How the ProjectBist Rating System Protects Both Researchers and Clients

One of the oldest problems in research hiring is the cold start problem. A new client needs to hire a researcher they have never worked with before. The researcher has good work to show, but the client has no way to verify how it went from the client's perspective. So the client sticks with someone they already know, and the researcher, however capable, does not get the chance.

Ratings solve this. Not perfectly, but meaningfully.

The ProjectBist rating system is designed around one idea: every completed engagement should leave a traceable, honest record of how it went. That record builds trust over time, and it benefits both sides.

How Ratings Work on ProjectBist

After a research engagement is completed on the platform, the client can submit a rating for the researcher or firm they worked with. The rating contributes to the researcher's overall score, which is visible on their public profile page.

• Ratings are aggregated into an average score visible to all users.
• The number of ratings is also displayed, so clients can see both quality and volume of feedback.
• Ratings are tied to completed engagements, not self-reported. A researcher cannot add or edit their own ratings.
• The full rating summary is visible on the researcher's profile, giving clients a transparent picture before they reach out.

Why This Protects Researchers

For researchers, a rating system that works honestly is a significant advantage, not a threat. Without ratings, every client interaction starts from zero. Researchers with years of solid delivery have no structural advantage over someone who just joined the platform.

With ratings, quality compounds. A researcher who consistently delivers good work builds a rating that becomes their most powerful credential. It is harder to dismiss than a CV and more reliable than a reference call.

Why This Protects Clients

For clients, ratings reduce the risk of hiring someone who cannot deliver. Before committing budget to a researcher, a client can see how previous clients rated their work. A researcher with 18 engagements and an average rating of 4.6 has a track record that speaks for itself. A researcher with no ratings is an unknown quantity.

This is especially important for clients hiring outside their existing network, which is often where research needs exist that cannot be filled by someone already known to the organisation.

A rating is just a number. What it represents is something more valuable: evidence that someone delivered on what they promised.

Making the Most of the Rating System

If you are a researcher: after every project, ask the client to leave a rating. Most clients who had a positive experience are happy to do it if prompted. The ones who do not prompt rarely collect the feedback they deserve.

If you are a client: leave a rating after every engagement. Your feedback helps other clients make better hiring decisions and helps serious researchers stand out from the crowd. It takes two minutes and it improves the quality of the whole platform.