# How It Works

> How the graph8 Marketplace connects clients and talent — vetting, certification, rates, and the commission model.

Source: https://docs.graph8.com/marketplace/how-it-works/

The Marketplace has two sides: **clients** who hire sales talent, and **talent** (SDRs, Account Executives, and GTM Engineers) who join to earn. graph8 vets and scores every profile so clients can hire with confidence.

## The two sides

| Side | Who they are | What they do |
|------|--------------|--------------|
| **Clients** | Companies that need outbound | Browse vetted talent, compare match scores, and send hire offers with custom rates |
| **Talent** | Freelance SDRs, AEs, and GTM Engineers | Build a profile, get certified and scored, then accept offers and run real outbound |

## Vetting and certification

Talent don't list themselves manually — they get **scored by AI**. When a profile uploads a resume, graph8 analyzes it to produce:

- **Dimension scores** — a breakdown across competencies like industry fit, prospecting style, meeting quality, and negotiation
- **A certification score** — an overall rating from 0–100
- **A tier** — a label such as *Strategic*, *Data-Driven*, or *Top Performer* that summarizes a talent's strengths

New talent complete a **30-day certification** to get listed as vetted GTM talent. Scoring is what powers the **Score: N/100**, tier badges, and match scores that clients see when browsing.

## How talent get paid

| Stage | Earnings |
|-------|----------|
| **During certification** | Commission-only — talent earn from day one when meetings are booked |
| **After being hired** | A monthly base rate plus a per-meeting rate, set on each offer (an optional one-time hiring fee and commission can also apply) |

Payouts are sent via Stripe Connect, Stripe Cross-Border, or Wise, depending on the talent's country.

## Rates and availability

Every talent profile carries a **rate card** — a monthly base rate, a per-meeting rate, and an availability status (**Available**, **Limited**, or **Fully Booked**). Clients filter and sort on exactly these fields when they browse.

> **Tip:**
> Clients set the rates on each offer, and talent accept or decline. The rate card on a profile is the talent's asking rate — the starting point for a hire.

## Next Steps

- [For Clients: Opening the Marketplace →](https://docs.graph8.com/marketplace/clients/overview/)
- [For Talent: Joining the Marketplace →](https://docs.graph8.com/marketplace/talent/join/)