Recruiting Buzzwords Every Job Seeker Should Know
As if finding a job wasn’t hard enough , it’s made more difficult by the fact that many job postings are full of language that is either unnecessarily intimidating or downright confusing. What does it mean to be a “social media warrior”? Should I not apply if I don’t consider myself an “accounting rock star”?
According to one study , 17% of job seekers admitted they didn’t apply for a job because of “vague or confusing” wording in the job description. While we may never find a single definition for such high-profile terms as “dynamic”, “blue sky thinking” or “self start”, there is some specific vocabulary that every job seeker should understand. To that end, FlexJobs has created a glossary of terms you may come across in your job search (and in your career) and what they mean.
Vocabulary Every Candidate Should Know
Chronological summary . You should always target your resume to a specific job listing , and you may be asked for a specific resume in chronological order. Luckily, this is the traditional resume format that you probably already use. The expectation of a chronological resume is to outline your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position.
Compressed work week . Any job that advertises a shorter workweek means that the role means working longer hours in fewer days. For example, instead of five eight-hour days, you can work four 10-hour days or three 12-hour days.
Digital Nomads . A digital nomad is someone who works from virtually different locations. Digital nomads can move from one place to another, but use technology and communications to stay digitally connected while traveling. (We previously covered how you can afford to be a digital nomad .)
distributed company. If you see a job listing from a distributed company, it means that most (if not all) employees are working remotely. Communication usually includes strategies for making everyone feel involved rather than focusing on physical interaction.
Non-free employee. If you work a regular 40-hour week without an employment contract, you are probably not exempt. A non-tax exempt worker is not exempt from federal and state labor laws and must receive one and a half hours of overtime for any hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week. This usually refers to those who work on an hourly basis, not paid positions. Examples include interns, waiters, retailers and similar jobs.
Panel interview . A panel interview, also known as a team interview, is an interview conducted by two or more people at the same time. Managers, supervisors, team members, HR representatives and other decision makers in the company can participate in a panel interview. Here’s our guide to surviving the scary panel interview .
personal positioning. Anyone who has used LinkedIn over the past few years knows how hard it is to “build your brand”. Simply put, personal branding is how you advertise your career and experience. Effective personal branding means delivering a cohesive message through your social media channels and app content. Practice creating a career elevator presentation now .
Remote-first/remote-friendly . If working from home is a priority for you, pay close attention to the language of the job description. In a remote company, most employees work remotely rather than in a centralized office. On the other hand, a company that supports remote work must have policies and procedures in place to enable remote work, but ultimately it is not a fully distributed team (see above).
ROWE . A results-only work environment (ROWE) is a type of work environment in which employees are judged on the work they have completed rather than hours worked or time spent in the office.
Resume summary . A resume summary is a great way to briefly introduce yourself as a potential employee. This resume is a short statement (no more than two to four lines) at the top of your resume that provides a compelling snapshot of your experience, accomplishments, and qualifications.
To learn more, check out the full FlexJobs glossary here. And once you’ve secured your bag, brush up on the most annoying corporate jargon .