A Star Rating Isn't a Credential: Why the Difference Matters

Many worker-matching services in Mozambique let clients rate workers after a job. That's useful — but a rating tells you what one person thought, not what a worker can actually do. Verified credentials are a different, stronger signal entirely.

What a Rating Actually Tells You

| Rating Says | Rating Doesn't Say | |-------------|------------------------| | A past client was satisfied (or not) | What specific skill was demonstrated | | A general impression, often brief | Whether the worker has formal safety training | | Recent sentiment | Whether the skill applies to your specific job type |

What a Verified Credential Actually Tells You

A structured credential confirms a worker completed specific training modules, was assessed by a qualified Master on practical demonstration (not just a written test), and holds a specific, named competency — like "residential wiring" or "structural welding" — that you can check instantly.

Why This Matters Most for Safety-Critical Work

For trades like electrical work, welding, or solar installation, a good star rating from unrelated jobs tells you little about whether the specific safety-critical skill you need was actually verified. A credential does.

Ratings and Credentials Aren't Competing — They're Complementary

The strongest signal combines both: verified skill credentials showing what a worker can do, plus an accumulated rating history showing how consistently they deliver. Neither alone tells the full story.

What to Look for When Hiring

Before hiring for anything beyond simple tasks, check whether the platform offers verifiable skill credentials in addition to ratings — the credential tells you about competency; the rating tells you about consistency. You need both.