Skip to content
    The Circle Back Initiative — committing to respond to every applicant
    Our 8th year · 2020–2027

    Every candidate
    deserves
    a response.

    Since 2020, we’ve brought employers together around one commitment: every job applicant deserves to hear back.

    Become a CBI Employer Explore Memberships

    2027

    Respect for every applicant. Accountability for every employer.Discover 2027 membership

    25 million+

    applications through CBI employers since 2020, all with a commitment to be responded to

    600+

    employers involved in the Circle Back Initiative since 2020

    Participating employers
    Who we are

    What is The Circle Back Initiative?

    A collection of employers, recruitment agencies and recruiters who commit to responding to every job applicant.

    Candidates invest real time, energy and hope in every application — too often followed by silence. CBI champions organisations that respond to every applicant, and supports employers who want to achieve it.

    Responding to everyone protects your brand and reputation, turns candidates into advocates, and helps you hire great people faster.

    Learn more about CBI
    Our purpose

    An application
    is a person,
    not just a process.

    Applying for a job takes time and effort. Yet many candidates never hear whether their application was successful.

    The Circle Back Initiative was launched in 2020 to challenge that experience.

    We believe that every candidate deserves a response, regardless of whether they progress through the recruitment process.

    Our participating employers commit to treating applicants with respect and communicating recruitment outcomes.

    Read our story
    Watch

    Hear it from the initiative

    A short conversation about what it means to hear back after applying. Runs 1 minute 53 seconds.

    The CBI commitment

    Committing to respond
    to every applicant.

    Participating employers agree to let every job applicant know the outcome of their application, and to treat candidates with respect throughout recruitment.

    Our commitment
    Why employers join

    A commitment that
    makes a difference.

    Recognition, insight and a better experience for every applicant.

    01

    Public recognition

    Be listed among employers who have committed to responding to every applicant.

    02

    Employer brand insight

    Every membership includes a BrandScore-powered assessment of how you present yourself to candidates.

    03

    Better candidate experiences

    Show candidates that applying to your organisation means hearing back, whatever the outcome.

    New for 2027 · CBI AI-Ready Verified Commitment

    Your commitment to candidates. Verified by CBI. Discoverable by AI.

    When candidates research your organisation through AI, will it know you’ve committed to responding to every applicant?

    CBI AI-Ready Verified Commitment creates an independently maintained public record of your commitment, designed to be discoverable by search engines and AI platforms.

    Explore AI-Ready Verified Commitment Included with Silver and Gold Employer Membership.

    Demonstration · fictional employer

    CBI AI-Ready Verified Commitment

    Example Company

    Gold Employer · 2027

    Active
    Commitment
    Committed to responding to every job applicant.
    Entry assessment
    Successfully completed and confirmed by CBI.
    Record
    CBI-EXAMPLE · structured data
    careers.example.comCBI record

    Independently documented

    2027 employer memberships

    One commitment.
    Three ways to belong.

    Early bird10% off all 2027 Employer Memberships until 30 November 2026 (excludes CBI Recruiter prices)

    Bronze

    Bronze Employer

    Recognition and Insight

    $225AUD/ yearAUD $250

    Early bird price until 30 November 2026

    NFPs and charities receive a CBI Employer logo at no cost.

    • Company logo and listing on the CBI employers page
    • One Basic Employer Brand Assessment powered by BrandScore
    Apply for Bronze

    Silver

    Silver Employer

    Recognition, Development and AI-Ready Commitment

    $450AUD/ yearAUD $500

    Early bird price until 30 November 2026

    + CBI Recruiter: AUD $120 each

    • Company logo and listing on the CBI website
    • Official 2027 Silver Employer badge
    • Licence to use approved CBI wording on job adverts
    • Individual 2027 recruiter badges
    • One Detailed Employer Brand Assessment powered by BrandScore
    • CBI AI-Ready Verified Commitment: a public, machine-readable CBI commitment record
    Apply for Silver

    Gold

    Most comprehensive

    Gold Employer

    Recognition, Development, AI-Ready Commitment and AI Visibility

    $675AUD/ yearAUD $750

    Early bird price until 30 November 2026

    + CBI Recruiter: AUD $240 each

    • Everything in Silver, including the Detailed Employer Brand Assessment and CBI AI-Ready Verified Commitment
    • Official 2027 Gold Employer badge
    • One BrandScore AI Visibility Report
    • Access to two live Candidate Experience workshops, with recordings where available
    • TalentXP (formerly Benchmarcx) Lite: automated Candidate Experience feedback for your Application Experience, benchmarked against our industry data
    Apply for Gold

    All prices are in Australian dollars (AUD). Annual fee; tax treatment to be confirmed. Benefits become available once your mystery application is passed, your application is approved and payment is confirmed.

