HR Glossary
Clear, actionable definitions for every HR and recruiting term — from ATS to workforce planning. Built for HR teams, not academics.
A
Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a software platform that manages the end-to-end recruitment process — from job pos…
ComplianceAt-Will Employment
At-will employment is the default employment doctrine in the United States (except Montana) under which either the emplo…
TechATS Integration
ATS integration refers to the technical connections between an Applicant Tracking System and other software platforms — …
MetricsAttrition Rate
Attrition rate is the percentage of employees who leave an organisation over a defined period, calculated as the number …
B
Background Check
A background check is a pre-employment screening process that verifies candidate-provided information and examines recor…
InterviewsBehavioural Interview
A behavioural interview is an interview technique that asks candidates to describe specific past experiences to demonstr…
SourcingBoolean Search
Boolean search is a structured query method using logical operators (AND, OR, NOT) to construct precise searches across …
C
Candidate Experience
Candidate experience is the overall impression a candidate forms of an organisation as a result of the recruiting proces…
MetricsCandidate NPS
Candidate Net Promoter Score (cNPS) measures how likely candidates are to recommend your organisation to others as a pla…
ATS CoreCandidate Pipeline
A candidate pipeline is the sequence of defined stages that candidates move through during the hiring process — from ini…
HR OpsCompetency Framework
A competency framework is a structured model that defines the behaviours, skills, and attributes required for effective …
InterviewsCompetency-Based Interview
A competency-based interview is an interview format that uses predetermined questions derived from a competency framewor…
MetricsCost Per Hire
Cost per hire is the total expenditure required to fill one position, divided by the number of hires made in a given per…
E
EEOC
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the US federal agency responsible for enforcing federal employment…
MetricsEmployee Turnover
Employee turnover refers to the rate at which employees leave an organisation and are replaced. Beyond the headcount met…
RecruitingEmployee Value Proposition (EVP)
An Employee Value Proposition (EVP) is the full set of benefits, experiences, and opportunities that an employer offers …
RecruitingEmployer Branding
Employer branding is the deliberate management of your organisation's reputation as an employer — how it appears to curr…
H
HCM
Human Capital Management (HCM) is an enterprise software category that encompasses the full spectrum of HR functions — f…
WorkforceHeadcount Planning
Headcount planning is the process of determining how many employees an organisation needs — by function, level, and timi…
RolesHiring Manager
A hiring manager is the person who has requested a new hire, owns the role definition, participates in evaluating candid…
RolesHR Business Partner
An HR Business Partner (HRBP) is a senior HR professional who partners directly with a specific business unit or leaders…
TechHRIS
A Human Resource Information System (HRIS) is the software platform that manages core HR data and processes — employee r…
J
Job Description
A job description is a formal document that defines the responsibilities, requirements, and context of a specific role. …
HR DocsJob Posting
A job posting is the public-facing advertisement for an open position, distributed across job boards, career sites, and …
RecruitingJob Requisition
A job requisition is the internal document or workflow that authorises a company to hire for a specific position. It cap…
O
Offer Letter
An offer letter is a written document from an employer to a selected candidate formally extending an offer of employment…
HR DocsOffer Letter vs Employment Contract
An offer letter is an informal summary of employment terms sent before the start date; an employment contract is a legal…
HR OpsOnboarding
Onboarding is the structured process through which a new employee transitions from candidate to productive, engaged team…
HR OpsOnboarding Checklist
An onboarding checklist is a structured list of tasks, documents, and activities that must be completed to integrate a n…
P
Panel Interview
A panel interview involves two or more interviewers simultaneously evaluating a single candidate. It improves evaluation…
SourcingPassive Candidate
A passive candidate is a professional who is currently employed and not actively seeking a new job, but who may be open …
PerformancePerformance Improvement Plan (PIP)
A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a formal document that defines specific performance deficiencies, sets clear imp…
HR OpsProbationary Period
A probationary period is a defined initial phase of employment — typically 30 to 90 days — during which the new employee…
R
Recruiter
A recruiter is the talent acquisition professional responsible for managing the hiring process — from sourcing and scree…
MetricsRetention Rate
Retention rate is the percentage of employees who remain with an organisation over a defined period. It is the inverse o…
ComplianceRight to Work
Right to work (RTW) is a US state law that prohibits employers and unions from requiring union membership or payment of …
S
Skills Gap Analysis
A skills gap analysis identifies the difference between the skills your workforce currently possesses and the skills req…
SourcingSourcing
Sourcing in recruiting is the proactive identification and initial engagement of potential candidates — including both a…
InterviewsStructured Interview
A structured interview is a formal interview method in which every candidate for the same role is asked the same predete…
WorkforceSuccession Planning
Succession planning is the process of identifying and developing internal candidates who have the potential to step into…
T
Take-Home Assessment
A take-home assessment is a work sample test or skills exercise that candidates complete independently outside of the fo…
RecruitingTalent Acquisition
Talent acquisition is the strategic function responsible for identifying, attracting, evaluating, and hiring the people …
RecruitingTalent Pool
A talent pool is a database of candidates who have been previously identified, screened, or engaged — but not yet hired …
MetricsTime to Fill
Time to fill is the number of calendar days between a job requisition being opened and a candidate accepting an offer. I…
MetricsTime to Hire
Time to hire is the number of days between a candidate entering the recruiting process (typically the date of applicatio…
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