How Mercor and Micro1 Referral Links Work (and How SOJI Earns Money)

If you have looked at AI training jobs on SOJI, you have seen that the apply buttons lead to referral links for platforms such as Mercor and Micro1. This guide explains in plain language what that means, who benefits, what it costs you (nothing) and what it does not change.

What a referral link is

Mercor and Micro1 both run referral programs. A referral link is a personal web address that tells the platform who introduced a new applicant. When someone applies through the link and is later hired, the platform may pay a reward to the person who shared it. The rules, rewards and eligibility conditions are set by each platform and can change at any time.

Does it cost you anything?

No. Applying through a referral link is free for the applicant, and a referral does not change the pay rate you are offered. You apply to the same listing you would find on the platform's own website. Legitimate platforms do not charge applicants to be considered, so if anyone asks you to pay to be hired, treat it as a red flag.

How SOJI earns money

SOJI is an independent job board. It is not a recruiter and it is not affiliated with Mercor or Micro1. The apply buttons on SOJI use SOJI's own referral links, so SOJI may earn a referral reward if an applicant is hired through them. That is the only way the site earns from the listings: there are no fees for job seekers and no paid placements.

What the referral does not influence

• Which roles we list. Listings are collected from public platform pages and checked daily. Roles that close are archived.
• How we describe them. Pay, location rules and requirements are taken from the listing, including the limits and the downsides.
• Whether you get hired. Selection is decided by the platform and the project, not by SOJI.

Using SOJI or going direct

You can apply to any role directly on the platform without using SOJI. SOJI is useful if you want one place to compare open roles, filter by pay, country and language, and be reminded of the application steps. If you prefer not to use a referral link, open the platform's website and search for the same listing.

Finding your own referral link

Both platforms let members refer other people. After you have an account, look in the platform's referral or "refer and earn" section to find your personal link. The exact location, the reward and the eligibility rules differ by platform and change over time, so read the current terms there before you share anything. Only share links you actually generated from your own account, and tell people plainly that you may earn a reward if they are hired.

Frequently asked questions

Does a referral link change the pay or my chances of being hired?

No. A referral link only tells the platform who introduced you. The pay for a listing is set by the project, and hiring decisions are made by the platform.

Is it free to apply through a SOJI referral link?

Yes. Applying is free for you. Legitimate platforms do not charge applicants, so be cautious if anyone asks for money to be considered.

How does SOJI earn money?

SOJI may earn a referral reward from the platform if an applicant is hired through its links. SOJI has no fees for job seekers and no paid placements, and the rewards do not influence which jobs it lists.

Can I apply without using a referral link?

Yes. You can open the platform's own website and apply to the same listing directly.