Zubka

What we liked:
Once you’ve completed the simple login process, you can instantly browse more than 1,500 recruitment ads.

Each entry includes the salary on offer, the job location and a description of the role. Potential rewards – if your recommendations are successful – are handily highlighted in green and the figures on offer are mouthwatering, with many of the sums in their thousands. For example, for a salary of £50,000, you’ll receive £3,600 if the person you refer gets the job. And, if you introduce other ‘connectors’ (referrers) to Zubka, you’ll get paid £100 for every placement they subsequently make.

Referring a friend for that killer job is simple: just tap the ‘Refer someone’ button beneath an advert and send the details to the person you think is suited to the position. If they’re interested, you create a profile of the candidate, attach a CV and submit the information to the employer.

You can set up job alerts and RSS feeds, and use a Zubka Desktop widget and Facebook application to stay abreast of new jobs. You can even decide to donate some of your reward to charity.

How it can be improved:
We’d love to see Zubka carry more ‘normal’ jobs – many are currently senior and consultancy positions so you’ll need high-flying friends to garner big bucks. Locations should also be narrowed down to counties rather than entire countries.

Our verdict:
Zubka is very simple to use and well ahead of the game in the online job-referring field. As the range of positions on offer grows and diversifies, the site’s popularity is sure to soar.

Reviewed: Issue 198 (09 October - 22 October 2008)