1.1 ZettaHires is a talent development and placement platform headquartered in Nashik, Maharashtra, India, providing Clients access to a pre-screened and pre-trained pool of fresher engineering candidates for evaluation-based engagements.

1.2 Candidates may work in remote mode, hybrid mode (Nashik and home office), onsite in India where the Client has an offshore branch or unit, or at any other mutually agreed location.

1.3 Every candidate registered with ZettaHires registers free of cost and agrees to sign ZettaHires Candidate Terms & Conditions covering confidentiality, professional conduct, communication discipline, and related obligations.

1.4 Candidate ratings are based on standardized parameters, including educational qualifications, academic performance, technical and domain skills, certifications, projects, internships, communication skills, training performance, and overall profile presentation.

1.5 A lower ranking does not necessarily indicate a weaker candidate. ZettaHires does not warrant a candidate's suitability. Assessment during the Evaluation Cycle remains the Client's responsibility.

2.1 The Client must formally register and sign off on the ZettaHires platform. Registration is free of cost.

2.2 Fees apply only when the Client selects candidates for an Evaluation Cycle.

2.3 Rated resumes are compiled from the ZettaHires talent pool and shared through the secure platform.

2.4 After registration, Clients may access rated talent profiles relevant to their requirements. ZettaHires may also present a shortlist of matching rated profiles when requested.

2.5 Candidate personal contact details are not shared at the shortlisting stage.

2.6 Detailed resumes are sent to the Client's registered email only after candidate selection under a Model and receipt of payment, along with a copy of the selection letter issued to the candidates.

Silver Model — 3-Month Base Evaluation

Minimum 5 resources for 3 months, at 22 days per month and 9 hours per day, at US$2.75 per hour per resource, for a total base-cycle fee of US$8,167.50. The full 3-month period is payable in advance.

The evaluation may be extended for a maximum further period of 3 months. The Silver plan is reviewed every 15 days and the applicable extension rate is subject to a 5% increase, payable in advance.

Remote / Hybrid engagement is available under the Silver Model.

Gold Model — 6-Month Base Evaluation

Minimum 3 resources for 6 months, at 22 days per month and 9 hours per day, at US$3.50 per hour per resource, for a total base-cycle fee of US$12,474.00. The full 6-month period is payable in advance.

The evaluation may be extended for a maximum further period of 3 months. The Gold plan is reviewed every 15 days and the applicable extension rate is subject to a 10% increase, payable in advance.

Remote / Hybrid engagement is available under the Gold Model.

Fees & Included Services

All fees are exclusive of and subject to applicable taxes. The evaluation fee covers the candidate's fixed monthly remuneration based on the market rate for freshers, medical insurance coverage, and ZettaHires' sourcing, training, rating, operational, and administration services.

Exact fees may vary with the cycle duration based on the selected model and are confirmed in the applicable Work Order and Invoice.

4.1 ZettaHires invoices in advance a fixed 3 or 6-month evaluation fee per candidate based on the minimum number of candidates, plus applicable taxes.

4.2 Payment for the full Base Cycle and any extended cycle of 3 or more months must be paid in advance before commencement.

4.3 Upon checkout and payment, the Client will receive an invoice, payment receipt, and Statement of Work (SOW).

4.4 The SOW shall be treated as the Work Order for the engagement.

4.5 Candidate remuneration is disbursed by ZettaHires regardless of Client receipts. Timely settlement of invoices is therefore essential to keep engagements running.

4.6 ZettaHires may suspend or terminate engagements for non-payment.

5.1 During the Evaluation Cycle, candidates work on the Client's live projects, tasks, and deliverables and participate in meetings and reviews under the Client's direction.

5.2 The Evaluation Cycle enables the Client to observe performance, learning ability, curiosity, solutioning ability, creativity, commitment, and cultural fit.

5.3 The Client is responsible for providing work assignments, email IDs, work-area and application access controls, day-to-day work reviews, supervision, status review templates, meeting invites, project-specific tools, and reasonable feedback.

5.4 The Client shall provide monthly/quarterly feedback and end-of-cycle feedback, which ZettaHires may use for certification and candidate re-rating.

5.5 Payroll, remuneration disbursement, and candidate administration are handled exclusively by ZettaHires.

5.6 After payment and issuance of the selection letter, the Client will initiate an online kick-off meeting with the candidates and ZettaHires coordination team.

5.7 The ZettaHires coordination team joins the initial kick-off meeting as part of initiation and handover. Thereafter, the Client manages and directs the team through its normal remote work process.

