Turn inbound application volume into your advantage

AI speed. First class candidate experience.

AI + CX = Your recruiting superpower

Our winning formula for getting to the best talent before your competitors

AI & Automation

Auto-advance the top 1-5% inbound applicants
Engage them while you have their attention.
Rediscover silver-medalists automatically
Match past candidates to new roles in seconds.
ATS workflows on autopilot*
Automate the admin in your existing tools.

90%
less time managing
roles per recruiter

* No ATS? We built our own.

Candidate Experience

Screen inside the application form
Smart, adaptive questions capture real signal early.
Upgrade every candidate to first class
Fast, consistent communication builds trust.
Build long-term talent pools
Nurture and re-engage automatically.

data than just CV
24h
to speak to hiring manager
See First in action

See how AI transforms both sides of hiring

From recruiter efficiency to a candidate journey they'll actually love.

Application management

Hire smarter, faster, with full visibility

The candidate experience

Capture richer data, turn candidates into advocates

Testimonials

What people are saying

We had 400 applicants for some roles. First made it possible to review them all efficiently, make great hires, and save time and costs — with zero talent team, just hiring managers.
FirstStage is easy to use, with excellent onboarding and support that goes above and beyond. It's streamlined our shortlisting process, saving hours of productive time. The personalised service and caring team deliver an efficient, effective product that helps us maximise their technology.
First allowed us, as a business and as consultants, to do more, in the same space of time. Using First has allowed us to make sure that every CV has been reviewed consistently.

Candidate feedback

“The best job application experience ever, I like this one-page-one-question design!”
Marketing Associate
“Most unique, interesting and fun interview I have ever done. Simple, but nice.”
ML Engineer
“First time being interviewed by AI. It's been trained really well, I felt like I was being interviewed by a real person.”
Principal Software Engineer
“This is one of the amazing job application processes I have experienced in the recent times. Kudos to the team!”
Vehicle Safety Operator
“It was really good to communicate with the chat bot, its questions are professional”
Purchase Ledger Clerk
Feature overview

Everything you need to hire smarter

A complete platform to transform your hiring process
Only Product To Do This

AI screening in the application form

Don't add extra hurdles to your process. Screen candidates with behavioural tests, scenarios, and case studies right in the application form. 4.6/5 rated by 6,136 candidates.

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AI Command Center

See every candidate, ranked and ready

Real-time dashboard with AI-ranked candidates. Auto-progress top talent same day. Handle 10x volume with 95% less manual screening. Works 24/7.

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Complete Talent Visibility

Find candidates everywhere

Assess candidates from both inbound and those already in your ATS via referrals, sourcing, and more. Deploy your custom AI to LinkedIn Recruiter, Indeed, CV Library, and more.

Performance Management

Monitor and optimise every stage

Drive down response times and time to hire. Instantly spot candidates who've waited too long. Understand where drop-off occurs. Identify places where AI can be used.

Integrates With Your Tools

Works with existing systems

Connect with Ashby, Workable, Pinpoint, Greenhouse, Bullhorn and more. Integrate with your existing website—connect all roles or one-by-one.

Hiring Platform

Software is free. Pay for AI.

Unlimited users, roles, and applications—all free. Free job boards and LinkedIn Recruiter integration. Includes full ATS functionality.

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Get answers

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes First different from other AI hiring products?

First specialises in managing inbound application volume. We put AI screening directly in the application form, capturing more data than just a CV while candidates are engaged. The top 1-5% automatically advance to the next stage whilst interest is highest. We focus on solving this for industry-leading companies with high inbound volume and those driving candidates from job boards.

Is First an applicant tracking system (ATS)?

Both. Our core offering is the application form with AI screening—it integrates with your existing ATS and tools. For teams without an ATS, we include a free ATS. Learn more.

How does AI screening in the application form work?

Our AI analyses both CV content and responses to open-ended questions in the application. It scores candidates based on skills, experience, and behavioural fit, then automatically progresses the top 1-5% to the next stage. See how it works.

Do I need technical knowledge to set up First?

No. First is built for recruiters and hiring teams. Launch your first role and start screening candidates in minutes.

What ATS and CRMs do you integrate with?

First integrates with Ashby, Workable, Pinpoint, Greenhouse, Bullhorn, and more. Connect with any ATS or CRM to manage your complete hiring pipeline.

What if I don't have an ATS?

First includes a free ATS with job boards and LinkedIn Recruiter integration. Use it as your complete hiring solution.

How long does it take to get started?

Minutes to go live. 10 minutes to connect with your ATS. If we don't have the integration, 1-2 days max—and it's free.

Do you integrate with LinkedIn Recruiter and job boards?

Yes. We integrate with LinkedIn Recruiter, Indeed, and other job boards. You can deploy First to manage candidates across all your sourcing channels in one place.

How much does First cost?

Unlimited seats, roles, and applications. Pay only for AI assessments used. Free tier includes 50 assessments monthly—no credit card required. View pricing.

Can I customise the candidate experience?

Yes. Fully brand your job board, customise application questions, and personalise feedback messages to match your company.

How customisable is the criteria?

Completely. Define custom skills, weightings, and assessment types to match your exact needs. Adjust scoring in real-time, create role-specific criteria, and test different configurations. First gives you true control over your screening logic.

How accurate is the AI scoring?

We decompose your requirements into specific, measurable criteria. Our AI then identifies evidence of those requirements in CVs and applications with high precision. Learn how.

What happens to candidates who aren't selected?

They get timely feedback via custom rejection emails—no black hole. You craft the message, and candidates receive immediate responses. This protects your employer brand and builds a talent pool for future roles.

Can I use First with my existing hiring process?

Yes. First integrates seamlessly with your ATS and existing workflow. Use it for screening whilst keeping your interview and decision-making processes intact.

Is my candidate data secure?

Yes. Cyber Essentials certified and fully GDPR compliant. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. You own your candidate data. Privacy policy or DPA.