The Recruiting Buzzwords Every Job Seeker Should Know

As if searching for a job wasn’t hard enough, it’s made harder by the fact that many job postings are full of language that is either unnecessarily daunting or flat-out confusing. What does it mean to be a “social media warrior?” Should I not apply if don’t consider myself an “accounting rockstar?”

According to one study, 17% of applicants admitted to not applying for an opening because of “vague or confusing” language in the job description. While we may will never find a singular definition for buzzy terms like “dynamic,” “blue sky thinking,” or “self-starter,” there is some concrete vocab that every job seeker should understand. To this end, FlexJobs has created a glossary of terms you might come across throughout job search (and your career), and what they mean.

Vocab every job seeker should know

Chronological resume. You should always cater your resume to the specific job listing, and one may ask you specifically for a chronological resume. Luckily, this is the traditional resume format that you probably already use. The expectation for a chronological resume is to outline your job job history in reverse chronological order, beginning with your most recent position.

Compressed workweek. Any job posting the advertises a compressed workweek means the role entails working longer hours in fewer days. For instance, rather than five eight-hour days, you might work four 10-hour days or three 12-hour days.

Digital nomads. A digital nomad is someone who works virtually from various locations. Digital nomads may move from location to location but use technology and communication tools to stay digitally connected while and 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, that means the majority (if not all) employees work from remote locations. Communication generally involves strategies to ensure everyone feels included, rather than focusing on physical interactions.

Nonexempt employee. If you work a regular 40-hour work week without an employment contract, you are probably nonexempt. A nonexempt employee is not exempt from federal and state labor laws and must be paid overtime at time-and-a-half for any hours worked beyond 40 hours in a week. This generally applies to those in hourly positions, rather than salaried positions. Examples include interns, servers, retail associates, and similar jobs.

Panel interview. A panel interview, otherwise known as a team interview, is an interview conducted by two or more people at the same time. A panel interview can include managers, supervisors, team members, HR representatives, and other company decision-makers. Here’s our guide to surviving the dreaded panel interview.

Personal branding. Anyone who has used LinkedIn in the past few years knows the pressure of “building your brand.” Simply put, personal branding is the way you market your career focus and expertise. Effective personal branding means providing a cohesive message across your social media channels and application materials. Practice creating your career elevator pitch now.

Remote-first/remote-friendly. If working from home is a priority for you, pay careful attention to the language in a job description. In a remote-first company, most employees work from remote locations, rather than a centralized office. A remote-friendly company, on the other hand, should have policies and procedures in place to accommodate 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 assessed by the work they produce, as opposed to hours on the job or time spent in the office.

Resume summary. Including a resume summary is a great way to succinctly pitch yourself as a prospective employee. This summary is a brief statement (no more the two to four lines) near the top of your resume that provides a persuasive snapshot of your experience, accomplishments, and qualifications.

For more, check out the full glossary from FlexJobs here. And once your secure the bag, brush up on the most annoying corporate jargon.