Core Insights - Job boards remain a significant platform for hiring, with 69% of employers conducting most of their hiring through them and 32% expecting increased reliance in the next year [2][3] - Candidates also favor job boards, with nearly 80% using general job boards and 54% utilizing industry-specific ones [2] Employer Preferences - Employers desire job boards to evolve by offering features such as messaging, prescreening questions, skills assessments, interview scheduling, job ad writing, and applicant tracking system integrations [3] - Other popular recruiting methods include employee referrals (71%), company websites (50%), and professional networking sites like LinkedIn (46%) [4] Candidate Behavior - Job seekers utilize professional networking sites (55%), company websites (45%), search engines (42%), and networking (33%) in their job search [5] - Candidates suggest that employers improve communication by providing hiring timelines, salary ranges, contact information, benefits details, and insights into company culture [5] Communication Challenges - Better employer branding and storytelling can enhance candidate engagement, addressing issues like ghosting and fake job postings, which are significant frustrations for candidates [6] - Communication between candidates and employers is a major concern, with 59% of candidates and 51% of employers citing ghosting as a frustration [6] Impact of AI - AI tools are expected to play a larger role in recruitment, potentially improving communication but necessitating transparency regarding AI usage [7] Application Process Issues - Online recruiting systems need to simplify complex application processes, as nearly 60% of candidates have abandoned applications due to frustration [8] - Candidates report that confusing applications and poor communication are their primary job search challenges [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - ZipRecruiter's Q2 2025 revenue was $112.2 million, representing a 2% sequential increase from Q1 2025, which had revenue of $110.1 million [5][14] - The number of quarterly paid employers (QPEs) reached 66,300 in Q2 2025, marking a 4% sequential increase from Q1 2025 [14] - Revenue per paid employer for Q2 was $16.93, down 4% year over year and down 2% sequentially [14] - The net loss for Q2 2025 was $9.5 million, compared to a net income of $7 million in Q2 2024 [14] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 was $9.3 million, resulting in an 8% margin, down from 23% in 2024 [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The acquisition of Breakroom has led to the publication of over 8,000 employer pages with more than 1 million ratings as of July 2025 [7][10] - The introduction of AI-powered features in the resume database for SMBs resulted in a 12% increase in the number of SMB customers unlocking resumes in Q2 2025 compared to Q1 2025 [8][12] - The enterprise customer adoption of ZipIntro increased significantly, with scheduled sessions growing by 90% quarter over quarter [7][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall labor market remains soft, with a low quit rate, but signs of stabilization and momentum are emerging across both SMBs and enterprises [20][22] - Healthcare continues to show strong demand for new labor, while education is experiencing a year-over-year decline despite a sequential increase [27][28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on product and technology investments to enhance matching and engagement between employers and job seekers [9] - ZipRecruiter aims to lead the shift from offline to online recruiting solutions and capitalize on the labor market recovery [8][12] - The company plans to maintain disciplined capital deployment while investing in innovative product initiatives and high ROI marketing campaigns [15][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in returning to modest year-over-year revenue growth in Q4 2025, driven by stabilization in the business [6][15] - Despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges, the company has maintained adjusted EBITDA profitability while investing in product and technology [16][17] - The management noted that the hiring environment remains challenging, but they are optimistic about the potential for recovery [60] Other Important Information - The company has a strong cash position, with cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaling $421.2 million as of June 30, 2025 [14] - The guidance for Q3 2025 revenue is between $110 million and $160 million, with the midpoint representing a 1% increase quarter over quarter [14][15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Differences between SMBs and enterprise hiring trends - Management noted that hiring remains muted but there are signs of stabilization and momentum across both SMBs and enterprises [20][22] Question: Future hiring needs and AI's impact - Conversations with employers indicate a slight reduction in anxiety around tariffs, but overall hiring remains uncertain [26][30] Question: Generative AI's impact on traffic - The use of generative AI tools has increased traffic to ZipRecruiter, particularly for research-oriented job seeker queries [38][39] Question: AI features and compliance with hiring regulations - The company is committed to ensuring compliance with hiring laws while deploying AI technologies [45][46] Question: Impact of ZipIntro on hiring outcomes - ZipIntro has significantly improved engagement between job seekers and employers, leading to higher response rates [51][52] Question: Pricing and monetization strategies - The company is focused on delivering value first before considering price increases, especially during a period of declining demand [66][68] Question: Future of Breakroom and its impact on KPIs - Breakroom is expected to enhance employer branding and job seeker confidence, leading to increased engagement and potential monetization opportunities [74][75]