Pro Discovery
Pro Discovery is how you find and add trusted contractors to your network on Trusted Bench. Instead of cold-calling strangers, you browse a curated directory of verified professionals—complete with ratings, reviews, and network intelligence that shows you who's already trusted by people in your community.
The Find Pros page helps you identify the right professionals for your bench, so when jobs come in, you have a reliable network ready to handle them.
Key Concepts
Network Intelligence
Trusted Bench uses your existing network to surface the most reliable pros. When browsing professionals, you'll see mutual connections—how many people in your bench also have that pro in their bench.
High mutual connections mean the pro is already trusted by people you trust. It's social proof that helps you make confident decisions about who to add to your network.
Verified vs. New Member
Every pro displays a trust indicator:
- Verified — This pro is in at least one user's bench, indicating they've been vetted by the community
- New Member — This pro hasn't been added to any bench yet. They may be new or haven't built network presence
Pro Cards
Each professional in the directory is displayed as a card showing:
- Name and company
- Location (city, state)
- Star rating and review count
- Number of jobs completed
- Trade specializations (as badges)
- Mutual connections count (if any)
Finding Professionals
To discover pros:
- Go to Find Pros in your dashboard sidebar
- Browse the directory of available professionals
- Use search and filters to narrow results
- Click on a pro card to view their full profile
- Click Add to Bench to add them to your network
The directory only shows pros you haven't already added to your bench. Once you add someone, they move to your Bench and no longer appear in Find Pros.
Search and Filters
Use the controls at the top of the page to find specific professionals.
Text Search
Search by name, company name, or trade. The search matches partial text, so typing "plumb" will find "Plumbing" and "Joe's Plumbing Co."
Trade Filter
Filter by trade specialization. Trades are organized hierarchically—selecting a parent trade (like "Plumbing") shows all pros in that category, including those with sub-specializations.
Location Filter
Filter by city or region. Only locations where professionals are available appear in the dropdown.
Minimum Rating
Set a minimum star rating threshold. Options include:
- Any Rating (default)
- 3.0+ stars
- 3.5+ stars
- 4.0+ stars
- 4.5+ stars
Sorting Options
Control how professionals are ordered in the results:
| Sort Option | What It Does | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Most Trusted | Ranks by mutual connections, then rating | Finding pros your network already trusts |
| Highest Rated | Ranks by star rating, then experience | Finding top-rated professionals |
| Most Experienced | Ranks by jobs completed, then rating | Finding proven, high-volume pros |
| Closest | Ranks by distance from your location | Finding nearby professionals |
Most Trusted is the default because network intelligence is the core value of Trusted Bench. Pros that your connections already use are more likely to be reliable.
Closest only appears if you have a location set in your profile. It uses your address to calculate distance to each pro.
Viewing Pro Details
Click on any pro card to view their full profile page. The detail page includes:
Profile Information
- Full name and company
- Location with formatted address
- Overall star rating with total review count
- All trade specializations
Reviews Section
Read feedback from other users who've worked with this pro. Reviews include:
- Star rating (1-5)
- Written comments
- Date of review
You can sort reviews by most recent, highest rated, or lowest rated.
Performance Metrics
- Jobs Completed — Total jobs this pro has finished
- Jobs Assigned — Total jobs currently or previously assigned
- Overall Rating — Average star rating across all reviews
- Total Reviews — Number of reviews received
Contact Options
Click Contact Pro to access their email and phone number. You can copy contact info to your clipboard or use direct mailto/tel links.
Adding to Your Bench
There are two ways to add a pro to your bench:
From the Pro Card
Click Add to Bench directly on any pro card in the Find Pros grid. A confirmation modal appears showing the pro's details before you confirm.
From the Detail Page
Click Add to Bench in the actions sidebar on the pro's detail page.
Once added:
- The pro immediately becomes part of your bench as Active
- They'll receive job offers based on your workflow settings
- They disappear from Find Pros (since they're now in your bench)
- You can manage them from your Bench page
Best Practices
Leverage Network Intelligence
Sort by "Most Trusted" to see pros that your connections already use. A pro with 5+ mutual connections is likely reliable—they've been vetted by people you work with.
Check Reviews Before Adding
Take a minute to read reviews on the detail page. Look for consistent patterns—both positive and negative—to understand what to expect.
Build a Diverse Bench
Add pros across different trades and locations. A well-rounded bench means more jobs get matched to your network instead of going to overflow.
Use Filters Strategically
If you need a specific trade in a specific area, use both filters together. This narrows results to exactly what you need.
Consider Experience Levels
New pros (lower jobs completed) may offer competitive rates, while experienced pros bring proven track records. Balance your bench with both.
Related Documentation
- Your Bench — Managing pros after you add them
- Marketplace — Claiming unclaimed leads
- Distribution Strategy — How jobs are offered to your bench
- Bench Depth — How many pros receive each job offer
FAQ
What's the difference between Find Pros and my Bench?
Find Pros shows all professionals on Trusted Bench that you haven't added yet. Your Bench shows only the pros you've specifically added. Jobs route through your Bench, not Find Pros.
Why can't I see a pro I know is on Trusted Bench?
If they're already in your bench, they won't appear in Find Pros. Check your Bench page. Also, pros must complete onboarding before appearing in the directory.
What does "mutual connections" mean?
It's the count of people in your bench who also have that pro in their bench. If 3 people in your network use "John's Plumbing," John has 3 mutual connections with you.
Can I add a pro who has no reviews?
Yes. New pros may not have reviews yet. Check their trade certifications and consider starting with smaller jobs to build the relationship.
How do I contact a pro before adding them?
Click on their card to open the detail page, then click Contact Pro to access their email and phone number.
Is there a limit to how many pros I can add?
No. Add as many pros as you trust. Your bench depth setting controls how many are contacted per job, not how many you can have total.
What happens after I add a pro?
They're immediately added as Active to your bench and become eligible for job offers based on your workflow settings. They'll appear on your Bench page where you can manage their status.
Can I remove a pro after adding them?
Yes. Go to your Bench page and click the remove button on their card. They'll stop receiving job offers but you can re-add them anytime from Find Pros.
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