October 2009

HR 101: Hiring, Firing and Everything In Between – Terms You Need To Know

Fired Hired Sign

Does firing and laying an employee off mean the same thing?   What is the difference between on boarding and orienting a new employee?  Refer to the definitions that follow to learn more.

Fire – ending the employment of a worker due to poor performance or inappropriate behavior.  Also referred to as “termination”.

Hire – the process of offering employment to an individual.

Job Description – a document that highlights the job tasks and responsibilities required to perform the work effectively.

Layoff – when a worker’s position ends due to financial hardship within a company or due to a business restructuring.

Onboarding – the process of orienting or training a newly hired employee. This includes helping the employee to become familiar with work place procedures or practice. Oftentimes onboarding and orientation are used interchangeably.

Resignation – the act of voluntarily ending a job.

Termination – ending the employment of a worker due to poor performance or inappropriate behavior.  Also referred to as “firing”.

Dianne Shaddock is the Founder of Easy Small Business HR, Employee Hiring and Managing Tips.  Through the Employee Hiring and Managing Tips podcast, blog, and weekly ‘quick tips’  e-newsletters,  Dianne offers expert advice on how to make better hiring decisions, manage difficult employees, develop employee policies, motivate staff, and so much more.   No stuffy, corporate HR policy lingo; but straight forward, easy to understand and implement advice for businesses just like yours.  Stay ahead of the curve and go to Easy Small Business HR for more tips on how to hire and manage your staff effectively.

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HR 101: Resumes, Job Applications, and Offer Letters –Terms You Need To Know

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What’s the difference between an acceptance letter and a job offer letter?  A functional resume versus a chronological resume?

Acceptance Letter – written confirmation from a candidate who has been offered a job that they accept the terms of an employment offer

Chronological Resume – resume that highlights an applicant’s work history starting from the most recent work experience listed in reverse chronological order.

Confirmation Letter – written confirmation from an employer to a candidate that confirms the terms of a job offer including salary and start date.

Cover Letter – also called motivational letter, is a summary highlighting an applicant’s interest in a particular job.

Functional Resume – a resume that highlights an applicant’s specific experience and skills rather than a chronological listing of work history experience.  Functional resumes are often used to emphasize specific experience or to de-emphasize limited experience.

Job Application – A template or form completed by the applicant to express interest in a particular job.  Although the type of information required on a job application may vary, most basic applications include sections for the applicant’s name and address, the title of the job that they are interested in, current and prior work experience, references and a signature line.

Job Offer – A verbal or written agreement that confirms details relating to an offer of employment.  This may include salary and benefit information, as well as the employee’s start date and scheduled hours of work.

Need more human resources definitions?  Check out the HR Dictionary at http://www.EasySmallBusinessHR.com.

Dianne Shaddock is the Founder of Easy Small Business HR, Employee Hiring and Managing Tips.  Through the Employee Hiring and Managing Tips podcast, blog, and weekly ‘quick tips’  e-newsletters,  Dianne offers expert advice on how to make better hiring decisions, manage difficult employees, develop employee policies, motivate staff, and so much more.   No stuffy, corporate HR policy lingo; but straight forward, easy to understand and implement advice for businesses just like yours.  Stay ahead of the curve and go to Easy Small Business HR for more tips on how to hire and manage your staff effectively.

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