Frequently Asked Questions

Smarch (Smart Match Alliance Recruitment Collaboration Hub) is a collaboration platform that helps you shape your career by matching you with the right team. You focus on your role. Your teammates handle theirs. The goal: you get to work doing what you're good at.

Our mission: Use skill-based matching to create balanced, complementary teams so you can focus on your craft while teammates cover other roles — and once your project is funded, you start working in your role.

Anyone 18+ who wants to build something real with others.

We welcome:

• People looking for a path back into meaningful work
• People with a project or service idea they want to develop with others
• People who want to contribute their skills to a complementary team
• Anyone seeking a team to bring shared ideas to life and grow together

Requirements:

• Minimum age: 18 years old
• Willingness to contribute and stay engaged
• Commitment to help your teammates build real opportunity, not just yourself
• Honesty about your availability and commitment level

We welcome participants from any sector or role. The programme is open and the path forward is whatever the team builds together.

SMARCH is free for participants. We are an ideell förening (Swedish nonprofit) — participation does not depend on payment, now or later.

This means you can:

• ✅ Apply for free
• ✅ Get matched for free
• ✅ Meet your team for free
• ✅ Collaborate with your team for free
• ✅ Work toward employment for free

If you want to support SMARCH after the programme, see our support page.

Simple 3-step process:

1. Create an account - Quick registration with email
2. Complete the survey - 35 questions across 4 phases (20-25 minutes)
3. Submit and wait - We'll review and match you with a team

Important: You can save your progress and return anytime, but the survey must be completed fully and submitted for processing. We encourage free-form, human communication - write naturally without worrying about corporate or industry-specific language!

Approximately 20-25 minutes

The survey has 4 phases:

• Phase 1: Basic Information
• Phase 2: Individual Dreams
• Phase 3: Collaborative Reality
• Phase 4: Practical Implementation

Good news: You can save your progress and return anytime! Just make sure to submit it when you're done.

Timeline:

1. Immediate: You receive a confirmation email with your unique case number
2. Application period: We collect applications until the closing date
3. Matching: Our Smarch algorithm analyzes all submissions and creates optimal teams
4. Notification: You'll receive an update within 2-3 weeks after the application closes

Note: For the first batch, we're running applications with closing dates. Later, we aim to have ongoing submissions with faster matching!

Our Smarch algorithm creates optimal teams based on your survey responses!

We analyze your answers to match you with people who complement your skills and share your vision. The process is designed to be fair and unbiased, giving everyone the best chance to find their perfect team.

The result: Balanced teams where complementary skills and motivation reinforce each other.

Matching is algorithm-based, but we're flexible!

Our Smarch algorithm creates teams for optimal success. However:

• If you know someone who would be perfect for your team, contact us!
• We can add them if it responds to the team's needs
• We're building a referral feature for future versions

Note: This feature is in our roadmap!

Stay in the pool - no need to reapply!

If you're not matched in the first batch:

• ✅ You automatically stay in the talent pool
• ✅ You'll be considered for the next matching round
• ✅ No need to resubmit your application
• ✅ We aim to run batches as fast as possible

Important: Keep your profile updated and mark yourself as "not available" if your situation changes — show respect to other participants waiting in the queue. Silence is what harms the process.

You work with your team to build something together — and once it's funded, you start working in your role.

After matching, your team collaborates to develop a product or service. The timeline is flexible — typically a few weeks to a few months, depending on your project.

What's expected: We recommend 2 team meetings per week (camera-on), plus time for tasks and preparing deliverables between meetings.

Flexibility: Teams set their own pace based on their needs. The goal is to reach a point where the project can be funded.

Outcome: Once your project secures funding, grants, or paying clients — you start your paid position in the role you applied for!

You choose your commitment level during the survey!

SMARCH is designed for all participants — some are employed, some aren't, some are between roles. It's up to you to decide what you can dedicate based on your current situation.

Typical commitment:

• Weekly team meetings (camera-on required)
• Individual tasks and deliverables
• Collaboration on shared documents
• Communication with your teammates

No, you don't need to quit your job to participate! However, there will be meetings you need to attend and tasks you need to complete.

As your project grows and secures funding, you'll likely transition to full-time paid work — but that's a decision you make with your team when the time is right!

All meetings are CAMERA-ON for everybody!

We want to create remote jobs that feel more like in-person meetings. There's no way to do that with cameras switched off.

Why this matters:

• Build trust and connection with your team
• Create a professional working environment
• Show respect and engagement
• Make the best first impression

We know it can sometimes be difficult, but we need you in the first meetings to absolutely show yourself and meet your team in the best possible way!

(Unless your first meeting is in-person, of course! 😊)

Yes, but please communicate with your team and us first!

We understand that sometimes things don't work out. If you need to leave:

1. Talk to your team - Be honest and respectful
2. Contact support - Use our contact form
3. We'll help - We may be able to find a replacement if crucial

It can be difficult to leave others without you, but we're here to help navigate the situation.

We believe one team at a time is enough - but there are no strict rules!

Important to know:

• When your case number is assigned to a team, you're removed from the matching pool
• If you decline a team invitation, you go back to the talent pool
• If you don't respond, you'll be marked as "unresponsive/no show" and removed from matching

Respect the process: Update your availability status to show respect to other participants. The programme works because people commit — silence is what harms the team.

Anonymised first. Hiring partners can review opt-in profiles based on skills, focus areas, and availability. If interested, they send a contact request and you decide whether to continue.

You control your visibility from Profile → Opportunity Matching Availability and can opt out anytime.

Absolutely! We're GDPR-compliant and take security seriously.

• 🔒 All data stored in EU regions (AWS S3 EU-North, Heroku EU)
• 🔒 You control your profile information
• 🔒 You can export your data anytime
• 🔒 You can delete your account anytime

Learn more: Privacy Policy | GDPR Rights

Yes, but with some limitations:

✅ You CAN update:

• Contact information (email, phone)
• Profile picture/avatar
• Bio and personal description
• Availability status

🔒 You CANNOT update:

• Survey answers (locked after submission to maintain matching integrity)

If you need to update survey answers, please use our contact form

We're here to help!

Contact our support team:

Use our contact form.

We'll respond as quickly as possible to get you back on track!

Easy fix!

1. Go to the password reset page
2. Enter your email address
3. Check your email for reset instructions
4. Create a new password

If you don't receive the email, check your spam folder or contact support.