You’re browsing through job ads and come away feeling more stumped than inspired to apply. “What do half of these terms mean?” you ask yourself.
Job ads are notorious for coming fully loaded with crazy buzzwords and jargon that leave most people puzzled. To help you know your core competencies from your KPIs, we’re here to demystify head-scratching job description terminology and empower you to make that application!
Casual Position: You may see some jobs advertised as casual, and others are part-time. What’s the difference? Part-time positions offer the same employment rights as full-time employees, except employees work a set, fewer hours. Casual workers’ hours may change from week-to-week and they receive an hourly wage rather than an agreed salary. Casual workers aren’t entitled to annual leave or sick leave as that is included in the hourly rate.
Pro-rata: You’re looking at a 3-day-a-week job ad that quotes a pro-rata salary. “What does that even mean?”, you cry! Quite simply, a pro-rata salary is what you would receive if you were working in that job full time.
Competitive salary: Sometimes, a job ad won’t tell you how much the position is paying, but it says the ‘salary is competitive’. This can be confusing. In a nutshell the employer is saying what they’re offering is in-line with the industry average for that particular role.
Fixed term: When starting a contract job, your employer will set its terms. A fixed-term contract is one that lasts for a set period and ends on a date agreed upon by both parties.
White Card: If you’re searching for contract jobs or contact trades, chances are you’ll be asked for a White Card. This is a requirement for workers wanting to carry out construction work. You’ll receive a White Card once you’ve completed general construction induction training.
Self-starter: Self-starters take initiative and can get things done independently which is why employers actively see out this quality! Why? Because it means you come fully loaded with passion, determination, and the drive to succeed.
Dynamic: “If being a self-starter wasn’t enough, I have to be dynamic too?” you exclaim! Yes, it pays to be dynamic; that is, you’re ambitious with bundles of energy to Get Things Done.
Core competency: In short, core competencies are the fundamental requirements an individual needs to perform a job. As an example, a core competency of the job may be creative thinking and problem-solving skills. For a skilled labourer working in a contract job, core competencies would include practical skills and safety knowledge.
KPIs: KPI stands for ‘key performance indicators.’ These are measures of success. Classic KPIs that businesses and organisations use are profit margin, revenue growth, client retention rate and customer satisfaction.
In summary - when it comes to applying for jobs, the secret to showcasing your skills is to show, not tell. For instance, rather than just using words like ‘being a self-starter’ give your potential employer examples of when you handled a task or project independently. Provide metrics and stats of what you have achieved. Rather ironically, avoid buzzwords and jargon. Just get straight to the point.
If you are open to new opportunities, contact a recruitment agency like Trojan Recruitment Group and receive advice from the experts in labour-hire, permanent and contract staff.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Card#:~:text=A%20White%20Card%20(also%20known,through%20a%20registered%20training%20organisation
https://www.peoplegoal.com/blog/core-employment-competencies-explained
https://executiveresumerescue.com/6-ways-show-not-tell-career-impacts/
