Skip to content
Fountain
  • Solutions
    Cue One prompt. Everything moves Get started →

    Products

    • Source24/7 agentic sourcing
    • CRMRehire who you already know
    • ATSApply to offer, automated
    • OnboardingDay-one ready, every time
    • Shift & SchedulingFill every shift before it gaps

    Voice Talent Agents

    • Anna - AI RecruiterScreens candidates while you sleep
    • Emma - AI 24/7 SupportEvery form, before day one
    • Sam - AI SatisfactionEngage. Retain. Repeat

    Frontline Superintelligence

    Cue doesn't just report and suggest — it sees the situation, makes the call, and runs the work itself, across the entire frontline lifecycle.

    • Source & screen applicants 24/7
    • Hire and send offers automatically
    • Onboard new hires day-one ready
    • Fill every shift before it gaps
    • Re-engage and retain your workforce
    Learn more →
  • Use Cases
    QSR & Food Services Retail Delivery & Logistics Outsourced Services

    By Industry

    • Retail
    • Manufacturing
    • Logistics
    • Hospitality
    • Healthcare
    • Delivery
    • Food and Beverage
    • Professional Services
    • Grocery
    • Franchises
    • Private Equity Firms

    By Role

    • CHRO
    • DEIB
    • Hiring Managers
    • HRIS
    • Operations
    • Recruiters
    • Talent Acquisition
  • Resources
    Blog Customer Stories
    Ebooks & White Papers

    CompareAI GlossaryData Sheets
    High Volume Hiring
    Oct 31, 2026 Salim Jernite

    Autonomy is Earned

    How to trust a system that acts.  At six in the evening, an agent is about to call a worker…

    Read
    High Volume Hiring
    Oct 25, 2026 Salim Jernite

    Customer Zero

    In 2006, Amazon opened the infrastructure it had built for its own stores and called it AWS. Customers bought it…

    Read
    Hiring Operations
    Oct 19, 2026 Salim Jernite

    From Operator to Conductor

    The job that replaces the job. Spend a day with a frontline operations manager and count the tools. An applicant…

    Read
  • Company
    About Us Partners & Integrations Newsroom Impact

    Contact UsJoin our NewsletterCareers

    Why Fountain

    As your trusted partner in frontline workforce management, Fountain makes every process smarter, faster, and simpler. See how we can help you exceed your hiring goals, one offer at a time.

  • Sign In
    • Fountain Hire
    • Worker Experience
    • Are you a worker? Sign in here
  • Book a demo

Blog / Candidate Sourcing

25 HR Words (and Acronyms!) You Need to Know

Author Mike Marschke · October 21, 2021 ·4 min read

25 HR Words (and Acronyms!) You Need to Know

Summary

Welcome to our list of commonly used high volume HR words! The world of high volume Talent Acquisition is constantly evolving, which means it can be tricky to keep up with the newest industry jargon. That’s why we’ve put together this handy-dandy High Volume Talent Acquisition Glossary so you can stay up to date with the latest HR words, terms, and acronyms used in recruiting!

‍

Tip: Be sure to bookmark this post so you can easily reference our High Volume Talent Acquisition Glossary.

Applicant

An applicant is someone who is currently applying for a job or has recently applied.

Applicant Tracking System

An Applicant Tracking System (or ATS) is a software application that Talent Acquisition teams use to manage recruitment. An ATS can manage everything from receiving job applications to hiring employees.

Background Check

An investigation that a company conducts into a candidate’s life. This may include (but is not limited to) checking for a criminal record or screening social media accounts.

Blind Screening

Blind screening is a practice used during the hiring process in which any personally identifiable information is removed from a candidate’s application to eliminate bias.

Candidate

Once an applicant has been approved for the hiring funnel, they become a candidate.

Candidate Experience

Candidate experience refers to the various interactions candidates have with a company during the hiring process.

Contingent Workforce Management

Contingent Workforce Management (or CWM) refers to the hiring and management of non-permanent workers.

Culture Add

Culture add is a way of thinking within hiring that prioritizes a candidate’s potential contribution to an organization rather than their alignment with the pre-existing organizational culture.

Culture Fit

Culture fit is a way of thinking within hiring that prioritizes a candidate’s alignment with pre-existing organizational culture and values.

2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant

Employee Assistance Program

An Employee Assistance Program (or EAP) is a benefit program that assists employees with work-related or personal problems that may impact their well-being.

