HR & Administration Specialist Talent Network

$60–80/hrrate as listed

Mercor is building a standing pool of HR and administration practitioners who evaluate and train AI models on recruiting, payroll, benefits, and compliance work. You apply once, complete an AI screening interview, and get matched to contract projects as labs request HR expertise — observed rates for this network run $60–80/hr.

Summary, eligibility guidance and screening preparation are prepared by Sidequest from the platform's posting. Check the source listing before applying.

What the work actually involves

Projects in this network vary, but the recurring pattern is the same: you write realistic HR scenarios, produce the deliverable a competent practitioner would produce, and then judge whether a model's attempt holds up. That might mean drafting a reduction-in-force communication plan and grading four model versions against it, checking whether a model's FLSA exemption analysis survives contact with the actual duties test, or building a multi-step onboarding workflow and marking exactly where the model's version breaks. Written rationale matters as much as the score — labs are buying your reasoning, not your rating.

Expect to work across talent acquisition and onboarding, payroll and benefits administration, employee relations, and HR policy and compliance. Jurisdictional specificity is valued: a model that gives generically correct advice but ignores state-level leave law or misapplies a benefits eligibility rule needs someone who can name the failure precisely.

What the screening measures

Mercor's AI interview is a live, voice-based conversation that probes your resume rather than reciting it back. It follows up. If you say you managed open enrollment for 900 employees, expect questions about carrier deadlines, qualifying life events, and what went wrong. Screens tend to look for:

Verifiable specifics — headcount, systems (Workday, ADP, Greenhouse, BambooHR), jurisdictions, years in each function
Depth that survives two or three follow-ups on a single topic
Whether you can articulate why an answer is wrong, not just that it is
Clear, structured speech — much of the actual work is written evaluation
Honest scoping of what you don't know

Logistics

Fully remote and largely asynchronous. Typical commitments run 15–30 hours per week when you're matched, though this is a talent network rather than a single posting — there may be a gap between approval and your first invitation, and project duration varies from a few weeks to several months. Rates are set per project; the $60–80/hr band reflects what has been observed for this category and is not a guarantee. You'll be invited to interview for specific opportunities as they arise and can decline ones that don't fit your schedule.

What they look for

Professional HR experience across talent acquisition, payroll/benefits administration, or HR policy and compliance
Working knowledge of employment law and multi-jurisdiction compliance requirements
Strong written communication — clear, structured rationale under a rubric
Hands-on experience with HRIS/ATS platforms (Workday, ADP, Greenhouse, or similar)
Ability to work independently and asynchronously in a remote setting
Prior AI evaluation, annotation, or red-teaming experience (helpful, not required)

Before you apply

Would you pass this screen?

Drawn from what this listing actually requires. Answered in your browser — nothing is sent to us, and we do not store your answers.

Have you held a professional role in which your primary responsibilities included at least one of the following: talent acquisition and onboarding, payroll or benefits administration, or HR policy and compliance?
Professional HR or Administration Experience · required
Are you able to work independently in a remote environment and have reliable internet access where you are located?
Remote Work Capability · required
Are you legally authorized to work in your current country, and can you confirm your work location for Mercor's verification process?
Work Authorization and Location · required
Are you able to commit to 15–30 hours per week for contract projects, either now or in the near future?
Minimum Availability · preferred

0 of 4 answered

Included with this listing

Interview prep — 22 questions

Matched to what this platform's screening actually measures. Answer each out loud in 60–90 seconds: claim → concrete example → implication.

What it tests: Establishing authentic domain experience and tenure; filtering for people naming actual duties versus buzzwords.
A strong answer: The candidate names a specific, recent role (within last 5 years), identifies 2–3 concrete functions they owned (e.g., 'managed the full recruiting pipeline for engineering roles' or 'administered payroll for 200+ employees'), and states duration in months or years.
Where people lose it: Vague job titles without concrete duties ('worked in HR'), roles older than 5–7 years presented as current expertise, or confusing HR exposure (took one compliance course) with HR ownership.