Glossary
Jobs glossary
103 definitions · page 2 of 2.
- Moonlighting
- An employee who has more than one job is known to be moonlighting. This is a phenomenon that appears to be on the rise. Sometimes also known as 'Dual or Multiple Jobholding'
- Networking
- When a job seeker or employee makes contacts specifically with his career advancement in mind. Networking is most often done during professional and business functions, especially those with a social aspect to them.
- Non-Traditional Careers
- Examples of non-traditional careers include male nurses and female carpenters. In other words, a non-traditional career is when a person chooses a career path that would not normally be expected of them, generally based on their gender.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- A guide detailing more than 250 occupations including the nature of the work and the typing working environment/conditions for each occupation as well as the requirements for entry and advancement opportunities. Published by the US Department of Labor…
- Offer of Employment
- An offer made by an employer to a potential employee. An offer of employment should outline the specific terms of employment, including the start date, salary and overall working conditions. Also known as a 'job offer'
- Older Workers
- Those seeking work who are older than 45. This group of job seekers face greater challenges whilst searching for work than any other group of potential employees. Sometimes also known as 'Mature Workers'
- Overqualification
- Used by employers to describe job seekers who have one of three points working against them: Too many years of work experience Too much education Too highly paid in their previous employment An example of an overqualified job seeker would be an office…
- Part Time Jobs
- A job that doesn't offer work for the amount of hours one would normally work. Some employees chose to take several part time jobs rather than one full time job, while others find that a part time job fits better with their lifestyle.
- Portfolio Career
- A term given to the situation in which a worker has several part-time positions rather than one full-time position. Part-time positions can include freelance work, temporary employment and self-employment. Portfolio careers are gaining popularity as they…
- Private Sector
- A business that is engaged in private enterprise and that is free from government ownership.
- Public Sector
- A section of the business community that is largely or wholly owned by the government.
- Qualifications
- Used to describe the results of exams, courses and other achievements. Degrees, diplomas and certificates are all examples of qualifications. Personal attributes that make a person suitable for a position may also be classified as qualifications.
- Qualifying Period
- The length of time a person must be employed by a company in order to gain certain rights. For example, it may be necessary to work for the company for one year in order to claim staff discounts.
- Recruiters
- Professionals who are hired to find suitable candidates for positions with a specific company. They approach potential candidates in order to make them aware of the available position. More often than not, candidates are currently employed by competing…
- Reference List
- A listing of a job seekers references. A separate reference sheet should always match the look and layout of your CV (resume) but should never be supplied unless requested. Sometimes also known as 'Reference Sheet'
- References
- Previous employers, teachers or other upstanding members of the community who have good things to say about you. Always ask permission before including a person on your reference list. Sometimes also known as 'Referees'
- Remuneration
- Money paid or a benefit given to a person in return for their services. This usually means a salary but can also take the form of a special payment such as a bonus or group of benefits. Please also see 'Benefits Package'
- Resignation
- When you quit your job, you 'resign'. A letter of resignation would be the letter given to your employer stating that you intend to leave your current position on a specific date, depending on the amount of notice required.
- Resume
- The number one job-hunting tool that any job seeker MUST have. A resume summarizes your past employment, your accomplishments and your education, including any courses taking in connection with previous jobs. Your resume should reflect who you are based on…
- Salary
- The monetary compensation offered to an employee in return for the services he provides. A salary is part of a 'compensation package'. The way in which as salary is determined differs depending on the company but can be based on an hourly, daily, weekly…
- Salary History
- Occasionally an employer will request a job seekers salary history. This tells the employer what level of compensation he can expect to offer you as well as the frequency of promotions you've earned. When compiling a salary history, always include the…
- Salary Negotiation
- The process during which job seekers attempt to negotiate the best possible compensation package available to them. Salary negotiation is based on the job seekers skills and experience as well as the going industry rate.
- Salary Requirement
- Some employers will ask you straight out for the figure you require in order to accept a position. If your salary expectation proves to be too high, you'll lose the chance of a job offer - too low and you'll be working for less than your true worth. Try…
- Seasonal Work
- Work that is carried out during certain periods of the year only. Fruit picking is a typical example of seasonal work.
- Shift Work
- A term used to describe work that is performed outside of the normal spread of hours. Shift work is most commonly used when a business operates on a 24 hour basis but can also consist of shifts between certain hours of the day. An example would be a worker…
- Summer Jobs
- Teens often take summer jobs in order to earn some extra spending money but they're also valuable to the teen's future in that they offer work experience. This is especially so if the job is somehow related to the career the teen is planning. Teens are…
- Survival Job
- These jobs are low-end, low-paying positions that a job seeker takes, usually on a temporary basis, in order to cover the basic cost of living. Generally accepted as a last resort, survival jobs can save a job seeker from losing his home and/or bankruptcy.
- Telecommuting
- An arrangement where the employee works at least one day a week from a location other than the company office, usually at home. This can be a beneficial arrangement for job seekers that are looking for increased flexibility. Sometimes also called 'Teleworking'
- Temping
- When a person works continuous temporary jobs, usually found through a staffing or temping agency. Although temporary, the worker bases his/her working life around this kind of work as it offers increased flexibility and variety. Temping can also be useful…
- Temporary Agency
- A company that finds temporary work for job seekers and places them on a contractual basis. Some temporary agencies provide training. Specialized agencies exist.
- Testing
- Job seekers may be asked to take any number of tests that will give the employer a better indication of aptitude, skills and personality. Drugs testing is not unusual.
- Thank You Letter
- Whenever a job seeker has been given an interview, he/she should send a letter thanking the interviewer for his time. Not only is this courteous, it will remind the interviewer who you are. As only a small proportion of job seekers actually send a thank you…
- Trainee
- A person who is employed whilst being taught 'on-the-job'. Some trainees are sent on an outside course one or two days per week.
- Transferable Skills
- Whether job, project, hobby, parenting or sport related (or learned anywhere else), these are skills are transferable to the job you're seeking. An example is a mother of a special needs child seeking a position as classroom assistant for special needs…
- Trial Period
- Most employers will employ a person with a trial period. If the trial period is for three months, at the end of this time (or during), the employer can ask the employee to leave without notice and without the employee being able to claim unfair dismissal or…
- Underqualification
- Young graduates will little or no work experience are often frustrated by being underqualified (or unqualified). This can also be a problem for those who are looking to change career paths.
- Unfair Dismissal
- When an employee is dismissed for no good reason or without the employer going through the agreed company dismissal procedure.
- Unskilled Work
- Positions which require no particular skills or qualifications. These usually involve simple manual operations that can be learned in a short time.
- USP
- Stand for 'Unique Selling Proposition' and refers to the one thing about a product or service that makes it distinct from any others on the market. Just as products have USPs, job seekers need to find the one thing that sets them aside from the competition.
- Vocation
- A person's occupation or profession when considered a suitable long-term career. A person is said to have found their vocation when they've found a career that they're 100% happy with.
- Workaholic
- A person whose work becomes more important than personal or family life. A workaholic lives for his/her career, spends time only with work colleagues and rarely takes time out to relax. Even during vacations, the workaholic will be thinking about work and…
- Workplace Values
- A combination of concepts and ideas that give a worker contentment both when on the job and at home. When an employee isn't happy with his workplace values, his home life is often affected so it's important that a values check is made on a regular basis to…
- Zero Hours Contract
- A legally binding contract that states that you are obliged to work when asked to but that you will not be paid when you are not needed. A zero hours contract should be avoided at all costs.