Estimated read time: 7–9 minutes

Welcome to CLARA! We're glad you're here. This guide will walk you through everything you need to get up and running quickly — from logging in for the first time to uploading your first job and reviewing your first candidates. Let's get started.

1. Getting Started

Prerequisites

Before you log in, make sure you have the following ready:

A compatible browser: Chrome, Firefox, or Edge
A stable internet connection
CLARA Admin access (required for ATS integrations)

Account Setup

Log in to CLARA using the credentials provided in your onboarding email within 24 hours. The link will expire after that time.
Check that your account settings are correct in the My Account tab in the Settings menu. You can also toggle between dark mode (default) and light mode using the Change Theme switch.
Fill out your Company Basics in the Settings tab. This is what candidates will see when they view your company page. We encourage you to complete this step early — but if you need to gather information like brand colors or logo files, you can always come back and update it at any time.
Choose colors that match your brand and upload a logo and banner image. Pixel size requirements are listed on the page, and JPG, PNG, and JPEG file types are all accepted. Use the Preview button to see exactly what candidates will see.
Set up user roles and permissions in the Admin Settings tab. There is no limit on the number of users you can add, so feel free to get your whole team set up from the start.

2. Integration Setup

If your team uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), connecting it to CLARA is one of the most valuable things you can do early on. It allows jobs and candidates to flow between platforms automatically, saving your team significant manual effort.

For detailed, step-by-step instructions on connecting your specific ATS, please visit the integration guide for your system:

Don't see your ATS listed? Reach out to our Partner Success team at success@getclara.io and we'll help you find the best path forward.

3. Uploading Jobs

Before candidates can be reviewed in CLARA, you'll need to have at least one job uploaded. You can do this by importing directly from your ATS or by uploading manually.

Importing a job from your ATS

Navigate to the Jobs section using the left navigation menu.
Click Add Job in the upper right-hand corner and select Import Job from ATS.
You'll see a list of jobs pulled in from your ATS. Select the job you want to bring into CLARA.
A confirmation screen will appear. If everything looks correct, click Submit.
A green notification will appear in the upper right corner confirming that your job is processing.

Manually uploading a job

If you're not connected to an ATS or would like to add a job manually, follow these steps:

Navigate to the Jobs section and select Upload New Job from the More menu.
Enter the job title and upload the job description (PDF format preferred).
Review and edit the extracted experience and skills. For tips on writing an effective job description, visit our Best Practices for Writing a Job Description guide.
Select which application materials you'd like to request and mark each as required or optional using the toggles.
Configure your Follow-Up Questions using the toggles to choose which question categories to include for this role: Skills and Experience, Assessments, and Custom Questions. You can turn each category on or off depending on what matters most for this role.
Upload candidate files (if available) in PDF or Word format. CLARA processes approximately 3 candidates per minute, so processing time will vary based on the size of your candidate pool. All resumes must include an email address to process correctly. CLARA supports one file per candidate — if you have multiple files for a single candidate, please merge them before uploading. You can upload up to 200 candidates at one time. Once uploaded, proceed to candidate screening.
Review and select the candidate files you'd like to include. A green pop-up in the upper right corner will confirm that your candidates are processing.

⚠️ Note: Job settings can also be customized for each individual job. Simply select the three-dot menu in the upper right-hand corner of the job details screen.

4. Reviewing Candidates

Once your job is live and candidates are in the system, CLARA automatically pre-sorts them based on their match to your role. Here's how to work through your candidate pipeline efficiently.

Log in and navigate to the Jobs section using the left navigation menu. Select the job you want to review.
On the Job Details page, you'll see candidates pre-sorted by CLARA into Not Qualified and Pre-Qualified categories based on their CLARA Match Scores. These scores reflect the specific requirements you've set for the role and can be adjusted by an admin at any time.
Click into a candidate card to open their full profile. Here you'll find their CLARA Score, Requirements Match, candidate summary, education and experience details, skills, assessment answers, and an internal comments section. A full Candidate Profile walkthrough is available here.
As you review, drag and drop candidate cards between columns to organize and prioritize your pipeline.
Once you've identified qualified candidates, click Share with Hiring Manager from the dropdown on the candidate card. A pop-up will allow you to include a personalized message before sending.
To share all qualified candidates at once, select the checkbox next to Qualified, click the navigation icon, and choose Share with Hiring Manager. If a hiring manager hasn't been assigned yet, you can do so from the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
Once the hiring manager reviews their selections, you'll receive a notification on your homepage. Candidates they've chosen to advance will appear at the top of the job page on your next visit.

⚠️ Note: Candidates cannot see any comments made about them, their hiring stage, or whether a hiring manager has given them a thumbs up or down. Only your team can see this information.

For a deeper look at the full candidate review workflow, visit our How to Screen Candidates Using CLARA guide.

5. Additional Settings

AI Settings

CLARA's AI settings can be configured at the company level (applied to all jobs) or adjusted at the job level (for specific roles). For a full walkthrough of customization options and our recommendations, visit our Modify AI Settings for a Job in CLARA guide.

Follow-up questions

You can customize which follow-up question categories are enabled for all jobs — choosing from Skills and Experience, Assessments, and Custom Questions — with the flexibility to adjust each category on a per-job basis using the toggles in the upload flow or job settings. For guidance on writing effective follow-up questions, visit our Best Practices for Writing Follow-Up Questions guide.

Candidate sorting

Set your threshold for pre-qualified versus unqualified candidates in the Candidate Sorting tab under Settings. We recommend a pre-qualified score of 70 or above as a starting point, though you can adjust this at any time.

Notifications

As an admin, you can configure notification preferences for your entire organization in the Notifications tab under Settings — including which types of updates your team receives and how.

6. Best Practices

Set clear benchmarks for your goals before you begin evaluating candidates — for example, faster screening time or a higher percentage of qualified applicants.
Schedule regular check-ins with hiring managers to stay aligned on scoring priorities.
Use CLARA's insights to provide meaningful, actionable feedback to both candidates and your internal team.
For tips on writing stronger job descriptions, visit our Best Practices for Writing a Job Description guide.
For tips on writing effective follow-up questions, visit our Best Practices for Writing Follow-Up Questions guide.

A note on OFCCP

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is a U.S. Department of Labor agency that ensures non-discrimination practices among federal contractors and subcontractors. As of January 2025, enforcement of Executive Order 11246 — the primary basis for affirmative action requirements for federal contractors — is no longer in effect. However, federal contractors are still required to comply with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), both of which the OFCCP continues to enforce. We recommend consulting your legal or compliance team to confirm your organization's current obligations.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

What if my login link has expired?

Contact our Partner Success team at success@getclara.io and we'll get you a new one right away.

Can I upload candidates before a job is fully processed?

We recommend waiting until your job has finished processing before uploading candidates to ensure accurate scoring. You'll receive a notification when your job is ready.

How long does candidate processing take?

CLARA processes approximately 3 candidates per minute. Processing time will vary based on the size of your candidate pool — you'll receive a notification on your home dashboard when it's complete.

What file formats are supported for candidate uploads?

CLARA accepts PDF and Word formats. All resumes must include an email address to process correctly. If you have multiple files for a single candidate, please merge them into one file before uploading.

How many users can I add to my account?

There is no limit on the number of users you can add to your CLARA account. Add as many team members as you need via the Admin Settings tab.

Where can I find training resources and additional guides?

Our full library of how-to articles is available in this Help Center. You can also reach our team directly via the Onboarding Slack channel or by emailing success@getclara.io.