Question 1

Is this real work experience?

Accepted Answer

It is pro bono consulting. You are applying your professional judgment to real business problems on a documented, scored basis. Problems are drawn from real company situations, published case studies, and challenges submitted directly by founders. There are no model answers. Your thinking is what gets evaluated. That is the same standard applied to any consulting engagement, paid or otherwise.

Question 2

Is this employment or an academic programme?

Accepted Answer

Neither. Cognostra is a professional membership that gives you access to a library of consulting engagements drawn from real business scenarios. You work independently, submit your analysis, and receive independent evaluation of your thinking. There are no classes, no instructors, and no employer relationship.

Question 3

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

$19.99 per month. Your membership covers access to the platform, AI coaching, scoring and evaluation across eight dimensions, your verified record, and your cognostra.com professional email address.

Question 4

Who can join?

Accepted Answer

Membership is by application only. We accept professionals and recent graduates with a genuine interest in business problem solving across product, operations, marketing, people, strategy, and customer experience. If you are between roles, building experience, or navigating a difficult job search, this is exactly what the platform is built for. Currently employed professionals are welcome too.

Question 5

What happens during the application review?

Accepted Answer

We review your professional background and a short 60 second video where you tell us who you are, what you have worked on, and what you are hoping to get out of Cognostra. We aim to respond within 14 days. If accepted you will receive an activation link to create your account and complete payment.

Question 6

What kind of problems are they?

Accepted Answer

Real business challenges drawn from documented company situations, published case studies, and problems submitted by founders directly. Every problem includes the business context, the specific challenge, what has already been tried, and what success looks like. There are no right answers. Only better and worse thinking.

Question 7

What is the AI reasoning coach?

Accepted Answer

A thinking partner available throughout your engagement. It asks questions, challenges your assumptions, and helps you develop your reasoning before you submit.

Question 8

Will the AI just give me the answer?

Accepted Answer

No. The coaching session is Socratic. It asks questions, challenges your assumptions, and pushes your thinking further. It will never tell you what to do. Your reasoning is what gets scored, not your ability to prompt an AI for a solution.

Question 9

How long do I have to submit each problem?

Accepted Answer

Problems arrive every 14 days. Your next problem unlocks on that date regardless of whether you have submitted the previous one. Each time a new problem is assigned your previous one should be submitted. If two problems are waiting unsubmitted your membership moves to On Hold. Submitting and clearing the backlog restores your active status automatically.

Question 10

What happens if I miss a submission?

Accepted Answer

Missing one problem occasionally is fine. If two or more assigned problems go unsubmitted your membership moves to On Hold and recruiters who verify your code will see this status. Clear the backlog by submitting and your status restores automatically. Persistent inactivity over several months results in cancellation.

Question 11

How am I scored?

Accepted Answer

Every submission is evaluated across eight dimensions. Problem understanding, originality, feasibility, structure, evidence, alternatives, independence, and coaching engagement. Each dimension is scored out of ten. Your combined score also factors in message efficiency, ranked as a percentile against everyone who has solved the same problem. Message efficiency reflects how much coaching you used relative to the quality of your final submission. Results arrive within 24 hours of submission.

Question 12

What is the verification code and how do I share it?

Accepted Answer

After your first scored submission you receive a unique verification code in the format CGNST-XXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXX. Share it with recruiters or hiring managers who can enter it at cognostra.com/verify to see your record, problems completed, average score, and percentile rank. Your code generates after your first submission, not when you pay. The record is earned not purchased.

Question 13

How can a recruiter verify my record?

Accepted Answer

Recruiters sign in at cognostra.com/verify using their work email. Once signed in they enter your code and see your full record in real time. The portal is not publicly listed. You share the link directly with whoever needs to check it.

Question 14

Can I put this on my resume and LinkedIn?

Accepted Answer

If you would list pro bono consulting on your LinkedIn, this is no different. List it as Consultant - [your domain], Cognostra, with your start date.

Question 15

What documents can I get from Cognostra?

Accepted Answer

From your dashboard you can download a verification letter confirming your engagement and role, and a Cognostra Resume showing your performance breakdown and top engagements. Both are generated fresh on each download and available from the Documents tab.

Question 16

What happens when I find a job?

Accepted Answer

That is the point. Cancel your membership anytime from your account settings. Your record will reflect the period you were active, your scores are permanently on record, and your portfolio stays on file. Members who leave because they found a job are our best outcome.

Question 17

Is there a time limit on membership?

Accepted Answer

No time limit. Stay as long as you find value in it. Some members continue after finding a role to keep their thinking sharp and maintain their record for future transitions. Others cancel the moment they sign an offer. Both are completely fine.

Question 18

What happens to my data?

Accepted Answer

Cognostra retains your account information including name and email address after cancellation to enable reactivation. Submission content and scores belong to Cognostra and may be used in aggregate and anonymised form for research and methodology development. Individual submissions are never shared publicly or attributed to specific members without consent.

Question 19

What is the refund policy?

Accepted Answer

We do not offer refunds on monthly membership fees. Since membership is by application and you are notified of acceptance before payment is taken, charges are final. If you have a billing issue contact team@cognostra.com.

Frequently Asked Questions