The job search glossary you didn't know you needed. A handy guide to some the lingo and insider terms that’ll help you cut through the confusion, prep smarter, and boost your chances of landing the next opportunity.
Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
- Definition: The software that companies use to collect, sort, and filter job applications automatically. It helps recruiters manage large volumes of CVs efficiently.
- Tip: Tailor your resume with keywords from the job description to pass ATS filters and get noticed.
Business Unit (BU)
- Definition: A distinct department or segment within a company focused on a specific market, product, or service line. Example: The Football BU at a sports company manages products, sponsorships, and marketing related to football; at a consumer goods giant like Procter & Gamble, the Beauty BU handles brands like Olay and Pantene, while the Health Care BU manages brands like Oral-B and Vicks
- Tip: If you are applying to a larger company, learn which BU the role belongs to as it helps you understand team priorities and how your role fits in the bigger picture.
Candidate Experience
- Definition: The overall impression a candidate has of an employer’s recruitment process, from application through onboarding.
- Tip: Engage positively at every touchpoint; professionalism and courtesy can create lasting impressions.
Culture Add vs. Culture Fit
- Definition: Culture Fit means matching the existing company culture; Culture Add means bringing new perspectives and enriching the team environment.
- Tip: Research what it's like to work at that company, and speak to it in your motivation letter and interview. Why do you fit with the culture, what do you like about it. Highlight how your unique bicultural experience helps you add value beyond fitting in.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Definition: A detailed document summarizing a candidate’s educational, professional, and academic history, typically longer than a resume and often used in academia or international applications. The term comes from Latin, meaning “course of life.” It reflects a summary of one’s career and educational journey. Historically, the CV traces back to the Middle Ages and was popularized by Leonardo da Vinci, who used a form of CV to showcase his skills to potential patrons.
- Tip: Tailor your CV to highlight relevant skills and experience for the role, and keep it clear and well-organized to make a strong first impression.
Data Protection (GDPR)
- Definition: The General Data Protection Regulation that governs how companies in the EU collect and process personal data.
- Tip: Know your rights; companies must handle your data securely and transparently during hiring.
External Recruiter / Agency
- Definition: Third-party recruiters hired by companies to find specific or senior candidates. They act as intermediaries between you and the hiring company.
- Tip: Be upfront about your goals and boundaries to ensure a good match and timely feedback.
Hiring Manager
- Definition: The person (usually your prospective boss) responsible for selecting the candidate who best fits the role and team.
- Tip: Prepare role-specific examples of your impact and emphasize adaptability, especially if you bring bicultural skills.
HR Business Partner (HRBP)
- Definition: An HR professional handling contracts, salary negotiations, company policies, and ensuring fairness between employer and employee.
- Tip: Transparently discuss salary expectations and career ambitions; ask about growth opportunities and company culture.
Interview Panel
- Definition: A group of multiple interviewers assessing candidates simultaneously, often evaluating both technical skills and cultural fit.
- Tip: Practice clear, concise communication and active listening. Treat every contact with professionalism, including scheduling interactions.
Job Requisition
- Definition: An internal document or approval request that initiates the hiring process for a new or replacement position.
- Tip: Knowing this is part of the process can help you understand that hiring decisions are tied to company needs and budgets.
Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
- Definition: Measurable values companies use to assess how well individuals or teams achieve business objectives.
- Tip: Understand relevant KPIs for the role; be prepared to discuss how you’ve met or exceeded similar goals.
Keyword
- Definition: Specific words or short phrases used in job descriptions and applications that describe required skills, qualifications, tools, or responsibilities relevant to a role.
- Tip: Identify and use keywords from job postings in your resume and application to improve matching with job opportunities and help recruiters find you.
Motivational Letter
- Definition: A personalized letter submitted alongside a CV that explains your motivation for applying, your interest in the role and organization, and goals you hope to achieve if selected. Unlike a resume or CV, which presents your current and past experiences, a motivational letter looks forward: it communicates your ambitions, how the opportunity aligns with your future self, and why you feel connected to the position and company.
- Tip: Use your motivational letter to describe what drives you, what you aim to accomplish, and how your values fit with the organization. Make your goals specific and your enthusiasm authentic—this is your chance to show who you want to become, not just who you’ve been.
Networking
- Definition: The process of building and maintaining professional relationships that can lead to job opportunities, sharing knowledge, or career support. Networking can happen online (LinkedIn, events) or in person (industry events, referrals).
- Tip: Engage genuinely with others in your field—ask questions, offer help, and follow up. Your next job is often just one conversation away.
Objectives and Key Results (OKR)
- Definition: A goal-setting framework organizations use to set ambitious objectives and measurable key results to track progress.
- Tip: Learn how your role’s goals align with OKRs; be ready to discuss your contributions toward key results.
Offer Stage
- Definition: The final steps of the hiring process where salary, benefits, and contracts are negotiated and finalized.
- Tip: Review offers carefully and don’t hesitate to negotiate or request clarification.
Onboarding Key Indicators (OKI)
- Definition: The process and metrics companies use to integrate new hires successfully into the team and culture.
- Tip: Ask about onboarding support and key success indicators; good onboarding sets you up for long-term success.
Pipeline or Hiring Pipeline
- Definition: The sequential stages candidates move through in the hiring process from sourcing to offer and onboarding.
- Tip: Monitor your progress by asking recruiters about your status in the pipeline.
Recruiting Coordinator
- Definition: The person who manages interview schedules, candidate communication, and sometimes logistics for the interview process.
- Tip: Always respond promptly and professionally to their communications; reliability leaves a strong impression.
Shortlist
- Definition: A smaller group of candidates selected from the larger applicant pool for interviews.
- Tip: Being shortlisted means you passed initial screenings—prepare thoroughly for the next stage. Congratulations!
Talent Acquisition (TA) / Recruiter
- Definition: The first person or team you’ll likely meet; they manage candidate sourcing, CV screening, and interview coordination. Often also candidate coaches and diversity advocates.
- Tip: Treat them as your ally. Provide clear goals, respond quickly, and ask thoughtful questions about the process. You’ve got this!
