
Join 500+ organisations using Zealous to run fairer, faster hiring processes.
- Cancel anytime. Monthly billing, no lock-ins, no guilt trips.
- 20 free applications to test everything before committing.
- Launch in under an hour with ready-made recruitment templates.
Your full creative hiring lifecycle, managed
Before launch
- Define role requirements and evaluation criteria for each position
- Build your application form with portfolio upload fields
- Brand your programme page with your logo and colours
- Invite hiring panel members and assign roles per round
- Create trackable links for each recruitment channel
Entries open
- Candidates upload portfolios in any format, with auto-save across devices
- Monitor application volume in real time from your dashboard
- Edit form fields or add questions while applications are still open
- Issue late-comer links for candidates who need extended deadlines
Judging rounds
- Panel members score applications against shared criteria on any device
- Anonymous mode hides candidate details during first-round review
- Track reviewer progress and send automated reminders to stragglers
- Use quick selection for high-volume screening before detailed scoring
- Panel members add comments and notes within each round
Results and legacy
- Advance shortlisted candidates to interview rounds with new criteria
- Control which results are published and when with staged announcements
- Export final scores and panel feedback for HR records
- Notify candidates of outcomes via automated branded emails
- Clone the programme for next year and adjust what‘s changed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is creative recruitment software?
It‘s a platform designed to manage the hiring process for roles where portfolios and creative work matter more than CVs alone. Zealous handles multi-format portfolio submissions, structured panel evaluation, and multi-round selection, all in one place. Unlike generic HR tools, it‘s built for visual and media-rich applications.
What file formats can candidates upload in their applications?
Candidates can upload images, video files up to 4GB, PDFs, audio files, and 3D models. They can also embed content from Vimeo, YouTube, and SoundCloud. Images use lossless compression, so your hiring panel sees work at the quality it was uploaded. There‘s no limit on the number of files per application.
How does anonymous review work for hiring?
When you enable anonymous mode, candidate names, photos, and any identifying details are hidden from your hiring panel automatically. Reviewers see only the portfolio and form responses you choose to include. Personal information becomes visible only after scores are submitted, reducing unconscious bias in early rounds.
Can we run multiple hiring rounds with different panel members?
Yes. Set up screening, shortlist, and interview stages as separate rounds. Each round can have its own panel members, criteria, and score ranges. Only candidates who progress move to the next stage. See how it works in a quick walkthrough.
How do we set up evaluation criteria for different roles?
You define criteria and set a score range for each one. For example, concept thinking out of 20, technical skill out of 15, presentation out of 10. Every panel member scores against the same criteria, so comparisons are consistent across all candidates.
Can our hiring panel review applications on mobile devices?
Yes, Zealous is fully responsive and works on any device. Panel members can score and comment from a phone or tablet. For portfolio-heavy review with lots of visual work, we recommend desktop for the full experience. Auto-resume means reviewers pick up exactly where they left off.
How quickly can we launch a recruitment programme?
Most teams go live within 48 hours using templates. Sign-up takes two minutes. You can customise your application form, set criteria, invite panel members, and brand your page with your logo and colours. Your first 20 applications are free so you can test before committing. See pricing for plan details.
What does it cost to run a recruitment programme on Zealous?
Plans are based on application volume, not the number of programmes. You can run unlimited programmes on one subscription. Monthly billing with no annual lock-in, or save 25% with an annual plan. There are no setup or onboarding costs, and support is included on every plan at no extra charge.
Can we reuse our setup for recurring hiring cycles?
Yes. Clone your programme for the next intake cycle. All criteria, form fields, and panel settings carry over. Edit what‘s changed, leave the rest. Past editions stay archived as a record of your hiring history. Read our guide to automating without losing the human touch for more on managing repeat cycles.
How quickly can we get help if something goes wrong?
Unlimited support is included on every plan at no extra cost. Live chat is available during UK business hours. We also offer a free pre-launch review of your programme setup to catch issues before candidates start applying. Most questions are answered the same day.
