Every field has its vocabulary, and the world of careers and learning is no exception. Here's a plain-English glossary of terms you'll encounter again and again.

Job search and hiring

  • ATS: Applicant Tracking System — software that scans and filters resumes.
  • Referral: a recommendation from someone inside a company.
  • Hidden job market: roles filled via networking before being publicly posted.
  • Informational interview: a casual chat to learn about a role or field, not to ask for a job.

On the job

  • Soft skills: interpersonal abilities like communication and teamwork.
  • Hard skills: teachable, technical abilities specific to a task or tool.
  • Transferable skills: abilities useful across many roles and industries.
  • KPI: Key Performance Indicator — a measure of how well a goal is being met.
  • Stakeholder: anyone with an interest in a project's outcome.
You don't need to memorize jargon to succeed — but recognizing these terms helps you navigate workplaces and conversations with confidence.

Growth and learning

  • Upskilling: deepening skills in your current field.
  • Reskilling: learning new skills for a different role.
  • MOOC: Massive Open Online Course — an online course open to many learners.
  • Active recall: testing yourself to strengthen memory.
  • Growth mindset: the belief that ability grows with effort.

Pay and progression

  • Total compensation: salary plus benefits, bonuses and perks.
  • Equity: ownership in a company, often part of pay.
  • Lateral move: a role change at a similar level, often to gain experience.

The bottom line

Knowing the language of work makes everything — applications, interviews, negotiations and learning — a little easier to navigate. Bookmark this as a quick reference.