Recruiting Glossary
Your go-to guide for understanding recruiting terms.
Active Candidate
A job seeker who is actively applying to open positions and often visible on job boards or LinkedIn.
Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
A software tool that helps companies and recruiters post jobs, manage applicants, and track candidates throughout the hiring process.
Blind Resume
A resume that removes identifying information (like name, gender, or photo) to prevent unconscious bias during the hiring process.
Boolean Search
A search method using logical operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine candidate sourcing across job boards and databases.
Candidate Experience
How job seekers perceive and react to a company's recruiting and hiring process. A poor experience can hurt employer branding.
Candidate Pipeline
A list of pre-qualified candidates who are ready to be contacted when new job openings become available.
Commission-Based Recruiting
A traditional recruiter compensation model where the fee is based on a percentage of the candidate's starting salary.
Contingency Recruiting
Recruiting model where the recruiter only gets paid if their candidate is hired. Often results in multiple firms competing.
Cost per Hire
The total expense incurred to fill a position, including recruiter fees, software tools, ads, internal time, and onboarding.
Culture Fit
A candidate's alignment with a company's values, behaviors, and work style. Often weighed alongside skill and experience.
Direct Hire
A permanent placement where the candidate joins the client's payroll immediately rather than through a staffing agency.
Diversity Recruiting
A strategy focused on attracting, hiring, and retaining candidates from diverse backgrounds to foster inclusion and innovation.
Employer Branding
How a company is perceived by job seekers, based on its reputation, values, and employee experience.
Executive Search
A retained recruiting model focused on identifying and placing top-tier leadership or C-suite candidates.
Flat-Fee Recruiting
A recruiting model that charges a fixed rate per hire, regardless of the candidate's salary or position level.
Full-Cycle Recruiting
When a single recruiter handles every stage of hiring — from sourcing and screening to interviewing and closing the offer.
Ghosting
When a candidate or recruiter stops communicating without explanation during the hiring process.
Hard Skills
Teach-able abilities such as accounting, coding, or machine operation that can be easily measured or tested.
Headhunter
A recruiter (typically third-party) who actively seeks out passive candidates for highly specialized or executive roles.
Hiring Funnel
The progression of a candidate from initial outreach through to interview, offer, and hire.
Hiring Manager
The person ultimately responsible for selecting a candidate. Often leads interviews and makes the final hiring decision.
Inbound Recruiting
Attracting candidates through content, branding, and online engagement rather than direct outreach.
Interview-to-Hire Ratio
The number of candidates interviewed compared to the number hired. A low ratio can indicate better pre-screening.
Job Description (JD)
A detailed document outlining the responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations for an open position.
Job Requisition
An internal document submitted to HR or recruiting to request that a new position be filled.
KPI (Key Performance Indicator)
Metrics used to measure recruiting success, such as time to hire, quality of hire, or cost per hire.
Offer Acceptance Rate
The percentage of job offers that are accepted by candidates. A low rate may indicate compensation or culture issues.
Hiring Manager Resources
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