Frequently Asked Questions
Clockwork's executive search CRM and platform

Pricing & Contract

What is the per-seat pricing (monthly vs. paid-annually)?

Billed annually, it's $149 per seat per month ($1,788 per seat per year). Billed monthly, it's $179 per seat per month. Either way, you're on a 12-month agreement; the payment cadence is the only difference.

Is there a data migration fee?

It depends on your data volume and how much hands-on help you want. We offer a self-serve option, where your team preps and exports the data and you import it using a CSV template, and a full-support option, where our data team handles the migration end-to-end. Talk to sales for a quote based on your situation.

Is this a 12-month/annual contract commitment even if I pay monthly?

Yes. You're still on a 12-month agreement either way; monthly billing just changes your payment cadence, not the term.

Are client-facing/hiring-manager seats free and unlimited?

Yes. Client portal seats are free and unlimited, so you can collaborate with every hiring manager and client stakeholder using Clockwork at no extra cost.

What does data enrichment cost (per-credit fee), and what counts as an enrichment?

Enrichment credits cost one cent each, and most enrichment actions use 2-4 credits. That covers things like parsing a resume, creating or importing a contact from the Chrome panel, enriching a contact from the Chrome panel or from within Clockwork, and enriching a company from within Clockwork. Credits can be purchased in bulk: 10,000 for $100, 50,000 for $500, or 100,000 for $1,000, etc.

Can pricing/seats flex for a bootstrapped startup or part-time contractors (monthly vs. annual, add/remove seats)?

To a degree. You choose annual or monthly billing at signup, both on a 12-month term. You can add seats anytime, prorated from the activation date through the end of your term, so bringing on a part-time hire doesn't trigger a whole new annual commitment. You can't reduce your seat count mid-term, though; changes like that take effect at renewal.

Are all platform features included in one price, or are some gated behind a higher tier/paid add-on?

All features are included at a single price, except for enrichment credits, which are purchased separately, in bulk, as you use them.

What is the price-increase policy over time, and can pricing be locked for multiple years?

Clockwork can raise your price by up to 5% at each renewal, and must give you written notice before any increase takes effect, per your contract. That cap is written into the standard agreement, not just a verbal assurance. If we miss the notice window, your existing price carries over for the next term. If you want price certainty for longer, you can structure your initial term as 2 years, which locks your price for that full period.

Can you provide a draft/template contract (MSA) to review before deciding?

Our standard Services Agreement is part of the sales process: once you're ready to move forward, your rep walks you through the actual contract you'd sign. We don't publish a generic template ahead of that, but we're glad to answer specific contract questions before you sign. Feel free to contact sales.

Can you provide customer references, ideally from a similarly sized/similar-sector firm?

Sure. Visit our case studies library here, or ask your sales rep for references matched to your firm's size and focus.

If we add colleagues mid-contract, are they prorated rather than triggering a new annual term?

Yes. New seats are billed at your existing per-seat rate, prorated from the day they're activated through the end of your current term. It doesn't create a new annual term or reset your renewal date.

Can the contract start date be delayed to align with an existing vendor's contract end?

Yes. We can set your effective date in the future so your Clockwork term starts right when your current vendor agreement ends.

Is there a free trial period?

We don't offer a free trial. A full executive search cycle runs longer than a trial period would last, so we start every prospect with a live demo, and you can sign up for a short initial engagement, as brief as three months, to try Clockwork on a real search.

What's the ballpark pricing for a 50-60 seat firm?

Firms at this size typically qualify for negotiated enterprise pricing, so your actual quote may be lower per user per year. Talk to sales for an exact number.

Do you offer flexible/short-term seats for occasional contractors, or only full annual-commitment seats?

Every firm user needs a full paid seat on the standard 12-month term; we don't have a separate short-term or flexible seat product for occasional contractors today. If you have team members who only need occasional access, talk to sales, we can walk through options like adding them mid-term (prorated).

If we leave the platform, can we fully export our data, and what does that cost? Who owns the data?

You own your data. If you leave, request your data export in writing and we'll deliver a .csv export within about 30 days; other data, like search and note history, is available on request too. You only cover our reasonable costs of returning the data; there's no separate flat export fee.

Can pricing be structured as a 2-year initial term that renews annually afterward?

Yes, you can set your initial term at 2 years instead of 1, locking your price for that full period. By default, the agreement then auto-renews on the same term length. However, regardless of your initial term, you can choose to renew for 1 year, 2 years or 3 years to lock in pricing. Either party can also choose not to renew with advance written notice.

Does someone who only needs to view/enter invoicing/financial data need a full paid seat, or is there a view-only option?

Any firm user needs a paid seat to use Clockwork; there's no discounted view-only or finance-only seat type. Free seats are reserved for clients accessing the client portal.

Can we run separate account instances for distinct business units to keep candidate databases from overlapping?

Yes, firms can run separate account instances so candidate databases don't overlap between business units.

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Integrations

Is there an open API, and is it included at no extra cost?

Yes. Clockwork’s API, is included in every subscription at no extra cost. You can review the documentation on our Swagger API docs site here.

Does Clockwork integrate with notetakers (Co-recruit, MetaView, Plaud) to auto-push call notes?

Yes, with select partners. We integrate with AI notetaking platforms to push call notes directly into Clockwork. If your notetaker isn't a listed partner, they can build an integration to connect to Clockwork through our open API and a Clockwork sandbox account.

Is there calendar integration (Google/Microsoft) to send meeting invites through the system?

Yes. Connect your Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 account and Clockwork syncs your shared calendars and inbox, so meetings and emails tie directly and automatically to the right candidate or project.

Do emails sent outside the platform (e.g., Outlook or Gmail) get logged automatically, and is sync two-way?

