Job seeker terms

These terms apply when you register as a job seeker with Elderbirch (Pty) Ltd, trading as ElderBirch Consulting & Services (“ElderBirch”, “we”). They are in addition to our terms of use and privacy policy.

1. Free, always

ElderBirch never charges job seekers anything: not to register, be listed, be contacted, apply or be placed, and not for CVs, background checks, training, uniforms or medicals. Section 15 of the Employment Services Act 4 of 2014 prohibits charging a work-seeker for an employment service. If anyone asks you for money in ElderBirch's name, it is a scam — please report it.

2. Who can register

• You must be 18 or older.
• You may have one profile, and it must be about you.
• ElderBirch may create a profile for you with your permission — for example after a phone or walk-in interview. The same terms then apply, and you can take over the profile by setting a password.

3. What you agree to

When you register, you consent to:

• ElderBirch processing your information as described in the privacy policy, to help you find work;
• your candidate card appearing in the public register — first name and surname initial, reference number, job type, area, age band, experience and the other card fields, but never your contact details, ID number or exact age;
• employers with a paid subscription, and companies whose recruitment ElderBirch manages, seeing your full profile and, where ElderBirch allows direct contact, your phone number, email address and CV, so that they can contact you about work.

Some consents are separate and optional: using your population group, gender and disability for employment equity filtering, answering the integrity questions, job alerts and news from ElderBirch. You can give or withdraw them at any time in Settings & privacy.

If you withdraw the consent to be listed, we can no longer include you in the register. You can pause your profile or delete it (see section 9).

4. Keep your profile accurate

• Everything in your profile and CV must be true. Don't exaggerate qualifications, experience, licences or salaries.
• Employers may verify qualifications, references, licences and — with your written consent — criminal or credit records. False information can lead to an offer being withdrawn, and we may remove the profile.
• Update your profile when something changes: a new phone number, a new qualification, a new job.

5. Keep your availability up to date

Your dashboard has an availability switch:

• Available — you are actively looking;
• Open to offers — you are working but would consider the right opportunity;
• Off the market — your profile is paused and hidden from the register.

When you find work, please switch to “Off the market” so employers don't contact you about roles you can't take. You can switch back whenever you like.

6. Being contacted by employers

• Subscribed employers can send you a connection request. You decide whether to accept or decline it in your dashboard.
• Some employers will phone, WhatsApp or email you directly. Be polite, and tell them if you are no longer available.
• Never pay an employer or recruiter, and never send ID copies or bank details before you have a written offer. Report anything suspicious on the employer's page or to ElderBirch.

7. Applying for vacancies

• When you apply, the employer that posted the vacancy (or ElderBirch, for vacancies we post for confidential clients) receives your application, the CV you applied with and your answers to its questions.
• Your application shows “Application received” until an employer invites you to an interview. From the interview stage onwards we update you about interviews, offers and outcomes, including by email.
• Should you not hear from us within 2 weeks, it means we don't have a vacancy that suits your experience and qualifications at this moment. You stay in our database, and we contact you when a suitable opportunity comes up.

8. Candidates ElderBirch represents

After interviewing you, ElderBirch may offer to represent you personally. Employers then contact you through ElderBirch, which makes the introduction. Representation is free for you, and you can ask us to stop at any time.

9. Pausing or removing your profile

• You can pause your profile by switching to “Off the market”, or delete your account permanently in Settings & privacy. Deleting removes your profile, photo, CV, documents, applications and messages.
• The Employment Services Act requires us to keep a minimal register entry (reference number, name, contact details, registration date and any placements) for three years after you delete your account.
• We may hide or remove a profile that is inaccurate, duplicated, belongs to someone under 18, is used abusively or otherwise breaks these terms. If we do, we will tell you why where we can.

10. Your conduct

Treat employers and ElderBirch with respect. Don't send spam, don't use employer information for anything other than your job search, and don't share your login.

11. No guarantee of work

We work hard to connect good people with good employers, but we cannot promise you interviews, offers or a job, and employers make their own hiring decisions.

12. Changes and contact

If we change these terms in a way that affects you, we will tell you by email or in your dashboard before the change applies. Questions? Contact us at elderbirch@outlook.com or WhatsApp 067 031 2470.