Recruitment Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the hiring terms that matter. From ATS basics to agentic AI — everything your team needs to speak the same language.
All Terms (25)
Agentic AI
AI that acts autonomously — sourcing, screening, and scheduling without human intervention.
Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
Software that manages job applications, tracks candidates through the hiring pipeline, and automates workflows.
Boolean Search
Search technique using AND, OR, NOT operators to find candidates across databases and job boards.
Candidate Experience
The overall perception candidates have of your hiring process, from application to offer.
Candidate Sourcing
Proactively finding and engaging potential candidates before they apply to open roles.
CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer)
The senior-most HR executive responsible for an organization's people strategy. Reports to the CEO and sits on the executive committee.
Cost Per Hire
Total recruitment spend divided by number of hires. The standard formula for measuring hiring efficiency.
Digital Recruiter
AI-powered agent that autonomously handles sourcing, screening, and candidate engagement.
Employer Branding
How your company is perceived as a workplace — the reputation that attracts (or repels) talent.
Hiring Intelligence
Data-driven insights that help teams make faster, better hiring decisions using AI and analytics.
Passive Candidate
Someone not actively job-seeking but open to the right opportunity. 70% of the workforce is passive.
Predictive Hiring
Using AI and data to forecast which candidates will succeed in a role before they are hired.
Quality of Hire
How well a new hire performs and retains. The most important — and hardest to measure — recruiting metric.
Recruitment Automation
Using technology to automate repetitive hiring tasks like screening, scheduling, and follow-ups.
Recruitment Marketing
Applying marketing strategies to attract talent — employer branding, job ads, content, and social media.
Resume Screening
Reviewing applications to shortlist qualified candidates. AI screening replaces manual 7-second scans.
Skills-Based Hiring
Evaluating candidates on demonstrated skills rather than degrees, titles, or pedigree.
Talent Acquisition
The strategic, long-term approach to finding, attracting, and hiring qualified employees.
Talent Pipeline
A pool of pre-qualified candidates ready to fill roles when they open. Reduces time-to-hire dramatically.
Time to Hire
Days from job posting (or candidate application) to accepted offer. Industry average: 36-44 days.
Workforce Matching
AI-powered alignment of candidate skills, experience, and preferences with job requirements.
Campus Placement
Structured hiring of students directly from colleges and universities. Primary entry-level channel in India.
Lateral Hiring
Recruiting experienced professionals at mid-career levels to fill specific skill or leadership gaps.
Bench Hiring
Recruiting talent onto a ready-to-deploy pool of unallocated consultants. Common in Indian IT services.
Contract Staffing
Hiring workers on fixed-duration contracts through a staffing agency. 20-40% of workforce in Indian IT.
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