Yes. Once you connect Outlook or Gmail, emails sync automatically and two-way, so you don't have to log anything by hand.

Does Clockwork integrate with Salesforce or HubSpot?

We are currently working on an integration between Clockwork and Salesforce / Hubspot.

Does Clockwork integrate with contact-finding tools (ZoomInfo, RocketReach) to push found emails onto records?

Clockwork's enrichment features draw on multiple data providers to find, update, create and add contacts and contact details to a person's record.

Does Clockwork integrate with Juicebox / PeopleGPT (AI sourcing)?

Yes. Juicebox (PeopleGPT) is a Clockwork integration partner for AI-powered sourcing.

Does Clockwork integrate with SourceWhale for outreach/LinkedIn messaging?

Yes. SourceWhale connects to Clockwork for outreach and LinkedIn messaging, and syncs that activity back to your records.

Is there Slack integration?

Not natively, but Clockwork can connect to Slack through Zapier or using an AI Assistant (ChatGPT, Claude, CoPilot, etc.)

Does Clockwork integrate with mailing/sequencing tools (SmartLead, Campaign Monitor, Mailchimp)?

Not directly. If a tool isn't listed on our partners’ and integrations page, the third party can build one using our open API and a Clockwork sandbox account.

Does Clockwork integrate with Xero or other invoicing/accounting tools?

Not currently. If a tool isn't listed on our partners’ and integrations page, the third party can build one using our open API and a Clockwork sandbox account.

Does Clockwork integrate with telephony/calling systems (Ringover, etc.)?

No. If a tool isn't listed on our partners’ and integrations page, the third party can build one using our open API and a Clockwork sandbox account.

Is there a sandbox/test account for building API integrations before going live?

Yes. If you're building an integration, we'll set you or your partner up with a sandbox account so you can build-out an integration and test before going live.

Does Clockwork integrate with email verification/finding tools to reduce bounces?

Clocwork’s Person enrichment runs through several data providers and cascades across providers to locate a result. However, contact details aren't always guaranteed or verified.

Does Clockwork integrate with contact-enrichment tools like Lusha for phone/email data?

Clockwork partners with several data providers through our data enrichment tools and features. Contact enrichment cascades across these providers to give you the most complete contact information available.

Does Clockwork support posting jobs to external job boards like Indeed?

Job Posting links are included in your subscription, but they don't connect to third-party job boards like Indeed or ZipRecruiter, they generate a hyperlink and landing page that you can share with your networks and candidates or on publish to your website.

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Contact Import, LinkedIn & Sourcing

Does Clockwork do external candidate sourcing, or only manage candidates we already bring in?

Clockwork isn't an outbound sourcing tool that finds brand-new candidates from the open web. It's built to help you organize, enrich, and act on people you already know, adding them through the Chrome extension, CSV import, resume parsing, or a job posting. Where Clockwork does actively surface candidates is inside your own database: AI-powered candidate rediscovery and Similar Projects use natural-language search to instantly resurface qualified talent already in your firm's CRM.

How does the LinkedIn Chrome extension work — do I need LinkedIn Recruiter or a premium account?

No, you just need a free LinkedIn account. It also works with LinkedIn Recruiter if your firm has it. With Clockwork’s Chrome Extension, you can lookup, edit and manage existing candidates in Clockwork - or you can create new contacts from the Chrome Extension.

Does it detect/merge duplicate profiles (e.g., by matching LinkedIn URL or email)?

Yes. Clockwork flags likely duplicate contacts, matched by key contact indicators like LinkedIn URL, email, or name and company, so you can review and merge them into one record.

Is LinkedIn profile data live-updating, or does it require a manual refresh/enrich click?

It's not live-updating. You can enrich a contact on demand, from the Chrome panel or inside Clockwork, and set a staleness requirement so contacts auto-refresh after a set period of time, such as every 3, 6, or 12 months.

Does Clockwork integrate with third-party sourcing/enrichment tools (Juicebox, ZoomInfo, RocketReach, People GPT)?

Yes. Clockwork has named partnerships with some sourcing tools like Sourcewhale, PeopleGPT, Juicebox, TalentGenius and more. Clockwork’s enrichment itself sources publicly available contact details and cascades across multiple data providers to fill in contact details as completely as possible.

Can candidates apply directly via an embedded job post/interest form, auto-creating their profile?

Yes. When you publish a Clockwork job posting, candidates can view the role and apply through a branded interest form. Each applicant is automatically added to your project, with their resume and contact details parsed straight into their record.

Can we bulk-import a CSV of contacts, and can CVs/resumes be bulk-uploaded?

Yes to both. Contacts can be bulk-imported using Clockwork's CSV template. Resumes can also be uploaded in bulk, multiple files at once, with each one parsed automatically into its own contact record.

Can the Chrome Extension pull an entire LinkedIn Recruiter project/list at once, not just individual profiles?

No, the Chrome extension adds individual contacts one at a time. For bulk import from LinkedIn Recruiter, download a CSV list from Recruiter and bulk-import it using Clockwork's CSV template.

Does LinkedIn messaging/InMail content pull into Clockwork, or only public profile data?

Clockwork never connects to your LinkedIn messages, InMail inbox and does not screen scrape from LinkedIn. Only publicly available profile data is pulled, through contact enrichment. You can log a LinkedIn message or In mail using notes for a candidate within the Chrome Panel or within Clockwork.

Can company-level data be imported from LinkedIn via the Chrome extension, not just individual profiles?

No. The Chrome extension imports contact details only, not company-level data. However, company enrichment can be done directly within the Clockwork platform to update and refresh company data.

Does profile enrichment overwrite existing data, only fill blanks, or risk duplicating info within a field?

