Question 1

What is CUAD Consulting?

Accepted Answer

CUAD Consulting is an AI-enabled recruitment agency and strategic business partner headquartered in Gurgaon (Gurugram), India. Founded in 2018, we help B2B technology companies across India, Singapore, and Australia hire specialist tech talent using our proprietary AI Fit Score (AFS) — and we also deliver ServiceNow consulting, full-stack web development, AI business automation, and digital marketing services under one roof.

Question 2

How long has CUAD Consulting been in business?

Accepted Answer

CUAD was founded in 2018. Over seven years we have built a track record of 200+ placements, 50+ automation deployments, and a 98% client satisfaction score across 15+ industries. Our core team brings 10+ years of combined experience in recruitment, technology, and growth consulting.

Question 3

Which markets and locations does CUAD serve?

Accepted Answer

Our primary delivery hub is Gurgaon, India. We actively place candidates and deliver services across all major Indian tech cities — Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, and the NCR — as well as Singapore and Australia. Clients based anywhere can engage us; we work remotely and travel when a mandate requires it.

Question 4

Who are the people behind CUAD Consulting?

Accepted Answer

CUAD is built by a team of 50+ industry specialists — recruiters, ServiceNow consultants, web developers, AI engineers, and digital marketers. Our leadership has deep domain expertise across enterprise IT and B2B hiring. You can learn more about the team on our About page.

Question 5

What services does CUAD Consulting offer?

Accepted Answer

We offer five interconnected services: (1) AI-Enabled Strategic Sourcing — precision tech talent acquisition using our AFS methodology; (2) ServiceNow Consulting — module implementation, platform optimisation, and specialist hiring; (3) Full-Stack Web Development — from MVP to enterprise-scale Next.js and React apps; (4) AI Business Automation — n8n, LangChain, and custom AI-agent workflows; and (5) Digital Marketing & Lead Generation — SEO, paid acquisition, CRM nurture, and analytics.

Question 6

Do you only recruit for tech roles, or do you cover other functions too?

Accepted Answer

Our primary strength is specialist tech talent — ServiceNow developers and architects, full-stack engineers, data engineers, and AI/ML professionals. That said, we have placed senior leadership and product roles for B2B clients when the brief calls for it. If you're unsure whether your role fits, drop us a message and we'll give you an honest answer within 24 hours.

Question 7

Can CUAD help with ServiceNow implementation, or just ServiceNow hiring?

Accepted Answer

Both. Our ServiceNow practice covers end-to-end module implementation (ITSM, ITOM, CSM, HRSD, SPM), platform architecture reviews, and ongoing optimisation — delivered by certified consultants. If you need to build or scale an internal ServiceNow team, our sourcing arm places the architects and developers too.

Question 8

What is the Embedded Sourcing Cell and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

The Embedded Sourcing Cell (ESC) is our white-label recruitment model. A dedicated CUAD sourcing team operates under your company's brand identity — embedded in your Slack/Teams workspace, synced to your ATS, and aligned to your weekly hiring calendar. Candidates and hiring managers see only your branding. SLA-backed time-to-shortlist is committed upfront, not best-effort.

Question 9

Can you build our web application or digital product from scratch?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our development team builds custom web applications using Next.js, React, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS — from zero to production. We handle everything: product scoping, UI/UX, backend API design, database architecture, deployment, and post-launch optimisation. Projects range from MVPs for pre-seed startups to enterprise portals for large organisations.

Question 10

How is CUAD different from a traditional staffing agency?

Accepted Answer

Three key differences: (1) AI-powered shortlisting — every candidate is scored across six objective dimensions before you see them, eliminating gut-feel bias; (2) Embedded model — we work inside your processes, not alongside them; (3) One partner, multiple capabilities — staffing, engineering, automation, and marketing coordinated by one team, so no handoffs between vendors. We focus on business outcomes, not resume volume.

Question 11

What is the AI Fit Score (AFS)?

Accepted Answer

The AI Fit Score (AFS) is CUAD's proprietary candidate evaluation engine. It scores every candidate on a 0–100 scale across six objective dimensions before the first interview — giving hiring managers a structured, bias-reduced shortlist rather than a stack of unranked CVs.

Question 12

What six dimensions does the AFS measure?

Accepted Answer

AFS evaluates: (1) Experience Match — domain relevance and trajectory, not just tenure; (2) Skills Relevance — technical and functional overlap with actual job requirements; (3) Compensation Fit — current and expected CTC aligned to budget, preventing late-stage drop-offs; (4) Location Fit — on-site, hybrid, and remote compatibility plus relocability; (5) Qualification — academic and professional credentials vs. role prerequisites; (6) Notice Period — availability timeline scored against your hiring urgency.

Question 13

Is the AFS fully automated, or does a human validate the results?

Accepted Answer

AFS uses a human-in-the-loop model. The AI processes the resume, structures the initial scoring, and flags dimension-level gaps — but a CUAD consultant reviews every report before it reaches you. This prevents edge-case misscores and ensures context that AI alone may miss (career transitions, freelance periods, etc.) is accounted for.

