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Glossary
Plain-language definitions for recruiting and career terminology.
B
- Background Check
- A background check verifies selected information relevant to employment, with scope, consent, and candidate rights varying by role and jurisdiction.
E
- Elevator Pitch
- An elevator pitch is a brief professional introduction that explains your current focus, relevant value, and reason for starting a conversation.
H
- Hiring Manager
- The hiring manager owns the decision to fill a role and usually evaluates how a candidate would perform within the team or function.
I
- Informational Interview
- An informational interview is a learning conversation about a role, field, or organization, not a disguised request for a job or referral.
J
- Job Description
- A job description explains a role’s responsibilities, qualifications, context, and conditions, but may not perfectly reflect daily work or priorities.
- Job Offer
- A job offer states proposed employment terms such as role, pay, start date, location, and conditions, which should be reviewed before acceptance.
N
- Networking
- Networking is the ongoing practice of building professional relationships through mutual learning, useful contact, and credible follow-through.
P
- Portfolio
- A portfolio is a selected collection of work samples that demonstrates relevant skills, decisions, process, and outcomes for a target audience.
R
- Recruiter Screen
- Prepare for an early recruiter conversation about fit, motivation, logistics, compensation, and next steps without treating it as a formality.
- Reference Check
- A reference check gathers information from people familiar with a candidate’s work, reliability, conduct, or qualifications.
S
- Salary Expectations
- Salary expectations describe the compensation range a candidate considers appropriate based on role scope, market, location, and experience.
- Skills Assessment
- A skills assessment evaluates job-related ability through a test, task, simulation, work sample, questionnaire, or structured exercise.
W
- Work Authorization
- Work authorization is legal permission to work in a country or jurisdiction, sometimes limited by employer, occupation, location, or time.