A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AccPac: A very popular accounting software package.
Application Form: A form requesting personal information that an employer may give an employee to fill out and hand in along with a résumé. It is a good idea to take a sample with you to an interview or while job searching.
Aptitude Test: A test that measures your potential to be good at something. It may measure potential in language, mathematics, physical or other skills.
Asset: Something of use or of value. E.g. good computer skills.
Attribute: A quality or characteristic of a person. E.g. hardworking.
Browser: A program that allows a user to access and move around on the Internet.
Business Directory: An alphabetical or otherwise organized list of the businesses in a city or town.
Cold Calling: Calling and sending résumés to companies that may not be advertising, in the hope that one of them will have a job opening.
Consistent Work History: If you have worked in the same field throughout your career, you have what is considered to be a consistent work history.
Contract Positions: Jobs that last for a defined period of time. A three-month contract means the job will be finished three months from the start date. These types of jobs are becoming more common. Contracts may be extended, so if you were originally hired for three months, you may end up working for a longer period of time.
Cover Letter: A one-page letter that should be sent with your résumé, which tells the employer why you are the right person for that particular job.
DOE: Depending On Experience. Some employers will pay employees different wages based on their previous experience.
Email: This term means Electronic Mail. You can use e-mail on the Internet to write messages to people who also have an e-mail address. You can then send and receive messages. Our services include setting up email accounts for clients.
Employment Agency: An agency that helps job seekers obtain employment. Services include access to job banks, employment newspapers, classified ads, and individual counseling.
Employment Gaps: Times when you were not working. Recent gaps are more of a concern to employers than gaps that occurred earlier in your work history.
Enclosure: Typed at the bottom of a letter, enclosure means there is something else in addition to the letter included in the envelope. E.g. résumé.
Fax or Facsimile: A means by which a letter or résumé can be sent electronically.
Hard Skills: Skills that have been consciously developed through hands-on learning. They may be learned at an institution such as a school, or they may be self-taught. E.g. typing or experience with Microsoft Word.
Headhunter: A person or agency that is hired to find a job for someone through networking.
Hidden Job Market: Job positions that are not advertised. These jobs constitute 80% of all available jobs. These jobs are acquired through strategies such as networking, informational interviews, and cold calling.
HRDC: Human Resources Department Canada. (Also see Human Resources)
Human Resources: The department in charge of advertising job positions, interviewing candidates, hiring, training, and keeping employees content.
Informational Interview: A job search strategy that involves arranging a meeting with a potential employer and telling them that you are interested in learning more about the company and that you are interested in that particular kind of work. The purpose of this is to increase your networking contacts. Hopefully sometime in the future, the employer will remember you when a position becomes available.
Interpersonal Skills: The ability to get along with others.
Internet: The interconnection of computers around the world that greatly improves international and national communication and transfer of information.
Interview: A formal meeting with a potential employer who asks you questions to determine if you are the right person for the job.
Job Bank: A computer database of job postings. It is a good place to start looking for a job.
Job Fair: An event where employers and job seekers can meet.
Job Functions: The duties you performed, or will be performing at work.
Microsoft Word: A word processing computer application. It is used to write letters and reports and other text based documents. Microsoft Word is the most widely used word processor and the ability to use it is the computer skill most requested by employers.
Microsoft Excel: A spreadsheet computer application. It is used to store and manipulate numbers. It is perfect when working with tables of numbers and graphs. Microsoft Excel is the most widely used spreadsheet and the ability to use it is the second most employer-requested computer skill.
Mock: Pretend. A mock interview is a pretend or practice interview.
MYOB: Mind Your Own Business. It is an Accounting Software Package.
Negotiable: To be willing to bargain with another person to reach an agreement. In terms of salary expectations, you may be negotiable, meaning there is a range you have in mind, and you are open to discussing that range with the employer.
Networking: Talking to people you already know, and increasing those contacts to assist in your job search. 80% of jobs are never advertised; these jobs may be found through networking.
NOC: National Occupation Classification. A Canadian system for classifying different types of jobs.
Out Dated: Something that is too old to be considered useful. On a résumé, any employment history that is more than 10 to 15 years in the past is considered out dated.
Pertinent Information: Information that is important for the employer to know when considering you for a job. E.g. If you are looking for a job as a transit driver, the licenses you possess and your driving safety record are pertinent information.
Psychological Test: A psychological test may measure various aspects of your personality including your ability to work with a team, your ability to perform detail-oriented work, or your ability to be flexible and to accept change.
Rapport: The ability to establish positive relationships with people; to be able to get along with others; to make others feel comfortable around you.
Requirement: Something that is needed or requested.
Résumé: A document outlining your skills, work experience, education and other personal characteristics that you use to describe and sell yourself to a potential employer.
Soft Skills: Personal qualities, characteristics and attributes. Soft skills refer to those "interpersonal" skills that you possess and would use on the job. E.g. you may be well organized, a team player, and a quick learner.
Subsidy: A type of financial assistance. Some government programs involve subsidizing wages of people who are eligible for the programs. This means that through the program, the government will pay a part of the person's wage, which reduces the cost to the employer for hiring a new employee.
Team Player: To be able to work as part of a team or group. To be able to get along and work effectively with co-workers.
Trade Journals: Magazines that specifically focus on a certain industry.
Trade Shows: Events at which companies within a certain industry show their products to the public. Trade shows can be excellent networking opportunities.
Vacancies: Job positions that an employer needs to fill by hiring someone.
Well-rounded: To have many different skills, interests and abilities.
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