Stop hiring on promises.Hire on proof.
Set up a paid trial shift (1–90 days). See how someone actually shows up, works, communicates, and fits your team — before you make it permanent.
Post a Trial Job in 2 minutes.
Free to post. Pay only for trial days. Pay only if you hire.
From R1,025 (2 weeks) • R1,500 to hire permanently • VAT included
If you've hired in SA lately, you already know this.
The CV looked perfect — but they can't actually do the job
They interviewed great — then stopped pitching after week 2
You spent R5,000 on Pnet or R15,000+ on recruitment — they lasted 3 months
Now you're stuck with someone who you can't easily get rid of
You waste weeks training. You pay again to recruit. And the cycle repeats.
ShiftMate fixes the part that's broken: the guesswork.
The Working Interview is the interview.
(a 1–90 day paid trial shift)
Not "tell me about yourself." Show me, in the real job.
Reliability
Do they arrive, on time, again?
Work Ethic
What they do when nobody's watching
Communication
With customers, managers, teammates
Pressure Response
Busy periods, problems, pace
Team Fit
Do they lift the room… or drain it?
How It Works
From job post → confident hire in 3 steps
Post Your Job
Describe the role, location, shift hours, pay, and trial length (2–12 weeks).
Free to post
Meet Matched Candidates
We match based on skills, experience, location and preferences — so you're not swimming in random CVs.
Quality over quantity
Run the Trial Shift
Choose 2, 4, or 12 weeks. Watch them do the actual job.
From R1,025 upfront.
+ R1,500 if you hire permanently.
Hiring Options in SA (Real Talk)
Compare your options honestly
Recruitment Agencies
PNET / Job Boards
Labour Brokers
ShiftMate
Simple Pricing. No Funny Business.
Choose your trial length. Pay upfront. Hire with confidence.
2 Week Trial
10 working days
R275 intro + R750 (10 days × R75)
If you hire permanently
+ R1,500
4 Week Trial
20 working days
R275 intro + R1,000 (20 days × R50)
If you hire permanently
+ R1,500
12 Week Trial
60 working days
R275 intro + R1,500 (60 days × R25)
If you hire permanently
+ R1,500
Compare: Recruitment agency placement fee
vs ShiftMate: From R2,525 total (trial + hire)
VAT included • No subscription • No lock-in
What Employers Tell Us
"We hired 4 people through ShiftMate. All 4 are still with us 6 months later. Before this, we'd lose 3 out of 4 within the first 90 days."
Thabo K.
Verified UserRestaurant Owner, Durban
"Saved us R45,000 in recruitment fees last year. And our retention is up 60%. The trial shift shows you everything interviews can't."
Sarah M.
Verified UserCall Centre Manager, Sandton
"The trial shift saved me from a bad hire. The guy interviewed like a rockstar but couldn't handle the pressure on day one. Worth every rand."
Johan V.
Verified UserWarehouse Manager, Johannesburg
"We've tried everything — agencies, job boards, walk-ins. ShiftMate gives us workers who actually show up and stay. Game changer."
Lindiwe N.
Verified UserHR Director, Cape Town
"3 permanent hires in 2 months. All still with us. The trial period lets you see the real person, not just interview performance."
Pieter M.
Verified UserOperations Manager, Pretoria
"We hired someone and the next day they resigned saying they had been offered something better. Now we can find someone else pretty much straight away."
Zanele D.
Verified UserStore Manager, Pietermaritzburg
"We've always been afraid to hire because we don't want to end up stuck with someone who can't do the job. Trial shifts solve that — come in, prove yourself, then let's talk. Brilliant."
Raj N.
Verified UserBusiness Owner, Umhlanga
"We hired 4 people through ShiftMate. All 4 are still with us 6 months later. Before this, we'd lose 3 out of 4 within the first 90 days."
Thabo K.
Verified UserRestaurant Owner, Durban
"Saved us R45,000 in recruitment fees last year. And our retention is up 60%. The trial shift shows you everything interviews can't."
Sarah M.
Verified UserCall Centre Manager, Sandton
"The trial shift saved me from a bad hire. The guy interviewed like a rockstar but couldn't handle the pressure on day one. Worth every rand."
Johan V.
Verified UserWarehouse Manager, Johannesburg
"We've tried everything — agencies, job boards, walk-ins. ShiftMate gives us workers who actually show up and stay. Game changer."
Lindiwe N.
Verified UserHR Director, Cape Town
"3 permanent hires in 2 months. All still with us. The trial period lets you see the real person, not just interview performance."
Pieter M.
Verified UserOperations Manager, Pretoria
"We hired someone and the next day they resigned saying they had been offered something better. Now we can find someone else pretty much straight away."
Zanele D.
Verified UserStore Manager, Pietermaritzburg
"We've always been afraid to hire because we don't want to end up stuck with someone who can't do the job. Trial shifts solve that — come in, prove yourself, then let's talk. Brilliant."
Raj N.
Verified UserBusiness Owner, Umhlanga
Keep guessing… or start seeing.
Old Way
- Interviews
- Gut feel
- Crossed fingers
ShiftMate
- Real work
- Real proof
- Confident hires