Glossary of Key Job Search Terms Every Job…

As part of mastering your job search journey and success in getting your
target opportunity, you have to be familiar with the most common terms used
while job hunting.

Key Takeaways

Action Verbs
Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
Background Check
Benefits
Company Culture

Last Reviewed: April 2026 | Sources: DrJobPro Hiring Data Q1 2026.

Regardless of their job field, years of experience, and designation, all
job seekers use and hear these terms at some point in their job searching
journey.

Being familiar with these words will ensure mastering your job hunting
process and getting your dream career opportunity.

Here’s a Glossary of Key Job Search Terms Every Job Seeker Should Know.

Action Verbs

Action words like conducted, chaired, coordinated, planned, founded,
achieved work for your side when being mentioned in your job application. When
you modify your resume, use some of those famous words and phrases with strong,
convincing action verbs ato attract the recruiters’ attention.

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

before your resume reaches the recruiter, it must pass the filtering algorithm of the “Applicant Tracking System (ATS),” so before perfecting your resume and cover letter to impress the recruiter, you should first know how to create a resume that will influence the “robot” recruiter.

Background Check

The majority of employers conduct a background check to verify your
information. They usually check your criminal records, drugs, credit history,
college background, employment verification letter, etc.

Benefits

Benefits are more than your net salary. Employers can give you paid
leave, medical insurance, sick leave, flight ticket, education assistance, annual
increment, or other valuable benefits. Benefits are negotiable, and you have to
consider them because they can help you a lot, especially if you’re an expat.

Company Culture

The culture of an organization is
how it works on a personal basis. These are the attitudes, values, opinions,
and activities beyond the typical workday’s professional level.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A CV is a comprehensive list of
your career accomplishments that highlights your academic and professional experiences
and achievements. It’s always longer than the resume.

Elevator Pitch

The Elevator pitch is the
30-second introduction. It’s your chance to market yourself efficiently and successfully
at a business gathering, a job interview, or any meeting.

Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur is someone who develops,
starts, and manages a company of his own. They’re not hired by anyone else.

Freelancer/Independent
Contractor

Freelancers complete contract work
with various companies in a specialized niche, such as translation, graphic
design, or digital marketing.

Hidden Job Market

Hidden Job Market is a career opportunity that
isn’t published for all. These kinds of vacancies are filled out internally or
via professional networks before being posted online.

Internships

Internships are temporary jobs
that offer on-the-job training. These opportunities could be paid or unpaid.
It’s a perfect way to develop skills, strengthen your resume, or get a big
company job.

Employment Shadow

Employment shadow is a work
opportunity that lasts a day or two. It’s perfect for students who want to know
what a career is like.

Keywords

Keywords are words that bear more
important when searching for a candidate or resume. They capture the recruiting
manager’s attention and help you convince the robot recruiter to read your
resume.

Mentor

A mentor is a reliable and
professional advisor who will help steer your career. He helps in directing you
into the perfect career path by answering your questions and guiding you.

Networking

It’s not about what you know; it’s
about whom you know. Spend more time to maintain more professional and personal
networks. You never know who will offer you the next opportunity.

Personal Brand

Personal Branding is a business
concept. This is building a brand mindset for your career. It’s the principle
of marketing yourself as someone who can add value to any position.

Portfolio

In many careers, samples of your
work are essential to demonstrate your talents. If you’re one of these careers,
you need to collect your best work and build a portfolio that you can place
online and attach to job applications.

References

References are people able to talk
favorably about you. You have to list your references in case a recruiter asks
for them. You’ve to make sure that they’re willing and able to tell your new
boss your skills and abilities.

Resume

Your resume is your professional
card. It is a list of career accomplishments that can be tailored for every job
position.

Salary

Salary is the amount of money you
receive each month.

Social Networking

Like professional networking, you
need to sustain a strong online presence by posting content to build more
social relationships.

Telecommute/Work from Home

Today’s Covid-19 precautionary
measures & technology transformation helps many people work from their
home’s convenience. This is a vast advantage that maintains a work-life balance.

Transferable Skills

Transferable Skills are skills that shift from
one position to another. The essential transferrable skills are, for example,
leadership and team management, commercial awareness, and data analysis.

Volunteering

Volunteering is the act of giving
your expertise, abilities, and time to a nonprofit organization with no salary.
It’s a terrific way to strengthen your resume with more skills and experience.

After reading our Glossary of Key Job Search Terms Every Job Seeker Should Know, you’re now one step behind getting your dream opportunity. Apply now on Drjobs.