Profile enrichment in Clockwork does not overwrite existing data. Instead, it appends new information to ensure all data is preserved. If the new data is identical to the existing data, it will be ignored / skipped. However, if the new data is different, it is added to the top of fields like the biography, ensuring both old and new information are retained, with the latest updates displayed first. The system actively checks for duplicates during profile enrichment. For example, the Clockwork Chrome Extension alerts you if a record already exists in the database, helping to prevent redundancies. This process ensures that no data is overwritten or lost, giving you complete control over the information added to your records.

Do headshots/photos pull automatically when using the Chrome Panel Extension to import contacts?

Yes. A photo will import into Clockwork for a person's profile, regardless of connection degree, as long as that photo is publicly available on their LinkedIn profile, or there is a known photo available through enrichment data sources.

Does the extension risk breaking if LinkedIn changes its policies/settings?

Clockwork's Chrome extension doesn't screen-scrape LinkedIn. It pulls data through third-party data providers, which is more stable and compliant against other LinkedIn screen scraping-based tools.

Is Clockwork a LinkedIn validated/RSC (Recruiting System Connect) partner with direct API-level integration?

No. Clockwork doesn't have a direct API partnership or RSC status with LinkedIn.

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Data Migration

How long does data migration typically take?

A standard single-cut migration typically takes 6-10 weeks from when we receive your data to production go-live, depending on data volume and how quickly your team turns around the mapping review. A two-cut, parallel-run migration takes longer, since it includes a second validation cut before final cutover.

What data carries over in migration (notes, statuses, search history, attachments)?

A standard migration carries over your People (contact info, work history, education, biography, relationships, resumes and other attachments, tags, and candidacy status), your Companies, your Projects (title, client company, type, status, dates, fees, attachments), and your Notes, tagged as migrated from your prior system. Tags from your old system map over to Clockwork tags. You can contact sales for more information on the data migration process and specifics.

How are duplicate records handled during and after migration?

During migration, we identify probable duplicate people records and merge them based on matching email address or LinkedIn URL. At the end of the migration, we run a data-completeness and duplicate report so you can review before go-live. After go-live, Clockwork's built-in duplicate detection lets you merge person records on an ongoing basis; merges can't be undone.

Can we import via CSV/Excel instead of a full data migration, and is that faster/cheaper?

Yes. You can bulk-import People and Companies yourself anytime using Clockwork's free CSV import template, at no cost. It's faster for a straightforward contact list, but it won't carry over relational data the way a full migration does, like project history, statuses, and notes tied to those records.

Have you migrated firms from our specific current platform before?

Yes. We've migrated firms from Loxo, Cluen/Encore, Invenias, Ezekia, Bullhorn, Filefinder, Talentis, Thrive TRM, PCR, Lever, RecruiterFlow, and more.

Does migration include a parallel-run/testing period before full cutover?

Yes. Migrations are offered as either a single-cut migration or a two-cut migration, where we pull your data twice, first for validation, then a final cut for cutover, so you can confirm data and field mappings before going live. You can work within Clockwork prior to your data being migrated.

Can training be phased (a few power users first, then the rest of the team)?

Yes, this is a natural fit with how our onboarding works. Your core team typically completes live training first; teammates added later complete a self-guided onboarding path on their own, so it's common for a few power users to get ramped up before the rest of the team joins. For larger teams and firms, training is a more customized process.

What's the detailed migration project timeline (mapping phase, review, parallel cutover)?

A typical migration follows these steps: we receive your data; we review your legacy system and data, about a week later; we send you a field mapping document; you return the completed mapping; we build and validate a demo environment; you review and validate the demo; we schedule user training; and finally we send the production invite for you to validate. For a two-cut migration, we add a parallel validation cut partway through so you can confirm mappings on live data before the final cutover.

Is there a lookback limit on how much historical data gets migrated?

No, there's no fixed look back cutoff. Migrations are comprehensive by default. Part of our process can also include helping you optionally clean up stale data and contacts, so your new database starts with only the data that's still valuable to you.

What happens to data entered into the old system after the export/cutover (does it need manual re-entry)?

Yes. Once your data has been cut for migration, work entered into your legacy system afterward won't carry over automatically. We recommend treating your old system as read-only once the cut is taken, and manually re-entering anything created there afterward.

Is the data migration process AI-assisted?

Migration itself is handled by our data migration specialists using structured mapping and deduplication logic, not AI automation. Once your data is in Clockwork, you can use AI assistants like Claude, ChatGPT, etc., to work with it.

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Client Portal & Reporting

How does client engagement/reporting work — portal login vs. presentation mode vs. export?

There are two real ways clients engage: the client portal itself, a live login where clients see search progress, candidates, and notes update in real time. In the client portal, clients can leave feedback, comments, review candidates, up and down vote candidates and more. The client portal is built to be engaging and close the gap between client collaboration. You can also export reports where you can share candidate profiles, longlists, and search reports as PDF, Word, or spreadsheet dosucments for offline sharing. The client portal's built-in Status Report serves as your primary presentation view for client meetings and status calls.

If you use ChatGPT or Claude or another agentic AI platform, you can connect through Clockwork's MCP Server to generate custom-branded reports using your firm's template with real search data.

Can specific data (contact info, LinkedIn, notes, ratings) be selectively hidden/shown per client/search?

Yes. You control exactly what clients see in the portal, down to individual data points, notes, fields, page access and more for each search.

Can clients interact directly (thumbs up/down, comments, upload interview recordings)?

Yes, on feedback: clients can vote thumbs up or down, leave comments, and reply directly on candidates and notes in the client portal, and that updates your project in real-time. Clients can't currently upload files, like interview recordings, through the portal, but can view or access attachments when made visible.

Can we export candidate/search reports as PDF or Word?

Yes. You can export candidate profiles, longlists, and search reports as PDF, Word, or spreadsheet files.

