✅ Step 1: Complete Your Profile Setup
Before you can book shifts, make sure your account is fully set up.
Add your payment method — Go to Profile → Payments → Payment Methods and link your bank account or debit card. You cannot receive pay without a verified payment method.
Complete any required onboarding steps — If you are a W2 worker, you will need to complete additional steps, including your I-9, W-4 tax form, and background check. Check the app for outstanding items.
Confirm your background check is approved — Your background check is processed by our partner Checkr. You will receive an email once it is complete. You cannot work shifts until it is approved.
Set up notifications — Turn on push notifications in your phone settings so you never miss a new shift, shift invitation, or important update from Traba.
💡 Tip: If your background check is taking longer than expected, check your email (including spam) for a message from Checkr. You can also log in at candidate.checkr.com to check the status.
✅ Step 2: Book Your First Shift
Browse available shifts — Open the Traba app and explore the shifts listed in your area. Shifts show the location, start time, pay rate, and role requirements.
Sign up for a shift that fits your schedule — Tap a shift to view details and select "Sign Up." Make sure you can commit to the full shift before booking.
Enter your referral code (if you have one) — If a friend referred you, make sure their referral code was entered at sign-up. Codes cannot be added after your account is created. See How do referral bonuses work?
Join the waitlist if a shift is full — If the shift you want is full, you can join the waitlist. If a spot opens up, you will be notified automatically. See How does a waitlist work?
✅ Step 3: Confirm Your Shift (Required!)
Traba requires you to confirm your shift 24–72 hours before it starts. You will receive a notification asking you to confirm.
Tap "Confirm" when prompted — Failing to confirm your shift can result in you being removed from it, even if you planned to attend.
Double-check the shift details — Verify the start time, location address, role, and any dress code or equipment requirements listed in the shift details.
⚠️ If you accidentally press "No" when confirming, contact Traba support through the app immediately. Do not assume you've been removed — our team can often reinstate you.
✅ Step 4: Prepare the Night Before
Know your shift start time and location — Plan your route in advance. Use the address in the app — not just the company name — to ensure you arrive at the correct entrance.
Plan to arrive 10–15 minutes early — Many sites require workers to be ready to begin exactly at the scheduled time. Arriving late may result in being turned away with no pay.
Check what to wear — Review any dress code listed in the shift details (e.g., steel-toed boots, all black, no open-toed shoes). Arriving in incorrect attire can result in being turned away.
Charge your phone — You need your phone to clock in. Make sure it's fully charged before your shift.
Make sure the Traba app is updated — Open your app store and check for any available updates so clock-in works smoothly.
✅ Step 5: Clock In When You Arrive
When you arrive at your shift, you will clock in using one of the following methods:
Method 1 — QR Code Kiosk
Find the kiosk at your worksite (ask a supervisor if you're unsure where it is).
Open your phone's camera and point it at the QR code on the kiosk screen.
Tap the notification that appears to open the Traba app.
Confirm your clock-in in the app.
Method 2 — PIN / Clock-In Code
Ask your supervisor for the clock-in code.
Open the Traba app → tap your shift → enter the code.
🚨 If you can't clock in: Contact Traba support through the app immediately — our team can manually clock you in. Do not wait until after your shift to report the issue.
✅ Step 6: During Your Shift
Follow the supervisor's instructions — You are representing yourself and Traba. Be professional, punctual returning from breaks, and follow all worksite safety rules.
Do not leave early without notifying Traba — If you need to leave your shift early, contact support through the app first. Leaving without notice affects your reliability score and may result in penalties. See Need to leave my shift early
Report any safety concerns — If you experience or witness a safety issue at your worksite, report it through the app. See How to report an incident?
✅ Step 7: Clock Out When Your Shift Ends
Clock out using the same method you used to clock in — QR code or PIN, depending on the worksite.
Do not clock out early — Clocking out before your shift ends without supervisor approval may result in a time adjustment and reduced pay.
If the app asks you to clock out because you've left the location — This is automatic. Confirm the clock-out only if your shift is actually over. See The Traba app is asking me to clock out when I have left the shift location
✅ Step 8: Getting Paid
Check that your shift shows as "Complete" in the app — If it still shows as "In Progress" more than a few hours after your shift ended, contact support.
Understand your pay timeline:
Pay Type | When you receive payment |
QuickPay | Same day your shift is processed (available after 3 completed shifts) |
Standard Pay | 2–3 business days after your shift is processed |
Event shifts | 3–5 business days |
Weekly pay employers | Next weekly pay cycle |
Your first 3 shifts use Standard Pay — QuickPay is not available until after you complete 3 shifts and your bank supports it.
Check your payment method is correctly linked — If you don't receive payment, verify your bank details are active and up to date in Profile → Payments.
💡 If your payment shows as "Deposited" in the app but isn't in your bank yet, allow 1–3 additional business days — this is your bank processing the transfer, not a Traba issue.
✅ Step 9: Protect Your Reliability Score
Your reliability score is one of the most important metrics on your Traba profile. Businesses use it to decide whether to accept you for their shifts. A low score limits the shifts you can access.
What hurts your reliability score:
Action | Impact |
Cancelling 18+ hours before shift | ✅ No impact |
Cancelling 12–18 hours before | 🟡 Low |
Cancelling 4–12 hours before | 🟠 Medium |
Cancelling under 4 hours before | 🔴 High |
No-show (no cancellation at all) | 🚫 Very high — 7-day suspension |
What helps your score:
Completing every shift you sign up for
Arriving on time
Cancelling as early as possible when you can't make it
Communicating with support proactively
✅ Step 10: If Something Goes Wrong
Situation | What to do |
Can't clock in | Contact support immediately through the app — don't wait |
Running late | Contact support AND the business as soon as you know |
Turned away at the worksite | Don't leave — contact support first to document your arrival |
Pay looks wrong | Submit a Missing Pay or Time Dispute ticket through the app |
Need to cancel a shift | Cancel in the app ASAP — earlier is always better |
Safety issue at the worksite | Report it through the app right away |
📞 How to Contact Traba Support
Open the Traba app
Tap the chat icon in the bottom navigation
Select the shift you need help with
Choose the topic that best matches your issue
Support is available 7 days a week. For urgent shift issues (running late, can't clock in, turned away), reach out immediately — don't wait until after your shift.
Welcome to the Traba community. We're here to help you succeed. 💪