[AshAbed]

If a rating system were implemented, I'd suggest that at the start of each project the person hired and person hiring agree to being rated, by this I mean..

Something along the lines of the applicant clicking a link which says 'apply to job' within the person hiring's thread at the requests forum, which would give them a text area to PM the thread starter. The thread starter would then read through the PMs, be able to reply if they'd like, and click something like 'job granted' on the PM of the person they hire. Afterwords, both the applicant and the person applying would be given permission to rate one another, with each member's given & received ratings displayed in their profiles.

This could prevent people from rating whoever they like(/dislike) even if they haven't worked with them, and only allow for ratings between people who have actually agreed to work together.

Hopefully what I said wasn't too convoluted, it's 1am and I've got plenty of work on my hands right now...