hiyrd Professional Community Guidelines & Platform Standards

Effective Date: 21/11/2025
Version: 2.0

1. Welcome to hiyrd: The Professional Network for the Next Generation

hiyrd is not another social media platform – we are the premier professional networking ecosystem where Gen-Z professionals, entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators build meaningful careers through video-first connections.

Like LinkedIn revolutionized professional networking through profiles and posts, hiyrd is revolutionizing it through authentic video stories that showcase real talent, real work, and real opportunities.

Our Professional Mission

• Connect talent with opportunity through video portfolios and skill demonstrations
• Facilitate business relationships between entrepreneurs, investors, and collaborators
• Showcase professional achievements in creative, engaging formats
• Enable career discovery through authentic workplace content
• Build professional reputation through expertise sharing

What Makes hiyrd Different

This is where you:

• Land your next job or internship through video applications
• Find co-founders and business partners
• Showcase your portfolio to potential clients
• Share industry insights and thought leadership
• Network with professionals globally
• Discover career paths through real professional stories

2. Professional Standards & Age Requirements

hiyrd is exclusively for professionals and aspiring professionals aged 17 and above.

We maintain professional standards while allowing authentic workplace discussions. Think of hiyrd as the real conversations that happen after the corporate conference - honest, sometimes raw, but always professional in intent.

How We Keep The Platform Safe (Required Disclosure)

• AI + Human Review: Automated systems flag potential issues, but humans make enforcement decisions
• Appeals Available: Every moderation action can be appealed at support@hiyrd.com
• Transparent Process: You'll know why action was taken and can request review
• Context Matters: We consider professional context before taking action

Professional Verification

• Users must provide real professional identity
• Educational and work credentials encouraged
• Professional achievements and certifications welcomed
• Company affiliations must be accurate

3. Professional Account Standards

3.1 Professional Identity Requirements

• Real names and professional identities only – this is your career reputation
• Accurate professional history – education, work experience, skills
• Verified credentials where applicable (blue check for verified professionals)
• Professional headshots or branded logos for profile images
• No anonymous or entertainment-focused accounts

3.2 Professional Categories on hiyrd

• Job Seekers & Career Changers: Showcase skills, share career journey
• Entrepreneurs & Founders: Pitch ideas, find co-founders, attract investors
• Freelancers & Consultants: Display portfolio, attract clients
• Industry Experts: Share knowledge, build thought leadership
• Students & Recent Grads: Network, find mentors, discover opportunities
• Recruiters & Hiring Managers: Share company culture, post opportunities
• Investors & VCs: Scout talent, share insights, connect with founders

4. Content Standards for Professional Networking

4.1 Professional Content We Champion

Career & Opportunity Content

• Job opportunities and internship postings
• Company culture videos and "day in the life" content
• Interview tips and career advice
• Salary transparency and negotiation insights
• Industry trend analysis and market insights

Business & Entrepreneurship

• Startup pitches and founder stories
• Business case studies and lessons learned
• Product demonstrations and launches
• Investment opportunities and funding announcements
• Partnership and collaboration requests

Skills & Expertise Showcase

• Portfolio presentations (design, code, writing, etc.)
• Technical tutorials and professional how-tos
• Industry certifications and achievements
• Conference talks and professional presentations
• Work samples and project walkthroughs

Professional Development

• Leadership insights and management tips
• Productivity and workplace strategies
• Industry-specific education and training
• Mentorship opportunities and advice
• Professional challenges and growth stories

Networking & Community Building

• Industry meetup announcements
• Professional group formations
• Mentorship matching
• Collaboration calls-to-action
• Alumni and professional association content

Real Workplace Talk (Allowed with 17+ rating)

• Honest discussions about workplace challenges
• Salary negotiations and transparency
• Toxic workplace experiences and warnings
• Layoff stories and support
• Career failures and lessons learned
• Industry criticism and reform discussions
• Professional burnout and mental health
• Workplace discrimination experiences

4.2 Content That Doesn't Belong on a Professional Network

Prohibited Content – Zero Tolerance

Non-Professional Social Content

• Personal lifestyle content unrelated to career
• Entertainment-only videos (pranks, challenges, memes)
• Dating or romantic solicitation
• Party or nightlife content
• Personal drama or non-professional disputes