Can reports/client portals be branded with our firm's logo and the client's logo?

Yes, your firm's logo and your client's logo appear in the client portal.

Can the client portal be embedded on our own website instead of directing clients to Clockwork's site?

Not embedded, but you can add a link to the client portal login. You can place a link anywhere on your own website that takes clients directly to your firm's branded client login page; the portal itself runs on Clockwork's site rather than being embedded into yours.

Is the client portal live/real-time when we update a candidate's status?

Yes. Every update you make, research, candidate status, notes, flows into the client portal in real time.

Can candidate visibility be toggled on individually so a candidate is only revealed after formal introduction?

Yes. Candidates, and groups of candidates, can be hidden from clients until you're ready to reveal them.

Do clients need training to use the portal, or is it intuitive?

The client portal is designed to be simple and self-explanatory; most clients don't need formal training to use it.

Can we generate a shareable long-list link (expiring vs. credential-gated access)?

You can turn on longlist visibility for a project in the client portal. Access is credential-gated, not link-based: a client needs to have a log in for the client portal in order to see it. Longlists don't expire on their own, but you can turn visibility off at any time in project settings, which immediately removes it from the client's view.

Can we track client portal engagement/usage (time spent, what they viewed)?

To a degree. You can see each client contact's last login date, and you're notified when a client logs in or leaves a comment or feedback.

Can we build a master status report (search length, retainer/fee status, timeline)?

The client portal's status report and project dashboard automatically show search progress, pipeline funnel, candidate assessments, talent pool metrics, and timeline, drawn from your live Clockwork data. Fee and retainer status is tracked separately on the project's contract tab, as firm-side data.

Can specific candidates be hidden from the client even if others in the same status/category are visible?

Yes, visibility is set per candidate, so you can hide one candidate while others in the same status or group stay visible to the client.

Can note-type visibility be toggled in bulk for a whole category, or only one note at a time?

Visibility is set note by note, not by whole category. However, within the status report page view and within the Client portal, you can select two note types that will display the most recent note for that note type for all candidates on a search. Other individual notes can also be turned on and off in the client portal through visibility settings.

Can the client portal serve as a general document/agenda/rubric repository, not just a place to view candidates?

Yes. Beyond candidates, the client portal can share your search strategy, target company lists, and position and benchmark criteria, candidate ratings, assessments, search roadmap and more and lets you securely upload and share other search-related documents, strategy and profiles with clients directly in the portal.

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Customization, Custom Fields and Configuration

Can we create custom fields (single-select, multi-select, open text, number-based for range queries)?

Yes. You can create custom fields for People, Companies, Deals, and Projects in three types:

• Single-select

• Multi-select

• Free text, which accepts numeric or character values.

Can we customize/rename statuses, stages, and side-tab labels/terminology?

Yes, you can configure statuses, project types, project stages, industries, and more to align with your unique search process.

Should we use tags or custom fields, and what's the difference for reporting purposes?

Custom fields give you structured, filterable data for tracking specific candidate- or project-level details, and they report cleanly by type and value. (For example: diversity metrics, special codes, etc.) Tags are simpler, firm-wide labels you can apply across People, Companies, Projects, and Deals to group records loosely, but they're less structured for detailed reporting. Tags are used more broadly, while Custom Fields are used to track specific data points for Deals, Companies, Projects and People.

Can workflows trigger task/note reminders after X days in a status, and to whom?

Yes, workflows in Clockwork can trigger tasks or note reminders after a set number of days in a status. You can also choose who will receive the reminders / notfiications by assigning them to specific users on your team.

Is the drag-and-drop layout/aesthetic customization per individual user or firm-wide?

Layout, page defaults, profiles, views and more are configured at the individual user level, so each person can organize and preserve their own views in Clockwork depending on what information they want to prioritize.

Can statuses support multi-level granularity (macro stage + sub-stage/code)?

Statuses are fully configurable, and you can create or change as many as you need. For finer granularity within a status, use color-coding to visually group candidates, or custom fields to track sub-categories of candidates.

Are workflow automations included in the base subscription, or a paid add-on like some competitors?

Included. Workflow automations for reminders are part of the standard Clockwork subscription, not a separate paid module.

Can custom fields be scoped/grouped to specific record types, or do they all live in one place?

Yes, custom fields are scoped to the record type they're created for. You create and manage them in firm settings, separately for specific objects like People, Companies, Deals, and Projects.

Can task/reminder notification timing and channel (email/push/in-app) be customized per user?

Yes, for channel: you can choose how you're notified for task reminders, by email, in-app alert, or web push. This is set by and unique to each user’s preferences as well.

Can a bulk/mass outreach follow-up create one shared group task instead of an individual task per recipient?

Bulk email sends are supported for reaching multiple recipients at once.

Can admins create a new tag on-the-fly directly from a person's record, instead of going to settings first?

Tags are managed and edited within the tag editor and can be created for People, Projects, Companies and Deals. Tags can be added to an object, you can filter against tags and bulk edit tags.

Is there a starter/basic template of statuses and workflow configuration, rather than building everything from scratch?

Yes, when you sign up, Clockwork comes with out-of-the-box statuses, project types, industries, and more that you can use as-is or adapt to your firm's process.

Can custom fields be created directly by the firm at multiple levels (person, project, company) without needing the vendor's dev team?

Yes. Custom fields are created and managed by your own users directly in firm settings, no developer or vendor involvement required.

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AI Features

How are AI candidate scores/ratings calculated — and based on what data?

AI candidate scores or ratings in Clockwork are determined and measured / scored against the research criteria set up for the project. AI rates and evaluated candidates on a project using a combination of data points from the candidate's profile and project-specific details, including: positions, education, address, biography, location, notes from the last two years, work history, resumes, bios and project metadata.

