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Glossary
Short, general definitions. Rules differ between employers and countries, so always check the details that apply to you.
A C E F H J M N O P R S T V Assessment centre A hiring event or set of exercises, in person or online, where several candidates are assessed on tasks such as group work, presentations and interviews. Counteroffer An improved offer from your current employer, made after you say you are leaving. Think carefully about what you want before you decide. Early careers Roles aimed at students and recent graduates, such as internships, placements and graduate schemes. Fixed-term contract A job that lasts for a set period or until a particular piece of work ends, rather than continuing with no end date. Headcount The number of people an employer has approved to hire for a team or role. A role needs approved headcount before it can be filled. Headhunter A recruiter who approaches people directly about roles, often for more senior or specialist jobs, on behalf of an employer. Hiring freeze A period when an employer pauses hiring, often for some or all roles. Open roles may stay listed, so it is worth asking whether a role is actively being filled. Hiring manager The person who will manage the new hire and usually makes the final decision about who gets the job. Job spec Short for job specification: another name for the job description. It sets out what the role involves and what the employer is looking for. Must-have criteria Requirements a referrer says a candidate needs before they would refer them. On Doorstep these are set by each referrer. Networking Building and keeping up professional relationships, for example by having conversations with people who do work you are interested in. Try: Outreach planner Offer letter The employer's written offer of a job, normally setting out the role, start date and terms. Read it carefully before you accept. General information only, not legal advice. Try: Job offer checklist Pass (on Doorstep) When a referrer decides not to refer an applicant. On Doorstep a pass always comes with a reason, and often a tip. Permanent role A job with no planned end date. Either side can still end it, following the notice and terms in the contract. Pipeline The candidates currently moving through an employer's hiring process for a role, from first screen to offer. Probation period An initial period at the start of a new job, set out in your contract, when you and the employer see whether the job is a good fit. Length and terms vary by employer. Recruiter screen A first, usually short, conversation or review by a recruiter to decide whether to move a candidate forward. Referral When an employee recommends a candidate to their employer's recruiters. The company still decides whether to interview or hire. Referral portal The employer's own system for submitting referrals. Many companies require referrals to be entered there. Referrer The employee who recommends a candidate. On Doorstep, referrers decide for themselves whether to refer each applicant. Shortlist The smaller group of candidates an employer chooses to take forward after reviewing applications. Start date The day you begin a new job. It is usually agreed after an offer and depends on your notice period and the employer's plans. Take-home task A piece of work an employer asks you to complete in your own time as part of the hiring process. Ask what is expected and how long it should take. Try: Project explainer Talent team The recruiters and coordinators at an employer who run hiring. Also called the recruiting or talent acquisition team. Read the guides Visa sponsorship Find a referrer