Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or other device when you visit a website. Cookies are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, remember user preferences, provide analytics about website usage, and enhance the user experience. In addition to cookies, we may use similar technologies such as local storage, session storage, and tracking pixels (collectively referred to as “cookies” in this policy) to collect and store information about your interaction with the Platform.

Cookies may be “first-party” (set by NearSkill directly) or “third-party” (set by our service providers and analytics partners). Cookies may be “session cookies” (automatically deleted when you close your browser) or “persistent cookies” (remain on your device until they expire or are manually deleted).

2. Types of Cookies We Use

2.1 Essential Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary for the Platform to function properly. They enable core functionality such as page navigation, secure access to protected areas, form submission processing, and application session management. The Platform cannot operate properly without these cookies. Essential cookies do not require your consent under most applicable data protection laws. Examples include:

• Session cookies that maintain your browsing state while using the Platform.
• Security cookies and tokens that help detect and prevent malicious activity.
• Local storage entries that remember your theme preference and similar interface settings between visits.

2.2 Analytics & Performance Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the Platform by collecting and reporting anonymous usage information. They allow us to measure page views, session duration, traffic sources, device types, geographic distribution, and user behavior patterns. This data helps us improve the Platform’s performance, usability, search relevance, and overall user experience. We use the following analytics services:

• Google Tag Manager: We load Google Tag Manager, a tag management service, on every page. Tag Manager itself is a container: it is the mechanism through which other measurement tags are delivered, and the tags configured inside it determine which additional cookies are set. The measurement tags we currently run through Tag Manager are described below. For more information, visit Google's Privacy Policy.
• Google Analytics: Where enabled through Tag Manager, Google Analytics collects anonymized data about website traffic, user behavior, and conversion events using first-party cookies. Data collected may include: pages visited, time on site, referring URLs, browser and device information, approximate geographic location (country/city level), and interaction events. Google may process this data in accordance with its own privacy policy.
• Hosting infrastructure (Vercel): Our hosting provider processes standard server-side request data, including IP address, user agent, and request timestamps, to serve the Platform and protect it from abuse. This is server log processing rather than browser-side tracking, and it does not rely on advertising cookies.

2.3 Functional Cookies

These cookies allow the Platform to remember choices you make (such as your search preferences, filter settings, and previously viewed jobs) and provide enhanced, more personalized features. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages. Disabling these cookies may affect the functionality and convenience of certain Platform features.

3. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies on the Platform are placed by third-party services that appear on our pages. These third-party providers have their own privacy and cookie policies, which we encourage you to review. We do not control the placement or use of third-party cookies. The third-party services we currently use that may place cookies include:

• Google Tag Manager— the container that delivers our measurement tags, including any Google Analytics tag configured within it.
• Google Analytics— where enabled, for website analytics and usage measurement.
• Vercel— for hosting infrastructure and server-side request processing. Vercel serves the Platform but does not set advertising cookies through it.
• Supabase— for backend database, and storage services. We do not currently operate candidate accounts, so no candidate authentication cookies are set.

4. Cookie Duration

The cookies we use have varying durations:

• Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that expire and are automatically deleted when you close your browser. Used for essential Platform functionality during your active browsing session.
• Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device for a set period (ranging from minutes to years) or until manually deleted. Used for analytics tracking, preference storage, and recognizing returning visitors. Google Analytics cookies typically persist for up to 2 years.

5. Your Cookie Choices

You have several options to control or limit how cookies are used on the Platform:

• Browser Settings:Most web browsers allow you to view, manage, delete, and block cookies through browser settings. You can configure your browser to reject all cookies, accept only first-party cookies, or prompt you before accepting cookies. Refer to your browser’s help documentation for specific instructions. The following links provide guidance for common browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.
• Google Analytics Opt-Out: You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
• Do Not Track:Some browsers offer a “Do Not Track” (DNT) setting. The Platform currently does not respond to DNT signals due to the lack of a consistent industry standard. However, you can use other cookie management tools described in this policy.

Please note that disabling certain cookies (particularly essential cookies) may prevent the Platform from functioning properly. You may not be able to submit applications, navigate certain pages, or access some features if essential cookies are blocked.

6. No Targeted Advertising

NearSkill does not use cookies for targeted advertising, behavioral advertising, retargeting, or ad personalization. We do not deploy advertising cookies, tracking pixels for ad networks, or social media tracking cookies. We do not sell, share, or use your browsing data for any advertising or marketing purposes. The cookies we use are limited to Platform operation, analytics, and basic functionality as described in this policy.

7. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use, our service providers, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Changes will be indicated by updating the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

8. Contact

For questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, contact us at support@nearskill.in.