Does natural-language/AI search reliably find candidates in our database (vs. keyword-only)?

Yes. Clockwork's AI-powered search understands natural-language requests, not just exact keyword matches, so you can ask things like “find engineers in New York” and get relevant matches from your own database, and layer on additional filters on top of those results.

Is the MCP server for Claude/ChatGPT/CoPilot read-only, or will it get write-back capability?

Today, Clockwork’s MCP Server is read-only: your AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT, CoPilot, etc.) can look up and analyze your Clockwork data, but it can't create, edit, or delete records. Writing, editing and creating capabilities, with appropriate guardrails, are planned for a future release.

Which AI models does Clockwork's platform integrate with (Claude, ChatGPT, others)?

The Clockwork MCP server isn't built for one AI Assistant or agentic AI vendor. It's an open, standard connector, so it works with Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and other AI assistants that support MCP connectivity.

Can we set an AI rating threshold so we only reach out to/get notified about top-rated candidates?

Not currently. There's no way to set an automatic rating threshold that triggers outreach suggestions or notifications.

Does AI-generated job description /research criteria use our own firm's data, industry metadata, or other firms' work?

It uses your own firm's historical data, past searches, company and industry metadata, and project details, to draft the position description, requirements, and scoreable research criteria. It does not use another firm's confidential search or client data.

Can multiple individual users each leave their own separate rating for the same candidate, or is it one aggregate score?

It's a shared, aggregate rating rather than separate per-user scores. Different team members can add comments alongside a rating to provide additional context, or can leave their own notes on a candidate with note templates and note types.

If research criteria/weighting changes mid-search, does it affect already-issued ratings?

Yes. A candidate's overall rating is calculated from the current research criteria and weights. So if you change the weighting mid-search, existing candidates' scores do not recalculate to reflect the new weighting, unless you manually rerate the candidate or reevaluate the candidate using AI Ratings.

Does AI-generated reporting stay human-editable, or could it auto-publish inflated/inaccurate content?

AI-generated reports, candidate assessments, candidate ratings and candidate summaries in Clockwork are drafts, and are never auto-published. A recruiter reviews and can edit the output before it is made visible in the client portal or is shared with a client.

Can I see a rollup of interaction history with a candidate (number of touchpoints, general sentiment) at a glance?

You can see a candidate's notes, note types, and activity history; notes are the most reliable record of who did what and when. There isn't a built-in sentiment score or a single at-a-glance touchpoint counter, though you can ask an AI assistant connected via the MCP server to summarize that history for you.

Is there AI-based similarity matching to find candidates that match specific search criteria?

Yes, through Clockwork's Similar Projects and talent rediscovery features. It looks at your past searches, finds ones similar to your current one, and surfaces candidates from those searches who performed well, so you can quickly rediscover strong matches already in your database.

Is there an audit trail showing when rating criteria/weights were changed and what the prior values were?

No. Clockwork doesn't keep a logged history of when research criteria or their weights were changed, or what the prior values were. Ratings will only show the current or most recent user that left a comment on the rating for a candidate. This is different from candidacy status history, where Clockwork does log every stage change with a timestamp and who made it.

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Database Mechanics

How does duplicate merging/unmerging work for people and companies?

Yes, duplicate Person records can be identified and merged. For People and Companies, selecting two or more records lets you merge them, with all data consolidating under the surviving record; the merged company is kept as an alias you can remove to reverse the merge. You cannot undo or unmerge people or companies.

Does the platform track total lifetime deal value/financial breakdown per client, and fee/contract structure?

Yes. Project-level fee and payment data, flat fee or percentage of comp, and payment schedule, is tracked via a contract tab on the project, and deal/pipeline and revenue-by-client rollups exist as part of Clockwork's business development tools.

Can multi-office/multi-location companies be tracked separately or merged into one record?

Clockwork doesn't currently have a dedicated parent/subsidiary or multi-location company feature. Each company is treated as an independent entity. However, you can use strategies like naming conventions or link company records together through relationships between companies. Relationship types for companies include: Division of; Has Division; Acquired; Acquired by; Invested in; Investment of.

Can we see, from a list view, whether a candidate is concurrently on multiple active projects?

Yes, in part. A suitcase icon on a candidate's profile shows project involvement: green means they're a candidate on one other project, red means they're on multiple.

Can you export raw underlying data (CSV/Excel) for ad-hoc analysis?

Yes. You can export your data for ad-hoc analysis.

Does Clockwork generate invoices, or only store contract/fee data?

Clockwork tracks contracts, fee structures, fee splits, commissions, and payment records, but it doesn't generate invoices itself, and it doesn't integrate with invoicing or accounting tools.

Is there a kanban/Trello-style board view for tracking candidates through a search?

Not currently. Candidates and candidate pipelines are managed in table-style grid views where you can drag and drop candidates.

Can saved/targeted lists be shared between team members, or are they individual only?

Target Company lists when building out the search strategy can be saved and reused for future projects. However Saved list views and saved filter views for organizing people for example, are individual to each user, not shared across team members.

Can we select a block/range of rows in a list (Excel-style) rather than one-by-one?

Yes, you can select multiple records, projects, people, candidates, deals, and tags, and apply bulk actions.

Can we add a sortable 'last note timestamp' column at the project/grid level, not just a general 'date updated' field?

Notes have their own timestamp, separate from a project's general last-updated field.

Can additional relationship types be added (e.g., 'board member') beyond the standardized list?

As of today, relationship types are a fixed, standard list rather than something firms can add to themselves. The standard list of relationship types for people includes: replaced; replaced by; overlapped with; knows; indirectly manages; indirtecly managed by; friend of; partnered with; managed; managed by; referred; referred by.