Question 14

Does the AFS introduce bias into the screening process?

Accepted Answer

AFS is designed to reduce, not introduce, bias. It evaluates structured role-specific criteria — experience, skills, compensation, location, qualification, and availability — and explicitly excludes demographic signals (name, age, gender, photo). Score weights are calibrated per job brief, not applied as a one-size-fits-all model. We continuously review outputs for systematic skew.

Question 15

Can I see a sample AFS report before we engage?

Accepted Answer

Yes — a live sample AFS report is displayed on our Services page, showing the full six-dimension breakdown, strengths, gaps, and score band (Strong Hire / Shortlist / Consider / Pass). You can also request a demo run on one of your active job descriptions via the contact form.

Question 16

What is your end-to-end hiring process?

Accepted Answer

Our four-step process: (1) Discovery — we run a structured role-scoping call to understand the job, team, culture, and hiring urgency; (2) Sourcing & Scoring — candidates are identified, screened, and AFS-scored within the agreed SLA; (3) Shortlist Delivery — you receive a ranked shortlist with full AFS reports and our consultant's recommendation; (4) Offer Management & Onboarding — we manage interviews, negotiation, offer, and BGV through to Day 1.

Question 17

How quickly can you fill a senior tech role?

Accepted Answer

Our AFS-enabled process delivers qualified shortlists 40% faster than the industry average. Niche technical roles have been closed in as few as 7 days (e.g. a Golang Developer in Chennai). Standard senior placements close in 14–28 days. For simultaneous multi-role briefs — such as 4 ServiceNow Architects hired in 28 days — we deploy a dedicated ESC team.

Question 18

Do you offer a replacement guarantee if a placed candidate leaves early?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer a structured replacement guarantee on all placements. The exact terms (duration and scope) are defined in the engagement agreement prior to the search commencing. If a candidate exits within the guarantee window for performance or misrepresentation reasons, we re-run the search at no additional placement fee.

Question 19

Do you support confidential or sensitive searches?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Confidential mandates are handled with full discretion — candidates are not told which company they are applying for until a mutual interest is confirmed. Your identity is protected throughout the sourcing and screening stages, and we can operate under an NDA before the role brief is shared.

Question 20

Which ATS systems does CUAD integrate with?

Accepted Answer

We sync directly with Greenhouse, Workday, Lever, SAP SuccessFactors, BambooHR, Taleo, iCIMS, and SmartRecruiters. If your ATS is not on this list, contact us — our team can assess integration feasibility before the engagement begins. We operate on a zero-data-retention model: your hiring data stays in your ATS, not in a parallel CUAD database.

Question 21

How does CUAD charge for recruitment services?

Accepted Answer

Recruitment fees are structured as a percentage of the placed candidate's annual CTC (Cost to Company). The exact rate depends on role seniority, search complexity, and the engagement model chosen. We are transparent about fees upfront — there are no hidden charges, no retainer for non-delivered mandates, and no fee on unsuccessful searches under our contingency model.

Question 22

What engagement models do you offer?

Accepted Answer

We offer three models: (1) Contingency Search — you pay only on successful placement, ideal for individual or occasional hires; (2) Retained Search — a structured upfront commitment for senior, niche, or leadership roles requiring deep market mapping; (3) Embedded Sourcing Cell (ESC) — a monthly retainer for ongoing, volume, or confidential hiring pipelines with SLA-backed delivery.

Question 23

Can early-stage startups afford CUAD's services?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We work with pre-Series A startups and have a dedicated playbook for founding team hires. Engagement terms for startups are discussed case-by-case and can be structured to fit tighter budgets — including milestone-based arrangements for very early-stage companies. Use our Bad Hire Cost Calculator on the homepage to understand the true cost of getting the wrong first hire.

Question 24

Is my company data and candidate data safe with CUAD?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We operate on a zero data-retention model — candidate and client data flows into your ATS and is not stored in parallel CUAD databases. All data handling is governed by written data-processing agreements. Background verification reports are shared directly with you and deleted from our systems after handover.

Question 25

Are you compliant with GDPR and India's DPDP Act?

Accepted Answer

CUAD is fully aligned with India's Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023. Candidate data is collected under explicit consent, used solely for the stated hiring purpose, and not shared with third parties without approval. For clients with GDPR obligations (EU-based) or Singapore PDPA requirements, we apply equivalent data-handling standards and can sign a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) prior to engagement.

Question 26

I'm a job seeker — can I register my profile with CUAD?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Visit our Jobs page to browse active openings and apply directly. If you are a specialist tech professional (ServiceNow, full-stack, AI/ML) looking to be considered for future mandates, you can submit your CV via the Contact page — mention you are a candidate in the brief field. We maintain a curated bench of pre-screened talent for fast-track placements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CUAD Consulting?

How long has CUAD Consulting been in business?

Which markets and locations does CUAD serve?

Who are the people behind CUAD Consulting?