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How evidence works

Every claim on a profile carries a label saying how it's backed. The bottom of the ladder is still the candidate — a statement, or a file they published. The top of the ladder is independent confirmation, and it can't be self-selected. Grounded answers cite only evidence you can read yourself.

The ladder

  1. 1. Stated

    The candidate stated it. Labeled so it is not mistaken for confirmation.

    What earns it
    Nothing beyond the candidate stating it. Every claim starts here, and the label says so plainly.
    What the system enforces
    Claims still go through review before they appear at all — an unreviewed statement is never shown as approved.
    Example
    “Led the migration of a billing system” with no file or witness attached yet.

  2. 2. Has a source

    Linked to a file or write-up on this page that you can open. Still the candidate's source.

    What earns it
    The candidate published a file or write-up and linked it to the claim. You can read it. That is a source, not independent confirmation.
    What the system enforces
    The link must point at an actual published artifact or write-up; delete the source and the label downgrades automatically.
    Example
    The same migration claim, now linked to notes or a write-up the answers can cite and a visitor can open.

  3. 3. Confirmed by a collaborator

    A named collaborator confirmed this specific claim. The candidate cannot select this label.

    What earns it
    A named collaborator received a private, expiring link, read the specific claim, and confirmed it — with their name and working relationship on the record (shown only with their consent).
    What the system enforces
    The database refuses this label outside the attestation flow — a candidate cannot select it, and an attester can retract, which downgrades the label automatically.
    Example
    “Attested by an engineering manager — worked together on the project.”

  4. 4. Checked against the issuer

    Checked against an allowlisted issuer's live verification page. The candidate cannot select this label.

    What earns it
    Verification against an external source. Today: a credential whose issuer is on the allowlist and whose issuer-hosted verification page checks out — and the badge links that page, so you can run the same check.
    What the system enforces
    Reserved at the database level for verification flows; unreachable from any form. Verification is re-checked on a cadence — a dead verification URL downgrades the label automatically.
    Example
    “Professional Data Engineer — Cloud Vendor, verified” linking the issuer's live verification page.

  5. 5. Confirmed by an organization

    Confirmed by a verified organization. Rolling out; the candidate cannot select this label.

    What earns it
    Confirmation from a verified organization — the strongest tier, reserved for issuer-backed verification. Rolling out.
    What the system enforces
    Reserved at the database level for verification flows; unreachable from any form.
    Example
    A credential confirmed against its issuing organization.

Labels are earned, not chosen

This isn't an honor system. The database itself refuses to store the top tiers unless they arrive through their verification flows — a candidate editing their profile is offered only the bottom two (stated, and has a source), and any attempt to write a reserved label outside its flow is rejected at the storage layer, not just hidden in the interface. A source you uploaded is still yours. When the thing that earned a label goes away — an artifact deleted, an attestation retracted — the label downgrades automatically.

How attestation works

A candidate can ask someone they worked with to confirm a specific claim. The collaborator gets a private link that expires, reads exactly the claim in question, states their working relationship, and confirms or declines — no account required. Their name appears on the profile only if they consent; otherwise the label shows with the name withheld. Attesters can retract at any time, and a retraction downgrades the claim's label. The candidate can't edit what the attester said.

Grounded answers cite this evidence

When you ask a question on a profile, the answer is generated only from evidence visible to you, and every answer lists what it's backed by — approved claims and published artifact excerpts you can read in full. If the evidence doesn't support an answer, you get an honest “not enough evidence” instead of an invention. Answers are labeled as AI-generated, and the questions asked are visible to the candidate.