Unprofessional Conduct

• Sexual content, suggestive material, or nudity
• Excessive profanity or hostile language (moderate professional venting is acceptable)
• Workplace harassment or creating hostile environment content
• Discrimination or bias in professional contexts
• False professional credentials or experience

Harmful Business Practices

• Pyramid schemes or MLM recruitment
• Get-rich-quick schemes
• False job postings or recruitment scams
• Intellectual property theft or trade secret sharing
• Non-compete or NDA violations
• Insider trading or confidential information

6. Professional Privacy & Reputation Management

6.1 Protecting Your Professional Reputation

• Control who sees your content (public, connections only, specific industries)
• Hide content from specific companies or competitors
• Professional reference management
• Testimonial and endorsement controls
• Right to remove outdated professional content
• Data portability for your professional profile

6.2 Networking Boundaries

• Professional Messaging Only: No personal/romantic solicitation
• Connection Request Filters: By industry, seniority, location
• Recruiter Settings: Opt-in/out of recruitment outreach
• Company Blacklists: Block specific organizations
• Alumni Networks: Verified educational connections
• Professional Group Privacy: Closed industry-specific groups

7. Professional Content Moderation

7.1 Our Moderation System

• We use automated systems to identify content that may violate our policies.
• All automated actions that affect visibility, restrictions, or account status are reviewed by a trained human moderator.
• Users can appeal any decision at support@hiyrd.com or through in-app reporting tools.
• Appealed decisions are reviewed by a human moderator and may be reversed if incorrect.

7.2 Moderation Philosophy

With our 17+ rating, we focus moderation resources on what matters:

• Priority: Scams, fraud, and illegal content (protecting users)
• Secondary: Harassment and discrimination (maintaining professional environment)
• Community-driven: Users report unprofessional content
• Context matters: We understand workplace venting vs. actual harassment

7.3 Content Not Allowed Under Any Circumstances

• Sexual content, nudity, or sexually suggestive behaviour
• Hate speech or attacks against protected classes
• Violent, graphic, or gory content
• Self-harm, suicide, or encouragement of unsafe acts
• Illegal activities or promotion of criminal acts
• Harassment, bullying, or targeted abuse
• Misinformation that may cause harm
• Scams, fraud, or deceptive practices
• Content harmful to minors

7.4 Response Priorities

• Job Scams/Fraud: Removed within 2 hours
• Illegal Content: Removed within 4 hours
• Harassment: Reviewed within 12 hours
• Professional Standards: Reviewed within 24-48 hours
• Community Reports: Reviewed based on severity

7.5 Professional Conduct Enforcement

First Violation (professional standards):

• Content removed
• Professional standards coaching provided
• Suggested resources for improvement

Repeated Unprofessional Conduct:

• Temporary visibility reduction
• Required professional standards course
• Limited networking features

Serious Professional Violations:

• Account suspension pending investigation
• Potential industry disclosure (for fraud/scams)
• Permanent ban for severe violations

Criminal or Fraudulent Activity:

• Immediate permanent ban
• Reported to relevant authorities
• Shared with professional regulatory bodies where applicable

7.6 Professional Appeals Process

• Appeal within 14 days with professional context
• Industry-specialist review for sector-specific content
• Written professional determination within 48 hours
• Expedited appeals for job-related or time-sensitive content

8. Professional Reporting & Support

8.1 Report Unprofessional Conduct

• Job Scams: Priority reporting queue
• Fake Credentials: Verification team investigation
• Harassment: Professional conduct violations
• IP Theft: Portfolio and work protection
• Company Impersonation: Business verification team
• All reports can be sent to: support@hiyrd.com or use in-app reporting

8.2 Professional Support Resources

• Career Crisis Support: Resources for job loss, career transitions
• Professional Development: Free courses and certifications
• Industry Mentorship: Connect with experienced professionals
• Entrepreneur Resources: Startup guides and funding resources
• Student Support: Career guidance and internship prep

8.3 Protecting Professional Integrity

• False reporting that damages professional reputation is strictly prohibited
• Malicious reports about competitors may result in legal action
• We protect whistleblowers reporting genuine professional violations

9. Legal & Professional Compliance

9.1 Platform Compliance

• Apple App Store Guidelines (Professional Networking Category)
• Google Play Store Policies
• LinkedIn precedent for professional networks
• Professional networking industry standards

9.2 Employment & Business Law

• Equal Employment Opportunity compliance
• Anti-discrimination in hiring/recruiting
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) compliance
• International employment law respect
• Business solicitation regulations
• Securities regulations for investment content

9.3 Data Protection for Professionals

• GDPR (EU) - Special provisions for professional data
• CCPA (California) - Employee and B2B exemptions understood
• PIPL (China) - Cross-border professional data
• Industry-specific regulations (HIPAA, FINRA, etc.)

