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Career glossary

Decode the language of the job search.

Look up 86 terms across resumes, ATS, interviewing, career moves, and AI tools—without digging through an article for a definition.

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TERM MAP

86+ definitions

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Resume

ATS

Job search

Interviewing

Career

AI tools

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ResumeATSJob SearchInterviewingCareerAI Tools

86 terms

Resume

A

Action Verbs

Action verbs are strong, specific verbs used to begin resume bullet points that clearly describe accomplishments and responsibilities.

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AI Tools

A

AI Cover Letter Generator

An AI cover letter generator is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to create customized cover letters tailored to specific job postings and candidate backgrounds.

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AI Tools

A

AI Interview Prep

AI interview prep refers to AI-powered tools and platforms that help candidates practice answering interview questions and receive feedback on their responses.

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AI Tools

A

AI Resume Builder

An AI resume builder is a software tool that uses artificial intelligence to help create, optimize, and tailor resumes based on job descriptions and career data.

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AI Tools

A

AI Resume Writer

An AI resume writer is an AI-powered tool that generates resume content such as professional summaries, bullet points, and skills descriptions from user input.

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Resume

A

ATS (Applicant Tracking System)

An ATS is software that employers use to collect, sort, scan, and rank job applications before a human recruiter reviews them.

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ATS

A

ATS Compliance

ATS compliance is the degree to which a resume follows formatting and content guidelines that ensure accurate processing by Applicant Tracking Systems.

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ATS

A

ATS Parsing

ATS parsing is the process by which an Applicant Tracking System extracts and categorizes information from a resume into structured, searchable data fields.

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ATS

A

ATS Rejection

ATS rejection occurs when an Applicant Tracking System filters out a resume before it reaches a human recruiter, typically due to missing keywords or formatting issues.

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ATS

A

ATS Score

An ATS score is a numerical rating that indicates how well a resume matches a specific job description based on keyword relevance and qualification alignment.

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ATS

A

ATS-Friendly Format

An ATS-friendly format is a resume layout designed to be accurately read and parsed by Applicant Tracking System software without losing or scrambling content.

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Interviewing

B

Background Check

A background check is a pre-employment screening process where employers verify a candidate's identity, work history, education, criminal record, and other credentials.

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Interviewing

B

Behavioral Interview

A behavioral interview is an interview style that asks candidates to describe past experiences and actions to predict how they will perform in future situations.

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ATS

B

Boolean Search (Recruiting)

Boolean search is a recruiting technique that uses logical operators like AND, OR, and NOT to find candidates with specific combinations of skills in ATS databases.

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Resume

B

Bullet Points

Bullet points are concise, formatted list items used on resumes to present work experience, accomplishments, and skills in a scannable format.

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Career

C

Career Change

A career change is a deliberate transition from one profession or industry to a different one, requiring repositioning of skills, experience, and professional identity.

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Job Search

C

Career Fair

A career fair is an organized event where multiple employers set up booths to meet potential candidates, share job openings, and conduct preliminary screenings.

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Career

C

Career Gap

A career gap is a period of time in a candidate's work history where they were not employed, which may require explanation on a resume or during interviews.

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