6.1 Candidates are engaged through ZettaHires for the duration of the Evaluation Cycle.

6.2 No employer-employee relationship arises between the Client and any candidate during the Base Evaluation Period, Extended Evaluation Period, or the 1-year Regular Hire Period.

6.3 Only after completion of the 1-year Regular Hire Period may the Client take candidate(s) onto its own rolls under its own employment terms, subject to the applicable terms.

6.4 To support candidate retention, ZettaHires provides market-rate remuneration for freshers during the Evaluation Cycle, medical insurance, continuous guidance, training, learning content, best practices, and project management support.

6.5 During the 1-year Regular Hire Period, the candidate remains on ZettaHires' payroll and is paid a salary above the market rate.

Convert to Regular Hire

If the Client is satisfied with a candidate's performance, the Client may convert the candidate to a Regular Hire for a mandatory period of 1 year before transferring the candidate to the Client's payroll.

During this 1-year Regular Hire Period, the billing rate shall be US$15.00 per hour per candidate. A separate SOW will be signed at the time of conversion. The candidate remains on ZettaHires' payroll throughout this period.

Extend the Evaluation Period

The Client may extend the evaluation period where an extension option is available. Both Silver and Gold allow a maximum further extension of 3 months. Any approved extension is subject to the applicable plan rate increase stated in the selected commercial plan.

Release the Candidate

The Client may release a candidate without extension or conversion. Payment obligations end with the last month of the completed cycle. No release fee, penalty, or severance is payable.

The candidate returns to the ZettaHires bench and receives a work experience certificate for the period worked with the Client.

After the 1-Year Regular Hire Period

After the 1-year Regular Hire Period, the Client may either continue engaging the candidate through ZettaHires at US$19.00 per hour, or hire the candidate directly onto its own payroll upon payment of the applicable transfer fee.

The direct transfer fee is equal to two months' billing at US$19.00 per hour per resource.

8.1 If a candidate resigns, suffers prolonged illness, or otherwise becomes unavailable during an Evaluation Cycle, the Client must notify ZettaHires in writing.

8.2 The Client may select a replacement candidate, or ZettaHires may offer suitable replacement candidates from its resource pool.

8.3 ZettaHires will provide a pro-rata extension for the remaining period of the candidate's cycle through a suitable replacement at no additional cost.

8.4 In the event of candidate misconduct or breach, the Client may terminate that individual candidate's engagement with 60 days' written notice.

8.5 Termination of one candidate does not affect other Evaluation Cycles already running.

9.1 All communication with candidates must be routed through ZettaHires until a candidate is formally selected as a Regular Hire following a successful Evaluation Cycle.

9.2 Candidates are bound by the same communication requirements under their Candidate Terms & Conditions.

9.3 The Client shall not engage, hire, or contract candidates introduced by ZettaHires directly, whether as employees, contractors, or otherwise, during the engagement and for 12 months after the Base Evaluation Cycle or Extended Evaluation Cycle.

9.4 The restriction does not prevent a direct hire under the applicable conversion process and payment of the applicable transfer fee.

10.1 These Client Terms & Conditions bind ZettaHires to confidentiality.

10.2 Every candidate signs an NDA with the Client covering business information, project details, source code, processes, pricing, and other confidential information.

10.3 Subject to execution of an NDA with selected candidates, all deliverables and intellectual property created by a candidate during the Client's project are owned by the Client.

10.4 ZettaHires retains ownership of its own in-house training materials, administrative processes, and platforms.

10.5 Candidate profiles and data are shared solely for evaluation and engagement purposes.

10.6 The Client must not use candidate data for other purposes, share it with third parties, or retain it beyond the engagement except where required by law.

10.7 The Client must handle candidate data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

11.1 Every candidate will have their own laptop and internet connectivity meeting the applicable requirements.

11.2 If the Client's project requires specific hardware, licensed software, VPN, or security controls, the Client must communicate these requirements before the cycle begins.

11.3 Provision of client-specific tools, access, hardware, licensed software, VPN, and security controls is the Client's responsibility.

11.4 Client-specific readiness training may be arranged before or during onboarding, subject to scope and cost agreement.

12.1 These Terms, together with the payment receipt, Work Order, and any SOW signed upon conversion, constitute the agreement between the parties for the engagement.

12.2 In case of conflict, the applicable Work Order or SOW prevails for engagement-specific commercials.

12.3 For issues, challenges, suggestions, complaints, or requests, the Client may contact ZettaHires through its official email ID for resolution or response.

12.4 ZettaHires may update these Terms from time to time. The version accepted by the Client at the time of payment governs that engagement.

12.5 These Terms shall be governed by the laws of India.

12.6 Courts at Nashik, Maharashtra shall have jurisdiction, unless otherwise agreed in writing.