Are file attachments (resumes, documents) keyword-searchable, not just profile fields?

Yes, file attachments like resumes and documents are indeed keyword-searchable. You can search through the content of attachments.

Can location data be searched reliably by city/zip/region even if manually entered (vs. LinkedIn's inconsistent location fields)?

Yes. You can search using a free-text location filter, typing a city or region, or a structured region filter.

Does a scheduled calendar meeting automatically get attributed to a candidate's profile once their email is added to the system?

Yes. If an email address exists in Clockwork for a person or candidate, emails and meetings are attached directly to their person record.

Does Clockwork automatically create profiles from a user's Gmail/Google contacts, or only when manually added?

No. automatic profile creation does not happen for Gmail, Outlook or contacts. Profiles are created through a job posting application, a CSV import, or being manually created. Once a person record has an email address that is known - then emails can be logged and tracked on the person record.

Can a person be removed from a project?

Yes. Once removed, the person's own record and their project history stay intact.

Can compensation be tracked historically by year per person (base/bonus/equity), and exported/filtered to build anonymized market comp studies?

Compensation is tracked as part of a person's record, including a desired compensation field, salary, bonus etc., within date ranges to provide historically linked tracking.

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Training, Onboarding & Support

What onboarding/training is provided (length, format, ongoing support)?

New users start with an in-app guided setup: a welcome flow and checklist covering connecting your email, setting up your profile, joining our Pro Tips webinar series, and learning how to get instant AI support. Teams at new firms then complete a product walkthrough checklist and move onto two, one-hour long live training sessions with a Clockwork expert. After onboarding, support continues through biweekly Pro Tips webinars, in-app AI help, and our human support team.

Can training be phased for team members with varying tech proficiency?

Training is already staged: new firms get a foundational live session followed a few weeks later by a deeper session on advanced features and firm-specific workflows, while team members added later at an established firm get a lighter, self-guided setup. If you need a different pace for your team, talk to your sales contact.

Is there a customer community (Slack group, office hours) for peer collaboration?

We host biweekly Pro Tips webinars, 30-minute sessions open to any Clockwork user, where our support and customer success teams answer questions and cover a focused topic each time. We also have a beta group for users and firms that want to participate in testing new features and roll-outs.

Can prospects get a sandbox/free trial account to test-drive the platform before signing?

No. Running an executive search end-to-end typically takes longer than a couple of weeks, so instead of a self-serve trial, you'll start with a live demo. Sandbox accounts are reserved for existing Clockwork users looking to develop a new integration and require a test environment.

What is the customer support SLA/response time?

You can reach support two ways: an in-app AI assistant for instant answers, and our human support team for anything that needs a person.

Is customer support US-based/US-timezone?

Our support team covers a range of hours to be available when you need us. If specific business hours or time zones matter for your firm, ask your sales or account contact for current coverage details.

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Security, GDPR & Compliance

Is our data kept private?

Yes. Your data stays private and is yours. NoClockwork never accesses, shares, or sells it. We've completed a SOC 2 Type II audit with a clean opinion.

Does Clockwork access, share, or sell our candidate/notes data?

No. Clockwork never accesses, shares, or sells your data. We've completed a SOC 2 Type II audit with a clean opinion.

Is there a 'do not contact' (DNC) / off-limits flag, and does it apply reliably even to incomplete profiles?

Yes. Any person or company record can be flagged do-not-contact, and once set, it's a hard stop, no outreach through that record, by email, phone, or any other channel. This applies regardless of how complete the profile is.

How does Clockwork handle GDPR/CCPA (data subject access, deletion, removal requests, etc.)?

Clockwork supports GDPR and CCPA compliance with a formal Data Processing Agreement included in our standard contract, plus built-in tools to log, track, audit and manage data subject requests, including access, correction, and removal. Clockwork’s self-serve candidate portal also provides accessibility controls to candidates for sharing their data.

Can candidates be invited to a self-service portal to upload/update their own CV or give GDPR consent?

Yes. Candidates can be invited to a self-service portal where they update their own information, upload a current CV, and provide GDPR consent directly from within the portal.

Can GDPR consent/opt-in status be tracked as a searchable custom field, and can consent-request email templates be customized?

Yes. You can track consent and opt-in status with custom fields, and create and customize your own email templates for requesting or confirming consent, sent right from Clockwork to remain compliant.

Where is customer data hosted (which region/country), and does that matter for GDPR data residency requirements?

Your data is hosted on Amazon Web Services cloud infrastructure. For GDPR, our Data Processing Agreement covers appropriate data transfer safeguards where applicable. If your firm has a specific data residency requirement, contact us and we'll confirm what's available for your account.

Is data encrypted at rest and in transit?

Yes. Data is encrypted at rest and in transit.

What is the backup and disaster recovery process, and how quickly can data be restored?

Clockwork runs on AWS, which provides backup and redundancy as standard practice for its cloud infrastructure.

What is Clockwork's uptime track record or SLA?

Our standard Service Level Agreement targets 99.9% monthly uptime.

Is there a public status page for outages/incidents?

Yes. We also will notify you and your users of any upcoming or planned outages or incidents in advance through in-app alerts and email.

What security certifications does Clockwork hold beyond SOC 2 (e.g., ISO 27001)?

SOC 2 Type II is our primary certification today. We don't currently hold additional certifications like ISO 27001 directly, though the AWS infrastructure we run on carries its own certifications, including SOC 2 and ISO 27001.

What is the process for security incident/breach notification?

Clockwork has a formal incident response process, and if a security incident affecting your data ever occurred, we'd notify affected customers promptly in line with our contractual and legal obligations. We also run annual third-party penetration testing.

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Business Model Fit

What size/type of firm is Clockwork actually built for (boutique vs. enterprise)?

