Glossary of Common Terms in the Hiring Industry
- Applicant Tracking System (ATS): Software used to manage and automate recruitment processes.
- Active Job Seeker: A candidate actively looking for employment opportunities.
- Attrition: The natural reduction of the workforce due to resignations, retirements, or terminations.
- Behavioral Interview: A method of interviewing based on past behaviors as indicators of future performance.
- Benefits: Non-wage compensation offered to employees, such as health insurance and paid leave.
- Blind Recruitment: A hiring process where identifying information is removed to reduce bias.
- Boilerplate Job Description: A generic job description used as a template.
- Candidate Pipeline: A pool of potential job candidates for current and future roles.
- Career Progression: The path an employee follows to advance in their career.
- Compensation: Total remuneration, including salary, benefits, and bonuses.
- Competency-Based Interview: An interview focusing on specific skills or abilities.
- Company Culture: The shared values, beliefs, and behaviors within an organization.
- Contingency Recruiting: A recruitment model where payment is made only when a candidate is successfully hired.
- Contract Employee: An individual hired for a specific project or duration.
- Cultural Fit: The alignment of a candidate’s values and behavior with a company’s culture.
- Diversity Hiring: Recruiting practices aimed at increasing workforce diversity.
- Employee Branding: How a company markets itself as an employer to attract top talent.
- Employee Engagement: The level of enthusiasm and dedication a worker feels toward their job.
- Employee Retention: Strategies to reduce turnover and keep employees long-term.
- Exit Interview: A discussion with an employee leaving the company to gather feedback.
- External Recruitment: Hiring candidates from outside the organization.
- Freelancer: An independent contractor who works on a project or task basis.
- Full-Cycle Recruiting: Managing all stages of the hiring process, from sourcing to onboarding.
- Gig Economy: A labor market characterized by short-term, flexible jobs.
- Hard Skills: Measurable, technical abilities or knowledge.
- Headcount: The total number of employees in a company.
- Hiring Funnel: The step-by-step process from attracting to hiring candidates.
- HR Analytics: Data analysis methods used to improve human resources management.
- Inclusion: Efforts to ensure diverse employees feel valued and integrated.
- Independent Contractor: A self-employed worker engaged for specific tasks.
- Internal Recruitment: Filling positions with existing employees.
- Interview Panel: A group of interviewers assessing a candidate.
- Job Analysis: The process of determining a job’s requirements and responsibilities.
- Job Board: An online platform for posting and searching for jobs.
- Job Description: A document detailing the responsibilities and qualifications for a role.
- Job Market: The supply and demand dynamics of employment.
- Job Offer: A formal proposal by an employer to hire a candidate.
- Job Shadowing: Observing a professional to understand a role better.
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Metrics to evaluate an employee’s performance.
- Labor Market Trends: Patterns and changes in employment conditions.
- Leadership Development: Training programs to enhance leadership skills.
- LinkedIn Recruiter: A premium tool for sourcing candidates on LinkedIn.
- Market Rate: The average salary for a specific role within a location or industry.
- Mentorship: A professional relationship for guidance and skill development.
- Minimum Qualifications: The basic skills and experience required for a job.
- Negotiation: The process of discussing terms of employment, such as salary.
- Networking: Building relationships for professional opportunities.
- Non-Compete Agreement: A contract restricting an employee from working with competitors.
- Offer Letter: A written confirmation of a job offer.
- Onboarding: The process of integrating new hires into an organization.
- Open Position: A job vacancy waiting to be filled.
- Outplacement Services: Assistance provided to laid-off employees to find new jobs.
- Passive Candidate: Someone not actively seeking a job but open to opportunities.
- Performance Appraisal: The evaluation of an employee’s job performance.
- Pipeline Development: Building a pool of qualified candidates for future needs.
- Pre-Employment Screening: Background checks conducted before hiring.
- Probation Period: A trial period for new employees.
- Professional Development: Training and education to improve skills.
- Recruiter: A professional specializing in finding and hiring candidates.
- Recruitment Marketing: Strategies to attract and engage candidates.
- Reference Check: Verifying a candidate’s qualifications through past employers.
- Remote Work: Employment performed outside the traditional office setting.
- Retention Rate: The percentage of employees staying in a company over time.
- Return on Investment (ROI): The value gained from hiring investments.
- Roles and Responsibilities: The tasks assigned to a specific position.
- Salary Benchmarking: Comparing salaries within an industry or location.
- Seasonal Employment: Temporary jobs tied to specific times of the year.
- Self-Assessment: Employees evaluating their own performance.
- Skill Gap: The difference between skills possessed and skills needed.
- Skill Matrix: A tool for assessing employee skills.
- Soft Skills: Non-technical skills like communication and teamwork.
- Sourcing: Identifying potential job candidates.
- Succession Planning: Preparing employees to take on key roles in the future.
- Talent Acquisition: The strategic process of finding and hiring top talent.
- Talent Pool: A database of potential candidates.
- Temporary Staffing: Short-term employment solutions.
- Time-to-Fill: The time taken to fill a job vacancy.
- Turnover Rate: The rate at which employees leave a company.
- Up-Skilling: Training employees in new skills to enhance performance.
- Virtual Career Fair: Online events connecting employers and job seekers.
- Workforce Analytics: Data analysis focused on workforce trends.
- Workforce Planning: Strategic planning to meet future workforce needs.
- Work-Life Balance: The equilibrium between personal life and work responsibilities.
- Workplace Diversity: Inclusion of diverse individuals in the workplace.
- Zero-Hour Contract: An agreement with no guaranteed hours of work.
- Zoom Interview: A job interview conducted via Zoom or similar platforms.
- Career Coach: A professional advisor for career guidance.
- Compassionate Leave: Leave granted for personal emergencies.
- Equal Opportunity Employer: A company that promotes fair hiring practices.
- Green Recruitment: Eco-conscious hiring practices.
- HRIS (Human Resource Information System): A tool for managing HR data.
- Hybrid Work Model: A mix of remote and on-site work.
- Job Enlargement: Expanding an employee’s tasks at the same level.
- Job Enrichment: Adding responsibilities to make a role more rewarding.
- Knowledge Worker: Professionals primarily working with information.
- Layoff: Termination of employment due to business needs.
- Outsourcing: Delegating tasks to external agencies.
- Performance Management: The process of monitoring and improving employee performance.
- Recruitment Agency: An organization specializing in hiring services.
- Skill-Based Hiring: Recruitment focusing on candidate’s abilities over credentials.
- Workforce Turnover: The rate at which employees leave and are replaced.