9.4 Professional Regulatory Bodies

We cooperate with:

• Professional licensing boards
• Industry regulatory bodies
• Educational institutions for verification
• Company verification services
• Employment verification platforms

10. Professional Transparency

10.1 Industry Transparency Reports

Quarterly reports include:

• Job posting authenticity rates
• Professional verification statistics
• Industry distribution of users
• Success stories and placements
• Company verification metrics
• Recruiter activity reports

10.2 Professional Standards Evolution

• Industry advisory board input
• Professional community feedback integration
• Regular updates based on workplace evolution
• Sector-specific guideline additions

11. Professional Platform Features

11.1 Video Resume & Portfolio Tools

• 60-second elevator pitches
• Project walkthroughs and case studies
• Skill demonstrations and certifications
• Interview practice and feedback
• Professional story sharing
• Work sample presentations

11.2 Professional Messaging

• Networking Outreach: Template-based professional intros
• Opportunity Discussions: Job and project negotiations
• Collaboration Requests: Partnership and team building
• Mentorship Connections: Career guidance conversations
• Reference Requests: Professional recommendation system
• No Personal/Social Messaging: Strictly professional communication

11.3 Industry-Specific Spaces

• Tech Hub: Code reviews, startup pitches, product demos
• Creative Studios: Portfolio showcases, client work, collaborations
• Business Center: Case studies, consulting, entrepreneurship
• Academic Commons: Research, publications, academic networking
• Healthcare Professionals: HIPAA-compliant career content
• Finance District: Market insights, career paths, certifications

12. Professional & Business Accounts

12.1 Account Types

Individual Professionals

• Verified credentials and experience
• Portfolio and achievement showcases
• Professional service offerings
• Thought leadership content
• Career journey documentation

Company Accounts

• Verified business registration
• Recruitment and culture content
• Product and service demonstrations
• Industry insights and trends
• Employee advocacy programs

Recruiter Accounts

• Verified recruiter status
• Job posting capabilities
• Talent search tools
• Company representation rights
• Candidate engagement metrics

Student/Entry-Level Accounts

• University verification
• Internship seeking tools
• Enhanced mentorship access
• Portfolio building support
• Entry-level opportunity priority

12.2 Monetization for Professionals

• Paid Consultations: Offer expertise for fees
• Course Creation: Sell professional development content
• Premium Networking: Paid introduction services
• Recruitment Fees: For successful placements
• Sponsored Content: Industry-relevant promotions

All monetization requires verification and compliance

13. Building Professional Community

13.1 Our Commitment to Professional Growth

Unlike entertainment-focused social media, every feature on hiyrd is designed to:

• Advance careers, not waste time
• Build professional relationships, not followers
• Share expertise, not personal moments
• Create opportunities, not just content
• Develop skills, not seek validation

13.2 Professional Community Values

• Meritocracy: Quality work and expertise recognized
• Accessibility: Breaking down traditional networking barriers
• Authenticity: Real professionals, real stories, real opportunities
• Diversity: All industries, backgrounds, and experience levels
• Growth Mindset: Continuous learning and development

14. Contact Information

General Support (handles all inquiries): support@hiyrd.com

• Professional standards questions
• Business verification
• Recruitment support
• Company accounts
• Safety concerns
• General help

Legal & Compliance: legal@hiyrd.com

• Legal notices
• Law enforcement requests
• Compliance matters

15. Terms Acceptance

By joining hiyrd, you acknowledge this is a professional networking platform and agree to maintain professional standards in all interactions. This is your professional reputation – treat it accordingly.

These guidelines apply to all users of the hiyrd platform. “hiyrd” refers to hiyrd Inc and its parent company hiyrd Ltd.