Clockwork is built for firms that run or follow a retained executive search process. It works for solo practitioners, owner-operators, small and mid-size firms of roughly 2-50 people, and larger firms with multiple global offices.

Is Clockwork suited for firms that also want built-in CRM/marketing capability, not just ATS?

Yes. Clockwork is built as a CRM and project management platform for running searches, collaborating with clients, and managing your people and contact data. It also includes business development tools like deal and pipeline tracking.

Can Clockwork support an interim/contract-staffing, retingency or container models, not just retained search (separate KPIs/billing)?

Yes, within limits. Clockwork supports configurable project types, including Interim and Marketing Mapping, so firms can offer these adjacent services alongside retained search. Clockwork isn't built for high-volume, outbound staffing or contingent search.

Can Clockwork help build an anonymized market-map or salary-survey dataset to pitch new business

Yes. Clockwork lets you track compensation history by year on each person's record. You can filter and export that data, then use AI tools to help anonymize and summarize it into a market map or compensation benchmark for new business pitches.

Can Clockwork handle both structured executive search and looser/general recruitment roles in one system?

Yes, as long as it stays within a methodical outbound-style search work. Clockwork isn't designed for high-volume staffing or contingent recruiting.

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Mobile App

Is there a mobile app, and what can it do (notes, candidates, projects)?

Yes. The Clockwork mobile app, for iOS and Android, lets you search and view your candidates and projects, add and read candidate notes, update candidate statuses, add new candidates, and check project dashboards, all from your phone.

What are the mobile app's feature limitations compared to the desktop/web version?

The mobile app covers day-to-day candidate and project management: viewing, searching, adding notes, and updating statuses. More complex tasks, like firm-wide admin settings, detailed reporting and exports, and bulk edits, are best done on desktop.

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Company Background & Roadmap

What can you tell me about Clockwork's financial stability and market position (size, funding, tenure)?

Clockwork Recruiting was founded in 2010 and has been an innovator in executive search software ever since. It was started by an executive recruiter who previously worked at a global multinational executive search firm. The platform is built around the 8 Stages of executive search, supporting every step and milestone of a search, from setting strategy through client collaboration to closing the placement. Clockwork is privately held and has grown steadily since 2010.

Is there a public product roadmap, or a way to submit/vote on feature requests?

You can submit feature ideas and vote on proposed features through our ideas portal. We share our annual roadmap directly with customers rather than posting it publicly.

How is the roadmap prioritized — genuinely by customer feedback, or one person's vision?

Roadmap priorities are shaped by feature requests and feedback submitted through the ideas portal, combined with the product team's judgment on where to invest next. Customer input is a real and regular part of what we build.

What's the release cadence for product updates?

Clockwork ships updates on a rolling basis rather than in big, infrequent releases, so you'll typically see new features and improvements throughout the year rather than on a fixed quarterly schedule.

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About Clockwork

What is Clockwork, and what kind of firm is it actually built for?

Clockwork is a Talent Relationship and Search Project Management platform, essentially a CRM purpose-built for the way retained executive search firms actually work. It's designed around the full lifecycle of a search, from strategy and research through candidate assessment, client collaboration, and placement. Clockwork works well for firms of nearly any size, from solo practitioners to firms with 50+ people across multiple offices, as long as they run a retained search process.

Is Clockwork only for executive search, or does it work for contingency/staffing recruiting too?

Clockwork is built specifically for executive search. It also supports some adjacent project and service types, like Interim placements and Marketing Mapping. It's not designed for high-volume, inbound contingent or staffing recruiting, which typically needs a different kind of tool.

How is Clockwork different from a generic CRM/ATS?

A generic CRM or ATS is built for high-volume, inbound, applicant-driven hiring, think job boards and large applicant pools. Clockwork is built around the actual retained search process, the 8 Stages of executive search, from strategy and research through candidate assessment, client collaboration, and placement. That shapes the data model, workflows, and reporting around passive candidate research, client collaboration, including a live client portal, and search-specific reporting, rather than being a general pipeline tool adapted for recruiting.

How long has Clockwork been in business, and who founded it?

Clockwork has been in business since 2010. It was founded by Christian Spletzer, an executive recruiter who previously worked at a global multinational executive search firm, based on firsthand experience with what search firms actually need from their executive search platform and tools.

Is there a free trial, self-serve signup, or do you have to talk to sales first

There's no free trial. Running a full executive search typically takes longer than a couple of weeks, so a short trial doesn't show you the real value. Instead, you talk to our sales team and see a live demo walkthrough. You can also sign-up here to get started using Clockwork today.

What does Clockwork cost, roughly, before I talk to anyone?

Clockwork is $149 per seat per month if billed annually ($1,788 a year), or $179 per seat per month if billed monthly. Client-facing and hiring-manager seats are free and unlimited. Optional data enrichment credits are available if you want to enrich contact and company records. Onboarding and training are included for new firms signing up to Clockwork.

Any data migration from a prior system is quoted separately based on your firm's needs.

Are there customer reviews or ratings (G2, Capterra, etc.)?

Yes. Clockwork has a listing with customer reviews on Capterra, and a profile on G2 as well.

Is Clockwork cloud-based? Do I need to install anything?

Clockwork is entirely cloud-based; you log in through your web browser from anywhere, no software installation or download is required. You can add a Chrome extension for capturing LinkedIn profiles and a mobile app for working on the go, but both are optional and included. Clockwork works on both Apple / Mac and PC-based computers.

Does Clockwork work for firms outside the US (data handling, currency, support hours)?

Yes, Clockwork is used by firms outside the US. The platform includes GDPR and CCPA compliance tooling, letting firms track consent, manage data subject requests, and generate compliance reports for candidates in regulated regions.