    CBI will email you an invoice upon application. You can pay it by bank transfer or credit card.

    Find the right membership

    Bronze Employer · AUD $250
    • Official 2027 CBI employer badgeNot included
    • Company logo on CBI employers pageIncluded
    • CBI AI-Ready Verified Commitment profileNot included
    • Licence to use approved CBI wording on job advertsNot included
    • Individual 2027 recruiter badgesNot included
    • Basic Employer Brand AssessmentIncluded
    • Detailed Employer Brand AssessmentNot included
    • BrandScore AI Visibility ReportNot included
    • Two candidate experience workshopsNot included
    • TalentXP (formerly Benchmarcx) Lite candidate experience feedbackNot included
    Silver Employer · AUD $500
    • Official 2027 CBI employer badgeIncluded
    • Company logo on CBI employers pageIncluded
    • CBI AI-Ready Verified Commitment profileIncluded
    • Licence to use approved CBI wording on job advertsIncluded
    • Individual 2027 recruiter badgesIncluded
    • Basic Employer Brand AssessmentDetailed version provided
    • Detailed Employer Brand AssessmentIncluded
    • BrandScore AI Visibility ReportNot included
    • Two candidate experience workshopsNot included
    • TalentXP (formerly Benchmarcx) Lite candidate experience feedbackNot included
    Gold Employer · AUD $750
    • Official 2027 CBI employer badgeIncluded
    • Company logo on CBI employers pageIncluded
    • CBI AI-Ready Verified Commitment profileIncluded
    • Licence to use approved CBI wording on job advertsIncluded
    • Individual 2027 recruiter badgesIncluded
    • Basic Employer Brand AssessmentDetailed version provided
    • Detailed Employer Brand AssessmentIncluded
    • BrandScore AI Visibility ReportIncluded
    • Two candidate experience workshopsIncluded
    • TalentXP (formerly Benchmarcx) Lite candidate experience feedbackIncluded
    Explore the membership programme
    BrandScore · New for 2027

    See your brand
    through a
    candidate’s eyes.

    Every CBI employer membership includes an employer brand assessment powered by BrandScore, helping you understand how your organisation presents itself to prospective candidates.

    Employer brand assessments do not include competitor benchmarking.

    Explore BrandScore

    Included with Bronze

    Basic Employer Brand Assessment

    A concise, introductory review of your own employer brand.

    Report coverage

    • 01Careers website assessment
    • 02Employer brand messaging review
    • 03EVP clarity
    • 04Key strengths
    • 05Main improvement opportunities
    How joining works

    Your journey
    to joining CBI.

    Membership is not automatic. Every employer goes through the same assessment before being approved.

    1. 01

      Apply

      Select your membership tier and complete the registration form, including your agreement to the CBI commitments. CBI will email you an invoice upon application. You can pay it by bank transfer or credit card.

    2. 02

      Assessment

      CBI assesses your organisation's commitment to responding to applicants. Approval depends on this assessment being completed successfully.

    3. 03

      Approval and activation

      Once CBI approves your organisation and payment is confirmed, your membership benefits become available. Official badges are issued to approved Silver and Gold members only.

    Other initiatives

    Not an employer?

    01Coming soon

    Recruitment Agency Initiative

    For agencies that commit to responding to every candidate they represent or receive applications from.

    02Coming soon

    Recruiter Initiative

    For individual recruiters and talent acquisition professionals who personally commit to circling back.

    A better experience starts with a response

    Ready to make
    the commitment?

    Join employers committed to giving every candidate the response they deserve.

    Apply for 2027 Membership