Employer Brand

Employer brand refers to an organization’s reputation in the eyes of job seekers.

Exempt Employee

An exempt employee is a worker who is not entitled to minimum wage or overtime compensation. Exempt employees are paid by salary rather than hourly.

Human Resources Information System

A Human Resources Information System (or HRIS) is a software application used to track data related to Human Resources, payroll, and other accounting needs.

Human Capital Management

Human Capital Management (or HCM) refers to a set of people resource management strategies applied to the following three categories: workforce acquisition, workforce management, and workforce optimization.

Job Board

A job board is a website on which Talent Acquisition teams can place ads for their job openings.

Non-exempt Employee

A non-exempt employee is a worker who is entitled to minimum wage and overtime compensation. Non-exempt employees are paid hourly rather than by salary.

Onboarding

Onboarding refers to the activities organizations put in place to welcome new employees and help them get acclimated to their new roles.

Purple Squirrel

A purple squirrel is a job candidate that meets all of an employer’s requirements.

Referral Incentive

A referral incentive is a cash bonus or gift given to employees who refer candidates.

Time-to-Fill

Time-to-fill is a metric that tracks the average time it takes to fill a position.

Time-to-Hire

Time-to-hire is a metric that tracks the time that passes between initial contact with a candidate to when the candidate accepts a job offer.

Social Recruitment

Social Recruitment is a strategy in which organizations use social media sites to advertise their open positions.

W-9

A W-9 is a form that provides taxpayer information to the person who is required to file an information return with the IRS.

W-2

A W-2 is an income tax form issued by employers.

W-4

A W-4 is a tax form employees complete to let employers know how much money to withhold from their paycheck for federal taxes.

‍

We hope this comprehensive list of HR words is a useful tool for your day-to-day duties as a high volume Talent Acquisition professional!

hire-smarter

Is your talent pipeline strong enough to fuel growth?

Use our Talent Pipeline Readiness Assessment to measure workforce preparedness and uncover key hiring insights.

Assess My Pipeline Now

About the Author

Mike Marschke

Director, Strategic Programs

Mike Marschke

Mike Marschke is Fountain's Director of Product who has a passion for innovation and optimizing talent acquisition strategies, enhancing candidate experiences, and driving organizational growth.

Related Content

High Volume Hiring
Oct 31, 2026 Salim Jernite

Autonomy is Earned

How to trust a system that acts.  At six in the evening, an agent is about to call a worker…

Read
High Volume Hiring
Oct 25, 2026 Salim Jernite

Customer Zero

In 2006, Amazon opened the infrastructure it had built for its own stores and called it AWS. Customers bought it…

Read
High Volume Hiring
Oct 15, 2026 Salim Jernite

When Candidates Use AI Too: How Frontline Screening Has to Change

Candidates now use AI as readily as employers do. The same tools tailor resumes, draft interview answers, and submit applications…

Read
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Oct 15, 2026 Salim Jernite

What Is a Split Shift? How to Staff Two Peak Periods Without Burning Out Frontline Teams

Restaurants, retailers, and delivery teams face the same staffing shape every day: a lunch rush, a quiet afternoon, and a…

Read
Fountain

Fountain is the AI-powered Superintelligence that sources, hires, and runs your frontline operations across every location, 24/7.

G2 High Performer Fall 2023 Software Suggest High Performer

2026 · All Rights Reserved © Fountain (Onboard IQ)

  • Cue: One prompt. Everything moves
  • Anna - AI Recruiter
  • Emma - AI 24/7 Support
  • Sam - AI Satisfaction
  • Source
  • CRM
  • ATS
  • Onboarding
  • Shift & Scheduling
  • Partners & Integrations
  • Retail
  • Manufacturing
  • Logistics
  • Hospitality
  • Healthcare
  • Delivery
  • Food and Beverage
  • Professional Services
  • Grocery
  • Franchises
  • Private Equity Firms
  • CHRO
  • DEIB
  • HRIS
  • Hiring Managers
  • Operations
  • Recruiters
  • Talent Acquisition
  • Blog
  • Case Studies
  • Data Sheets
  • E-Books
  • Infographics
  • Webinars
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Newsroom
  • Careers
  • Customers
  • Impact
  • Join our Newsletter
  • Your Privacy Choices
  • Terms of Service
  • Subscription Agreement
  • Security
  • Trust Report
  • Ethical AI
  • API Documentation
  • Status Page
  • Help Center