What recruiters really mean: job search phrases, translated
Job postings and recruiter emails have their own dialect. Most of it is harmless habit, some of it is a useful signal, and a little of it is a red flag. Here is our translation guide, half joke and half genuinely useful, so you can read between the lines before you spend an evening on an application.
A fair warning: plenty of recruiters are lovely and overworked. The translations below are about the phrases, not the people.
In the job posting
- Competitive salary: we would rather not say. Ask for the range on the first call.
- Fast paced environment: understaffed. Ask how big the team is and how many roles are open.
- We are like a family: boundaries may be optional. Ask about after hours expectations.
- Wear many hats: three jobs, one salary. Ask which responsibilities matter most.
- Self starter: there is no onboarding.
- Entry level, 5+ years of experience: the job description was copied from a senior role. Apply anyway.
- Unlimited PTO: ask how many days people actually took last year.
- Rockstar, ninja, guru: someone in marketing wrote this posting.
- Other duties as assigned: completely normal, but notice if the list of duties is suspiciously short.
In the recruiter email
- I came across your profile: a search filter matched one keyword.
- Are you open to new opportunities? Is your profile picture banner green?
- Let us find a time to connect: a 15 minute screening call, usually a real step forward.
- We are moving quickly on this role: either true, or they want you to decide before you compare offers.
- What are your salary expectations? They have a range. Ask them to share it first.
- Just a quick take home assignment: ask how long it should take, and whether it is paid if it is longer than a few hours.
After the interview
- We will be in touch: a decision has not been made, or it has and nobody told you yet.
- We are still interviewing other candidates: you are in the running, but not the only one.
- You will hear from us by Friday: Friday is a state of mind.
- There will be a few more rounds: ask exactly how many and what each one covers.
In the rejection email
- Unfortunately: here it comes.
- After careful consideration: a scan of your resume, possibly by software.
- We have decided to move forward with other candidates: someone else accepted, or the role was paused.
- We will keep your resume on file: it is in a database. It is rarely searched again, so reapply directly to new roles.
- We encourage you to apply for future openings: sometimes genuine. If you made it to a final round, it is worth a short thank you reply.
- Thank you for your interest: the four most common words in hiring.
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Frequently asked questions
What does competitive salary really mean?
Usually that the company has a range but prefers not to publish it. It is fine to ask for the range on the first call, and in several US states employers are required to share it.
What does "we will keep your resume on file" mean?
Your application stays in their applicant tracking system. It is rarely searched for future roles, so if you see another opening you like, apply to it directly.
Is "we are like a family" a red flag?
Not always, but it is worth asking about workload, after hours expectations and turnover to see what it means at that company.
