A

Application: A formal request for employment submitted to an employer by a job seeker, usually including a resume and cover letter.

Apprenticeship: A program that combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction, typically in a trade or technical field.

Annual Leave: Paid time off granted by employers to employees for vacation, rest, or personal activities.

Assessment: Tests or evaluations used by employers to gauge a candidate’s skills, abilities, and personality traits.

B

Background Check: A process employers use to verify the accuracy of the information provided by a candidate and to check for any criminal history or other past activities.

Benefits: Non-wage compensation provided to employees, which may include health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other perks.

C

Casual Employment: A work arrangement where an employee is hired on an as-needed basis without a guaranteed number of hours.

Career: a job or series of jobs that are pursued for a significant period of a person’s work life, with opportunities for progress.

Cover Letter: A document sent with a resume to provide additional information about the applicant’s skills and experience. It explains why the candidate is interested in and qualified for the job.

Curriculum Vitae (CV): A detailed document outlining an individual’s academic and professional achievements, typically used for academic, medical, or research positions.

Contract Employment: A position that is not permanent but is based on a fixed-term or project-specific agreement.

Clock-in: The process of recording the time an employee starts work, often using a time clock or digital system.

D

Diversity and Inclusion: The representation and participation of different groups of people, including those of different ages, races, genders, abilities, and sexual orientations.

Dress Code: Guidelines set by an employer regarding the appropriate attire for the workplace.

Due Diligence: The investigation or research done by both employers and job seekers before entering into employment or business agreements.

E

Employee: An individual who works part-time or full-time under a contract of employment.

Employee Onboarding: The process of integrating a new employee into the company and its culture, including training and orientation.

Employer: A person or organisation that hires employees and provides work for them.

ENTO: A software system used by Staff Australia to track employee shift times. The system allows employees to clock in and out of their shifts.

F

Flare: A software system used by Staff Australia to collect employee information for the onboarding process.

Full Time Job: Employment in which the employee works a minimum number of hours defined as full-time by the employer, usually around 38 hours per week.

Fixed Contract: A contract of employment that lasts for a specific period or until a particular task or project is completed.

G

Gross Pay: The total amount of money earned by an employee before any deductions such as taxes or loan repayments.

H

Hard Skills: Specific, teachable abilities or knowledge sets that are job specific.

Human Resources (HR): The department in a company responsible for hiring, training, employee relations, and benefits management.

I

Income Statements: A financial document that shows an employee’s income over a specific period.

Induction: The process of introducing a new employee to their role and the company, often including orientation and training.

Internship: A temporary position that offers on-the-job training and work experience, often for students or recent graduates.

Interview: A formal meeting in which one or more person’s question, consult, or evaluate another person for potential employment.

Interview Panel: A group of people who conduct an interview with a job candidate, usually representing different areas of the company.

J

Job Alerts: Email notifications based on your saved job searches, skills library or chosen fields.

Job Description: A job description is a written document outlining the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations for a particular position.

Job Fair: An event where employers and job seekers meet to discuss employment opportunities, often held at colleges or community centres.

Job Seeker: An individual actively looking for employment.

Job Posting: An advertisement created by an employer or recruiter to announce an open position within a company.

Job Provider: An entity, usually an organization or business, that offers job opportunities.

K

Keywords: Specific words or phrases related to skills, qualifications, and job responsibilities that employers look for in resumes and cover letters.

L

Layoff: The termination of an employee’s job due to company downsizing, restructuring, or financial difficulties.

LinkedIn: A professional networking platform used for job searching, recruiting, and building professional relationships.

Licence: An official legal document that allows an individual or entity to perform a specific activity or carry a particular item.

M

Mentor: An experienced individual who provides guidance and support to a less experienced person, often in a professional setting.

N

Networking: Networking is the process of building professional relationships to gain information, advice, and job leads.

Notice Period: The amount of time an employee must give their employer before leaving a job, typically outlined in the employment contract.

O

Occupation: The type of work a person does to earn a living, this can include various jobs, professions, or trades.

Occupational Health & Safety (OHS): A discipline that manages and controls the safety, health, and welfare of people at work.

Offer Letter: A formal document from an employer outlining the terms of employment, including salary, benefits, and start date.

Office Support: Administrative and clerical tasks performed in an office setting to support the operations of a business or organisation.

On-the-Job Training (OJT): Training provided to employees while they are performing their regular job duties.

Outplacement Services: Support services provided by employers to help former employees transition to new jobs, often including career counselling and resume assistance.

P

Part-Time Job: Employment where the employee works fewer hours than a full-time schedule, typically less than 35 hours per week.

Payroll: The process of calculating and distributing wages and salaries to employees.

Performance Review: A formal assessment of an employee’s job performance usually conducted annually or semi-annually.

Probation Period: A trial period at the beginning of employment to assess an employee’s suitability for the job.

Q

Qualifications: The skills, experience, and education required to perform a job.

R

Recruiter: A professional who seeks out and screens candidates for job openings, either working for a company or an agency.

Redundancy: When an employee’s job is no longer required, leading to the termination of their employment. Redundancy it is not a reflection of an employee’s performance but rather a result of business decisions.

References: Individuals who can attest to a candidate’s qualifications and character, usually former employers, or colleagues.

Remote Work: Working from a location outside of the traditional office environment, often from home.

Resume: A formal document that provides an overview of an individual’s educational background, work experience, skills, and accomplishments.

Retirement: When an employee stops working permanently, usually after reaching a certain age.

Requirements: A set of qualifications, skills, experience, or attributes needed to be considered for a job.

S

Salary: The fixed regular payment, typically paid on a monthly, weekly, or, biweekly basis, made by an employer to an employee.

Soft Skills: Personal attributes and interpersonal skills that are crucial for working effectively with others, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Skills: The abilities and expertise that enable a person to perform tasks effectively and efficiently.

Skills Gap: The difference between the skills required for a job and the skills possessed by the job candidate or current workforce.

Superannuation (Super): A compulsory retirement system in Australia which was implemented to ensure that individuals have the funds available to support themselves through retirement.

T

Tax: Taxes are a percentage of your income withheld from your gross income. They are used by the government to fund community and council services.

Tax File Number: A tax file number is a 9-digit number that is used by the ATO to identify you in the tax and super system.

Tax File Declaration: A tax file declaration is a document used by an employer so they can calculate how much tax to withhold from your payments or salary.

Temporary: Employment that is not permanent and typically has a set end date, often used to cover short-term needs or projects.

Termination: The end of an employee’s job, which can be voluntary or involuntary.

Timesheet: A timesheet is a document used to record the hours an employee works. It details the start and end times of shifts, breaks, and total hours worked.

U

Unemployment: The state of being without a paid job, while actively seeking work.

Upskilling: The process of learning new skills or improving existing ones to advance in a career.

Underemployment: A situation where an individual is working in a job that does not fully utilise their skills, education, or availability.

V

Vocational Education: Sometimes called “technical education”, vocational education and training (VET) prepares an individual to perform a for a particular trade or profession.

Volunteer Work: Unpaid work done willingly to help others, which can provide valuable experience and skills.

Virtual Interview: An interview conducted remotely using video conferencing technology.

Visa Restrictions: On any travel or work visa, a set of conditions apply, and may affect working rights. This depends on a range of criteria.

W

Wage: A regular payment given to an employee from an employer.

Work-Life Balance: The equilibrium between personal life and professional responsibilities, important for overall well-being.

Workforce: A group of individuals who are employed by a particular business or company

Work Permit: An official document that allows a foreign national to work in a specific country.