How does Clockwork compare directly to Loxo / Ezekia / Bullhorn / FileFinder-Talentis / Cluen-Encore / RecruiterFlow / Crelate?

Every platform has its strengths, but Clockwork's focus is specific: we build exclusively for retained executive search, not as a generalist ATS or CRM adapted for recruiting. That means workflows, client collaboration, and reporting are shaped around how a search actually runs, from strategy through placement. We've helped firms migrate from many of the platforms you may be evaluating against, so if you're comparing options, we're glad to walk through what that transition typically looks like for a firm your size.

What's the realistic total cost of ownership (seats + migration + any add-ons) for my team size?

Your main recurring cost is the per-seat subscription, $149-$179 per seat per month depending on billing terms. On top of that, most firms moving from another platform have a one-time data migration fee, which scales with data volume and team size. Optional data enrichment credits are available if you want to enrich more records than what's included. Talk to sales for an exact quote based on your team size and data.

What size and type of firm gets the most value from Clockwork, and where does it fall short?

Clockwork works well for retained executive search firms of any size, from solo practitioners to large firms with global offices. Where it's not the right fit: if your firm runs high-volume, inbound contingent or staffing recruiting, Clockwork isn't built to support high-volume contingent staffing.

Can I see a recorded demo or product walkthrough video before scheduling a live call?

Yes. Clockwork offers product tour videos you can watch here, plus additional walkthroughs. If you'd like a more in-depth or personalized look, you can also schedule a live demo with our team.

What does implementation/onboarding actually look like, start to finish?

Once you sign up, you're guided through in-app checklists to get your account, email, and profile set up. You'll also have two, one-hour, live training sessions with a Clockwork expert to walk through training and best practices for your firm. After that, you can join our ongoing Pro Tips webinars, held every two weeks, to keep learning new features. If you're moving from another platform, a data migration project runs alongside onboarding to bring your existing records into Clockwork.

Does Clockwork integrate with the specific tools we already use?

Clockwork integrates with a wide range of tools search firms already use: calendars, email, sourcing and enrichment tools, AI notetakers, Claude, ChatGPT, CoPilot and more. Since this depends on your specific tech stack, the best way to talk to our sales team, or to build against our open API, which is included with your subscription at no extra cost.

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Account Security & Access

Is single sign-on (SSO) supported?

Yes. Clockwork supports single sign-on through Okta and Microsoft Azure Active Directory.

Is two-factor authentication (2FA/MFA) available?

If you sign in through Okta or Azure AD single sign-on, MFA is enforced through your identity provider.

What permission levels/roles exist beyond a basic admin-vs-everyone split?

Clockwork has four user role permission types: Partner, Recruiter, Researcher, and Admin.

Can multiple people be logged into the same seat/account simultaneously, or is it strictly one login per seat?

No, logins cannot be shared and each user has their own individual seat and account.

Is there an audit log showing which user made which change and when?

Yes. Clockwork records user activity logs, candidate and project updates, access, record changes and more. These user logs are viewable and downloadable within the application.

Can a user be deactivated without losing their historical notes/activity from the record?

Yes. Deactivating a user removes their access to Clockwork but preserves their historical notes and activity; their name stays attached to past records.

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Contract & Legal Terms

What are the terms for early termination or cancellation for cause?

Either party can end the agreement for cause if the other side materially breaches and doesn't fix it within 30 days of written notice, or 5 business days for a missed payment specifically. That's different from ending for convenience, where either side can walk away with 90 days' notice, but if you end things for a reason other than our uncured breach, you still owe fees for the rest of the term.

Is there a contractual cap on future price increases, not just a verbal assurance?

Yes. Our standard agreement caps renewal price increases at 5% per term and requires 90 days' written notice before any increase takes effect. It's written into the contract itself.

Is there a formal Data Processing Agreement (DPA) available for GDPR/compliance purposes?

Yes, a Data Processing Agreement is a standard part of our contract package for GDPR compliance.

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Business Continuity

What happens to our data if Clockwork is acquired, shuts down, or becomes unresponsive as a vendor?

Our standard agreement includes a change-of-control clause: if Clockwork is acquired or merges with another company, we can assign the agreement to the new owner, and your contract, including its data protections, carries over intact.

Is there any data escrow arrangement or guaranteed export mechanism in case of company insolvency?

We don't have a data escrow arrangement today. The closest documented protection is our standard export-on-termination process: you can request your data in writing and we'll deliver it.

What is Clockwork's funding/profitability status, and what is customer retention/churn like?

Clockwork is privately held and has been building this product since 2010. We don't share specific financial or churn figures publicly, but we're happy to talk through our track record and customer longevity in a live conversation with our sales team.

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Technical Compatibility

What browsers are supported beyond Chrome (which the LinkedIn extension requires)?

The core Clockwork web app works in any modern browser, including Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge. Our LinkedIn sourcing tool, the Chrome panel, is a Chrome browser extension, so it requires Chrome or another Chromium-based browser.

What OS/device versions does the mobile app require (iOS/Android)?

The Clockwork mobile app requires recent versions of iOS and Android.

Does the platform work well on tablets, or is it desktop/phone only?

Clockwork's web app is fully responsive, so it works well in a tablet's browser. The dedicated mobile app is designed for phones; on a tablet, we recommend using the web app through your browser for the full experience.

Is there any offline mode, or is constant internet connectivity required

Clockwork is a cloud-based platform, so you'll need an internet connection to use it. There's no offline mode.

Is there a rate limit on API/MCP calls, and what happens if it's exceeded?

Yes, the API is rate-limited to keep the platform stable for everyone. Limits apply at the firm level, with different tiers available depending on your needs. If you're planning high-volume usage, contact us so we can make sure you have the right tier.